I am professional writer (novel, short story, script-writing, poetry, creative non-fiction) and performer (physical theatre, clown, character comedy, movement improvisation, circus). I currently teach creative writing and have a background in environmental studies and natural sciences. Over the last twenty years I have been creating performances and publishing works, both fiction and non- fiction (including a critically acclaimed, prize-winning debut novel). I have also been working in the community arts sector developing excellent communication skills as well as gaining experience in community engagement, program design and delivery, and arts facilitation.

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QUALIFICATIONS

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Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing (RMIT, 2007)
BSc First Class Hons, Cultural Geography (University of Tasmania, 1997)

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EXPERIENCE

Creative Writing Tutor, University of Tasmania, (2020-2024)

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• Facilitate on-line creative writing workshops for 2nd year students.

• Mark and give feedback on prose pieces.

• Work with course coordinator. Attend meetings.

 

Born in a Taxi and Kinetic Theatre Company, The Sleep Keepers, roving performance (2019), Performer/Collaborator

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• The Sleep Keepers is a playful and highly interactive roving performance piece that engages people of all ages. Audience members are invited onto a roving bed for a rest and performers read stories and poems to them and/or play music.

• Enlighten Festival, Canberra, 2019.

• White Night, Melbourne, 2019.

• White Night, Geelong, 2019.

 

Castlemaine Circus (2018), Trainer

 

• Preschooler circus classes (3-5 year olds), assistant trainer and casual trainer.

• Design and deliver physical theatre classes for 5-8 year olds.

• Co-design and deliver circus workshop for Agoonaree Scouts group, Riddles Creek.

  Fairfax Youth Initiative, Directed by Asking for Trouble (August-September 2017), Facilitator

• Design and deliver in-school workshops to facilitate the creation of a performance piece with ten young people based around the theme ‘revolution’.

• Direct and facilitate a final showcasing.

• Plan and deliver workshops for other school groups involved in the event at Swan Hill

  Town Hall PACC.

• Collaborate and communicate with Kalianna School teachers, project artistic directors

  from Asking for Trouble and the manager and staff at Swan Hill Town Hall PACC.

  Arts Health Institute (2014-2017), Arts Facilitator/Creative Engagement Specialist

• Develop and deliver ‘Wordpower’, an engagement program for elders in residential care that focuses on enjoyment and use of language, story and literacy.

• Deliver ‘Play Up’, a program designed for residents living with dementia, to help reduce isolation, agitation and promote positive moods and social engagement.

• Work in collaboration with facility staff trained as ‘Play Up Partners’ to deliver Play Up.

• Liaise with care staff, use facility software to record results and write reports, communicate via phone and email with AHI staff and peers.

• Represent AHI at conferences as a public speaker and deliver conference workshops.

 

Complete and Publish Debut Novel, Bridget Crack (2017), Allen & Unwin.

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• Undertake extensive historical research using primary archive material (newspapers, police reports, diaries, court records, convict records) and secondary material (2009- 2015).

• Supply edited 76,000 word manuscript to publisher and mentor to meet deadlines.

• Communicate with agent, editors and publishers, in person, by phone and email.

• Bridget Crack book launch, Readings, (August 2017). Communicate with bookshop staff

  and Allen & Unwin marketing staff, use social media, public speaking.

• Communicate with artistic director of writers’ festivals. i.e St Albans Writers Festival

  (September 2017), Hobart Writers and Readers Festival (September 2017), organise and

  do book readings and speak on writers’ festival panels.

• Complete mentorship with Australian Society of Authors to develop manuscript (2014).

   

Regional Arts Touring, Everything Must Go, directed by Damian Callinan, (2013, 2015, 2016) Producer/Performer/Writer

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• Write, devise and develop a one-woman theatre show.

• As producer and performer, tour a solo show to over 100 regional Australian venues in

  conjunction with Regional Arts Victoria and Country Arts WA.

• Deliver physical theatre workshops in schools and community centres across regional Vic,

  QLD and WA.

