Festival '25

The Soviet Union 1938: Lavrentiy Beria nervously prepares a Black Sea resort for a visit from Josef Stalin. Join acclaimed novelist Malcolm Knox for a thrilling conversation about his latest black comedy, The First Friend, with his friend Michael Robotham.

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Supported by The Holman Family

From non-verbal expression, the music of poetry, and cultural knowledge systems, communication shapes our understanding of the world. Join poet Maxine Beneba Clarke (Stuff I’m (Not) Sorry For), Gudanji/Wakaja academic Debra Dank (Terraglossia) and philosopher Damon Young (Immortal Gestures) for a beautiful discussion of how we communicate.

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With ABC Radio National Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell.

Experience a literary morning on the airwaves with ABC North Coast's Live Broadcast hosted by Bridie Tanner, with festival guests Damon Young, Peter Helliar, Esther Freud, Markus Zusak, Isobelle Carmody and Anita Heiss.

In the stories of Australia’s Black convicts from Africa, the Americas and Europe, Santilla Chingaipe offers a fresh understanding of how empire, slavery, race and memory have shaped our nation. With David Heilpern.

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Supported by Bangalow Film Festival

Delve into the poetic works of celebrated Indian writer, translator and scholar Akhil Katyal, author of Like Blood on the Bitten Tongue: Delhi Poems, How Many Countries Does the Indus Cross, and Night Charge Extra, and co-editor of The World That Belongs to Us: An Anthology of Queer Poetry from South Asia. His brilliant new poetry collection is The Last Time I Saw You. Join him in conversation with Mary Therese Kurkalang.

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Supported by The Vasudhara Fund

Join award-winning foreign correspondent and Executive Director of Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom, Peter Greste (The Correspondent), and Pulitzer Prize finalist John Vaillant (Fire Weather) for an urgent discussion on the state of play for press freedom and the most pressing media issues today. With Erik Jensen.

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Supported by The Byron Shire Echo

Get to know the real Gina Chick, inaugural winner of Alone Australia, and the story of her extraordinary, indomitable life in one of the most powerful, moving memoirs you will ever read, We Are the Stars. With Mel Bampton.

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Supported by Organic India

Join award-winning Tasmanian novelist Robbie Arnott to discuss his new book Dusk, described by Tim Winton as 'magnificent', and journey into the wild, haunted country of the highlands. With Naima Brown.

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Supported by GALAH

Celebrate the 30th novel from one of Australia's most successful and prolific authors, Di Morrissey. River Song is a story about friendship, a lottery ticket, and what happens when dreams come true. Di will be joined in conversation with her friend and long-time agent Jane Novak.

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Supported by Byron Shire Council

Join multi-award-winning author Jock Serong for a discussion of his new novel Cherrywood, an imaginative, darkly playful and deeply meaningful delight, a novel about legacy, community, wonder, love and reinvention. With Angela Catterns.

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Supported by The Book Room

From the nature ramble, overland pilgrimage, to a walk about the garden, walking inspires, stimulates, consoles and soothes us. Join environmental activist Geoff Cousins, Miles Franklin Award-winning author Michelle de Kretser (Theory & Practice), with Festival founder Chris Hanley to celebrate and contemplate the joy of walking.

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Supported by Tasmanian Walking Company

From the author of Hideous Kinky, comes a captivating novel about sisterhood, secrets, betrayal and love. Join British author Esther Freud for an intimate conversation about her new book, My Sister and Other Lovers, with ABC Radio National Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell.

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Supported by Tasmanian Walking Company

Join Anita Heiss, the internationally published, award-winning author of over 20 books, including the bestselling Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (River of Dreams) to discuss her groundbreaking historical novel, Dirrayawadha, about resistance, resilience and love during the frontier wars. With Michael Williams.

Discover the newest books from a heavyweight panel of Australia's masters of crime fiction – Chris Hammer (The Seven), Dervla McTiernan (The Unquiet Grave), and Michael Robotham (The White Crow). With Marele Day.

From the grand slams to the gutter, Todd Ley’s memoir Smashed: Tennis Prodigies, Parents and Parasites exposes the life of elite child athletes, and the devastating effects of unchecked sport parents, coaches, sponsors and associations. With Anna Featherstone.

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Supported by Bold Authors

Join award-winning portrait artist Vincent Fantauzzo (Unveiled) and Australian Children's Laureate Sally Rippin (Wild Things) for an exploration of neurodiversity – from dyslexia to ADHD and autism – and how we should think about difference and creativity. With Liz Nowell.

Literary superstars Robert Dessaix (Chameleon), Hannah Kent (Always Home, Always Homesick) and Markus Zusak (Three Wild Dogs (and the Truth)) reflect on the power of sharing their own personal stories. With Ashley Hay.

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Supported by Honey Bee Homes

Join multi-award-winning authors Shankari Chandran (Unfinished Business) and Malcolm Knox (The First Friend) for an exploration of their thrilling new novels, set against high-stakes backdrops of politics, intrigue and danger. With Sunil Badami.

