Newstead Young Writers Festival

Primary + Secondary aged writers can pre-book from OVER 20 WORKSHOPS and mentoring sessions. These run all day catering for young writers with a range of interests and skill levels. Tickets sell out fast, so keep an eye on your email to get early access and book early to avoid disappointment. Tickets drop soon! For everyone else (including adults/parents/educators) General Admission gets you entry to the festival, with plenty to enjoy for story enthusiasts of all ages, including talks, readings, meet the author, facepainting and entertainment. Writers of all ages are invited to join our series of all-day Author Talks on the Main Stage on themes including: Wild Things with Sally Rippin, Becoming a Writer, First Nations Stories, Weaving Fact and Fiction and Making Picture Books There will also be story-times under the Faraway Tree, author/illustrator signing sessions at our festival book shop Squishy Minnie, plus food stalls, games and a few more surprises! SPECIAL EVENT: Sally Rippin on ‘Wild Things’ + Q&A On the Main Stage (11am) Join beloved Australian author and former Australian Children’s Laureate Sally Rippin for a conversation about her book Wild Things. What happens when a child struggles to learn to read — and what can we do before they fall through the cracks? An honest, hopeful conversation about reading, neurodiversity, learning differences and helping every child find their way into the world of books.