• Organise and deliver community engagement activities in communities, such as Q&As in

  arts centre foyers and post-show suppers in halls.

• Solve logistic problems to enable the show to be performed in a variety of venues.

• Create rehearsal schedules, organise hire of equipment and transport, source props.

• Work in collaboration with a director.

• Work as a team with regional arts staff, a touring technician and tour manager to produce

  successful events.

• Use software to create budgets, write scripts and create and edit soundtracks.

• Communicate with touring team, volunteers, arts centre staff, teachers and regional arts staff.

• Use social media to advertise.

• Produce marketing materials.

• Write and submit grant applications.

• Source film production companies to document work.

   

Performer and Collaborator (2000-2020)

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• Self-employed, roving entertainment & street theatre. Perform at hundreds of corporate events, community events, festivals and private events, nationally.

• Over a twenty-year period create and deliver roving performance engaging with a wide range of people of all ages. Liaise with booking agents and clients.

• Create shows for library school holiday programs as part of women’s clown troupe, Fools Like Us. Deliver workshops in association with shows. Liaise with library staff.

• Roving entertainment at Woodford Folk Festival (2016) in collaboration with Kinetic Theatre.

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

Fiction

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Bridget Crack, 2017, Allen & Unwin: Sydney
‘A Concrete Aborigine’, Tasmania, Forty South, 2015 (June ed), and Forty South Short Story Anthology, 2015
‘God’s Lost Sheep’, Southerly, The Political Imagination, Vol 73,
Number 1, 2013
‘Gone to the Dogs’, Forty Degrees South Short Story Anthology, 2010 ‘Molluscan Princess’, 2006 Allnighter, Cardigan Press: Melbourne
‘The Wilting Rose’, Visible Ink, 2005
‘Ordinary World’, hijacked 5, 2005

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Non-fiction

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‘A Spadeful of Recherche Bay’, Island, Winter ed, July 2004
‘Youth Cultures of the Hobart Rivulet’ Australian Cultural Geographies ed Elaine Stratford, Oxford University Press: Melbourne, 1999
‘Re-writing the Hobart Rivulet’, Island, Winter ed, June 1998

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LITERARY AWARDS

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The Premier’s Literary Awards, Tasmania Book Prize, Winner, 2019 The Premier’s Literary Awards, Tasmania Book Prize, People’s Choice Awards Winner, 2019
Mud Literary Award for Australian Debut Fiction, finalist, 2018
The Goodest Prize: for the best book about a dog, finalist, 2018 Tasmanian Writers Prize, winner, 2015
The Age Short Story Competition, commended, 2011
Tasmanian Writers Prize, finalist, 2010
Boroondara Literary Awards, open short story category, 2nd prize, 2007 Visible Ink short story competition, winner, 2005

 

ARTS TRAINING

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Masterclass with YA writer Sonia Hartnett, Northern Books, 2019

‘Writing Animals’ masterclass with Laura Jean McKay, Vic Writers’ Centre, 2019

‘Nature Writing’ masterclass with Inga Simpson, Castlemaine State Festival, 2019

John Bolton Physical Theatre School, Melbourne 2016

Clown training with internationally reputed clown teachers, various workshops 2000-2017

Movement Improvisation training with Al Wunder and Andrew Morrish, 2003-2010

FREEZER program, two year long physical theatre training program, IS Theatre LTD, Hobart, 1998-2000

Various performance training/workshops in: physical theatre, acting, acrobalance, circus, improvisation, 1998-2015

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OTHER

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• Writers and Painters Exhibition, Disappearing, Bett Gallery Hobart, collaboration with artist and print-maker Helen Wright, 2021

• International Women’s Day, Panel Convenor and Presenter, Books at the Brewery, 2019

• First aid in adult education and child care HLTAID004 course, 2018

• Young Tasmanian Writers’ Prize, Judge, Senior Section, 2018

• Working with Children Check

• Police Check

• Duck for Cover, Public Liability Insurance

• RAW Comedy Victorian State Finalist (Nancy Browne) 2008

   

REFEREES

 

Please contact me for referees

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