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Supported by The Holman Family

Welcome to the hectic world of beauty and business in the highly relatable new novel from Zoë Foster Blake following a talented hair stylist turned entrepreneur. Things will calm down soon…right? Join Zoë in conversation with Leila McKinnon.

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Supported by Elements of Byron

Join Northern Rivers locals Kayte Nunn (The Palazzo) and PA Thomas (The Sunbaker) in discussion about their delicious new murder mysteries – set in destination locations from the foothills of the Italian Alps to right here in Byron Shire. With Hilarie Dunn.

In Working for the Brand, award-winning lawyer Josh Bornstein explores how major corporations exercise repressive control over the lives of their employees, destroying free speech and threatening our democracy. With Julianne Schultz.

In a beautifully crafted memoir of captivating emotional honesty, SBS Insight host Kumi Taguchi (The Good Daughter) sets out to understand the dad she never really knew, and – along the way – herself. With Chris Hanley.

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Supported by First National Byron

Join American-Canadian Pulitzer Prize finalist John Vaillant to discuss his internationally bestselling Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World. Winner of the Baillie Gifford Non-Fiction Prize, Fire Weather is a page-turning account of a brutal urban wildfire, exploring our rapidly changing relationship with fire. With Royce Kurmelovs.

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Supported by Tasmanian Walking Company

Join novelists Melanie Cheng (The Burrow), Esther Freud (My Sister and Other Lovers) and Cameron Stewart (Why Do Horses Run?) for a tender exploration of the secrets and silences within families, relationships, and ourselves. With Michael Williams.

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Supported by The Book Room

Join authors and broadcasters Jamila Rizvi and Rosie Waterland for an intimate discussion about their brave and honest new book Broken Brains, and their parallel experiences of being sick across physical and mental brain health. With Mick O'Regan.

When the first casualty of war is truth, journalists are increasingly at risk of becoming part of the battlefield. The Correspondent spotlights Peter Greste’s fight for press freedom since his imprisonment in Egypt, with a new chapter on Ukraine and Gaza. Join Peter in conversation with Mark Isaacs.

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Supported by Tasmanian Walking Company

From oceans to rivers, in flood and drought, for drinking, agriculture and industry, water is essential to life. Join Debra Dank (Terraglossia), Joëlle Gergis (Highway to Hell), Chris Hammer (The River) and James Sippo for an essential discussion on water and climate. With Erik Jensen.

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Supported by Southern Cross University

Always Home, Always Homesick is Hannah Kent's exquisite love letter to Iceland, a land that forged a nation of storytellers. It is her ode to the transcendent power of creativity and an invitation to join her in its mystery, spirit and wonder. Join Hannah in conversation with Steph Harmon.

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Supported by The Guardian

Join leading historians Jackie Huggins (Deep History: Country and Sovereignty) and Clare Wright (Naku Dharuk The Bark Petitions) in conversation with Grace Lucas-Pennington for a discussion on their remarkable new books that change our concepts of time, nationhood, sovereignty and Country.

Our bonds with friends are the fruit of life, filling our days with belonging, connection and purpose. Join Naima Brown (Mother Tongue), Amy Colli (NRCF), Di Morrissey (River Song) and Saman Shad (The Sex Lives of Married Women) for a riotous and moving discussion of friendship. With Mandy Nolan.

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Supported by Northern Rivers Community Foundation

Discover the lives of brilliant figures who shaped our art, politics, and environment, with Judith Brett (Fearless Beatrice Faust), Helen Ennis (Max Dupain) and Grantlee Kieza (Annette Kellerman and Mr & Mrs Gould). With Nell Schofield.

Join celebrated Australian writers Michelle de Kretser (Theory & Practice), Gail Jones (The Name of the Sister) and Don Watson (High Noon) in discussion about their literary craft, process, and influences, and the transformative power of reading. With Chris Hanley.

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Supported by Southern Cross University

Join one of Australia's most highly acclaimed authors of fantasy, Isobelle Carmody (Comes the Night) and philosopher Damon Young (Immortal Gestures) for a spellbinding discussion on our enduring love of this vast genre. With Alex Adsett.

Want to make change? Explore how collective action shapes society with Co-Chair of the Australian Republic Movement Esther Anatolitis (Meanjin: Essays that Changed Australia), union official and Yes Campaign Spokesperson Thomas Mayo (Always Was, Always Will Be), and MEAA author advocate Jennifer Mills (Salvage) in conversation with Royce Kurmelovs.

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Supported by The Guardian

Mark National Science Week with a joyous celebration of science and maths, culture, and the natural world, with JM Field (The Eagle and the Crow), Joëlle Gergis (Highway to Hell) and Corey Tutt (Deadly Reptiles). With Mel Bampton.

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Supported by The Holman Family

When the Walkley Award-winning investigative journalist was diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer, she learned the chilling truth about how the processed meat industry is killing us with the food we love. Join Lucie Morris-Marr (Processed) in conversation with David Sly.

Presented by NORPA

Join NORPA’s Artistic Director Julian Louis and Artistic Associate Heather Fairbairn for a special preview of Dinner Party at the End of the World—a powerful new work in development.

