I’m pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 mid-year scholarships. Overall, we had over 260 applications vying for five scholarship places in five classes, and we were very impressed with the standard of work across the board. I’d like to assure candidates not to be discouraged if they did not receive a scholarship—you never know who else is in the mix in any given year, and it’s always worth throwing your hat into the ring again for our February scholarships.
It is with regret that we say farewell to Deborah Robertson, who created our year-long course Writing a Creative Nonfiction Book (formerly Writing a Narrative Nonfiction Book), and was well known for giving her absolute all to her students and their work. We hope she will return to teach some short courses for us in Melbourne. This year, Writing a Creative Nonfiction Book program will be taught online by Ingrid Horrocks, and I’m pleased to announce that the course will now reach students from Queensland, Aotearoa/New Zealand, regional Victoria and further afield.
As Writing a Speculative Fiction Novel has a later start date than our other mid-year commencing courses, we are currently working through the applications, and will make the scholarship announcement in our August newsletter. Such suspense!
There are limited paid places still available in Writing a Novel (Daytime) Sydney, Writing a Novel (Daytime) Melbourne, Writing a Novel Online and there is still time to apply for a paid place in Writing a Speculative Fiction Novel. If you’re still thinking about applying, get in quick!
Happy writing everyone!
Pip Smith, Manager, Faber Writing Academy
Maria Dudko
Writing a Creative Nonfiction Book
Maria Dudko is an award-winning filmmaker and writer based on Gadigal land. Her work explores how violence shapes both individual and collective memory, and how memories are constructed, distorted, or suppressed over time. She studied film and politics, and brings a proudly queer and working-class perspective to her practice.
Anna Quinn
Writing a Novel Online
Anna Quinn is a science communicator and aspiring fiction writer. For work, she turns scientific papers into compelling stories for the research program, Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF). For leisure, she is currently trying to turn words into a novel. She’s interested in how art can influence change.
Suri Matondkar
Writing a Novel (Daytime) Melbourne
Suri Matondkar is a writer and doctoral student interested in language and identity. She was a 2024 Hot Desk Fellow at the Wheeler Centre and was also awarded the 2025 Eric Dark flagship fellowship by Varuna, The National Writers’ House. She likes Taylor Swift, scribbling and avoiding phone calls.
Steffanie von Helle
Writing a Novel (Daytime) Sydney
Steffanie von Helle is a public policy specialist and creative from Gadigal Land, Sydney. Living with a chronic illness, she always seeks challenging opportunities – from working in cemeteries, policing, and suicide prevention to living in Berlin, Edinburgh and Dhaka. Her writing reflects resilience and the richness of lived experience.