Byron Writers Festival 2021
Secondary Schools Day
Featuring Matt Okine, Helena Fox, Nevo Zisin, Davina Bell, Craig Silvey, Isobelle Carmody, Randa Abdel-Fattah, Will Kostakis, Evelyn Araluen
About the day
Byron Writers Festival invites your school to participate in our annual Secondary Schools Program – a full day of live conversations and panel discussions with some of the foremost writers and thinkers from the 2021 Festival.
When: Thursday 5 August, 10am – 2pm
Where: The Festival site (Elements of Byron, Byron Bay)
Cost: $17 per student
Program
View the day’s program below and scroll down for author bios and their books.
Southern Cross University Marquee
10.30am: Finding Humour in Hard Times
Matt Okine in conversation with Marc Fennell
11.10am: Beyond Pronouns
Nevo Zisin in conversation with Mia Thom
12.10pm: Paths to Understanding
Craig Silvey in conversation with Zacharey Jane
12.50pm: Coming of Age during the War on Terror
Randa Abdel-Fattah in conversation with Sunil Badami
1.30pm: Poetry and Identity
Evelyn Araluen in conversation with Tony Birch
Greenstone Partners Marquee
10.30am: This is How it Feels
Helena Fox in conversation with Siboney Duff
11.10am: Connecting Ideas and Imagination
Davina Bell in conversation with Sarah Armstrong
12.10pm: Magical Thinking
Isobelle Carmody in conversation with Tristan Bancks
12.50pm: Stuff Happens – Will K.’s unexpected journey to writing
Will Kostakis in conversation with Grace Lucas-Pennington
How to Book
- Click the ‘Book Now’ button to reserve the number of tickets required for your school.
- After booking, you will have the opportunity to revise ticket numbers until 16 July. We urge you to determine your school’s numbers as soon as possible, as PLACES ALWAYS FILL UP FAST.
- You may pay the booking fee immediately, or you may opt to receive an invoice.
- After 16 July, we will send you an invoice if applicable. (Payment can be made via EFT, credit card or cheque to secure your students’ positions). Payment will also be accepted by credit card upon Festival entry. Our strong preference is that schools make payment in entirety BEFORE the event.
Key Information
- Program is designed especially for students in years 7 – 12
- Gates open at 9am, sessions run from 10.30am – 2pm
- The Festival does not provide supervision
- Food and beverages will be available for purchase at the Festival site.
- Complimentary waterfilling station is available onsite, please ask students to bring along their own bottle
Staying COVID Safe at Primary Schools Days 2021
- Byron Writers Festival Schools Days will be operating under the NSW Public Health Order in place at the time of the event.
- Teachers will be responsible for keeping a list of all participating students and will be required to share this information with NSW Health should the need arise.
- Students experiencing flu-like symptoms should not attend.
- Venues may be operating at restricted capacity with social distancing measures in place.
- For the health & safety of all, signage & sanitising stations are set up throughout the venues.
- We ask that you adhere to all COVID guidelines while attending the event.
- View our COVID-Safe Conditions of Entry and full Ticketing Terms & Conditions here.
Digital Program
A digital program will also be available for schools unable to attend the live events. More information to come. Presented in partnership with Southern Cross University and the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund.
Do you have a way with words or a story to tell? Study creative writing, digital media or design your degree, combining more of your interests with our range of shared majors from a wide range of disciplines. It’s time to think outside the box with Southern Cross University. scu.edu.au/study
Contact Us
2021 Program Poster
Secondary School Authors and Hosts
Randa Abdel-Fattah
Randa Abdel-Fattah is an academic, former lawyer, mother of four children and award-winning author. Her most recent book is Coming of Age in the War on Terror.
Evelyn Araluen
Evelyn Araluen is a Goorie-Koori poet, researcher and co-editor of Overland Literary Journal. Her debut poetry collection is Dropbear.
Sarah Armstrong
Sarah Armstrong has written three novels for adults and her first novel for readers aged 8 – 12 will be published by Hardie Grant next year.
Sunil Badami
Sunil Badami is a writer and broadcaster, who has contributed to most major Australian publications and appears regularly on ABC Radio and TV.
Tristan Bancks
Tristan Bancks is a children’s and teens author. His books include Two Wolves, The Fall, Detention, Tom Weekly and Nit Boy. His latest book is Ginger Meggs.
Davina Bell
Davina Bell is a children’s author. Her books include All the Ways To Be Smart, and her debut Young Adult novel, The End of the World Is Bigger Than Love.
Tony Birch
Tony Birch is an activist, historian, essayist and acclaimed author of the novels The White Girl, Ghost River and Blood. His most recent release is the poetry collection Whisper Songs.
Isobelle Carmody
Isobelle Carmody is one of Australia’s most highly regarded authors of fantasy. Her most recent novel is the final book in the Kingdom of the Lost series, The Velvet City.
Siboney Duff
Siboney Duff has worked as a freelance writer, editor, and manuscript assessor for over fifteen years. A qualified English teacher, she specialises in HSC Extension English student preparation.
Marc Fennell
Marc Fennell is a Walkley Award-winning journalist, interviewer, author and documentary maker.
Helena Fox
Helena Fox’s debut novel, How It Feels To Float, is an exploration of grief and mental illness that has been published in Australia and internationally.
Zacharey Jane
Zacharey Jane is a writer, teacher and painter. Her two publications with UQP are The Lifeboat, released internationally, and the children’s picture book, Tobias Blow.
Will Kostakis
Will Kostakis is a writer of defamatory celebrity journalism, wrestler tweets and award-winning YA novels. He recently applied his trademark style to fantasy novels Monuments and Rebel Gods.
Matt Okine
Matt Okine is an actor, writer and one of Australia’s favourite award-winning comedians. His novel Being Black ‘N Chicken & Chips was released in 2019.
Craig Silvey
Craig Silvey is from Fremantle, Western Australia. He is the award-winning author of Jasper Jones and Honeybee.
Mia Thom
Mia Thom is a Bundjalung climate activist, a co-organiser of the school strike for climate movement within the Byron Shire movement.
Nevo Zisin
Nevo Zisin (they/them) is a queer, non-binary, Jewish writer, performer, activist and public speaker. Author of award-winning Finding Nevo, and The Pronoun Lowdown.