This intimate, sound-infused sharing features readings by local NORPA artists, underscored live by acclaimed film and television composer Matt Blackman (Colin from Accounts).

The reading combines verbatim accounts from community members affected by the catastrophic 2022 Northern Rivers flood with scenes written by renowned playwright Suzie Miller (Prima Facie).

Set at an imagined gathering of strangers who share food, memory, and survival, Dinner Party at the End of the World is both tragic and tender—an exploration of community, loss, and the radical power of kindness in crisis.

This session offers a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the creative process of crafting theatre from lived experience. A panel discussion with the creative team will follow the reading.

Creative Directors: Julian Louis and Heather Fairbairn | Concept by Julian Louis | Contributing Writer: Suzie Miller | Composer and Sound Designer: Matt Blackman | Image credit: Vanessa Kellas

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A Byron Writers Festival and NORPA collaboration, assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.

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Join three powerful women storytellers Gina Chick (We Are the Stars), Esther Freud (My Sister and Other Lovers) and Nardi Simpson (The Belburd) for an exploration of mother figures, matrilineal lines, and the ways that women hold family narratives. With Nell Schofield.

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Supported by The Vasudhara Fund

Political upheaval around the world has laid bare the fragility of democratic institutions and the rule of law. Join an esteemed panel featuring Judith Brett (Fearless Beatrice Faust), Julianne Schultz (The Idea of Australia) and Don Watson (High Noon) to diagnose the health of democracy. With Emma Shortis.

In a stirring, sensual and stunningly inventive take on the legend of Pope Joan, Emily Maguire's Rapture is a deeply spiritual and transgressive story from an award-winning writer. With Chris Hanley.

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Supported by First National Byron

Dive into the latest literary page-turners that combine interior depth and narrative flair, in stories from Sri Lanka to the Australian bush. Join Mark Brandi (Eden), Shankari Chandran (Unfinished Business), and Nikki Gemmell (Wing) in conversation with Robert Watkins.

Women and girls are disproportionately impacted by climate disasters and women leaders are driving change. Join Australia's most respected climate scientist Joëlle Gergis (Highway to Hell) and activist and Greens candidate Mandy Nolan for a rigorous discussion about the most urgent issue of our time and the experience of women in the field. With Mel Bampton.

World champion surfer Layne Beachley and former corporate athlete Tess Brouwer share insights from their transformative book Awake Academy, exploring resilience, self-belief, and personal growth through honest conversation and lived experience. With Courtney Miller.

Naku Dharuk The Bark Petitions is the story of a founding document in Australian democracy, and a pulsating picture of the ancient and enduring culture of Australia’s first peoples. Join Clare Wright for the annual Thea Astley Address, and in conversation with Kerry O'Brien.

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Supported by The Book Room

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Join one of Australia’s most celebrated writers, Gail Jones, in discussion about her highly anticipated new book, The Name of the Sister, an elegant and thrilling novel that explores the unreliable terrain between the truth and the stories we tell each other. With Michael Williams.

His books have sold 8.5 million copies. Now the No. 1 bestseller returns with a nail-biting PC Phil McCarthy novel. Join Michael Robotham in conversation about his new book following daughter of a London crime boss, Police Constable Philomena McCarthy, in The White Crow. With Malcolm Knox.

Chef and restaurateur Ben Shewry knows obsession well. It's what propelled his Melbourne restaurant Attica into one of the most acclaimed dining experiences in the world. His absorbing memoir-meets-manifesto Uses for Obsession explores creativity, food journalism, sexism in hospitality, sustainability, the cult of the chef, and the legendary Family Bolognese. With Erik Jensen.

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Supported by Basq House

It’s 1986, and ‘beautiful, radical ideas’ are in the air. A young woman arrives in Melbourne to research the novels of Virginia Woolf.

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Michelle de Kretser’s Stella Prize-winning seventh novel Theory & Practice is a mesmerising account of desire and jealousy, truth and shame. It makes and unmakes fiction as we read, expanding our notion of what a novel can contain. Michelle is joined in conversation by Jill Eddington.

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Supported by Elements of Byron

Joe Aston's award-winning book The Chairman's Lounge is the full story of how one of the nation’s favourite brands, Qantas, was brought to the ground – and who did it. Former Rear Window columnist for the Australian Financial Review, Joe is joined in conversation by Leila McKinnon.

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Supported by The Holman Family

Celebrate the wonders of the wild. Acclaimed writers Robbie Arnott (Dusk), Gina Chick (We Are the Stars) and Corey Tutt (Deadly Reptiles) share how their connection with nature informs their work. With Courtney Miller.

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Supported by Australian Ethical

Almost two years since the 2023 Voice referendum, join Yes campaigner Thomas Mayo, NSW Treaty Commissioner Naomi Moran, and Commissioner For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts to discuss ways forward with award-winning journalist Daniel Browning.

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Supported by The Vasudhara Fund

Brilliant novelists and memoirists of migrant family experience share stories of resilience, joy and belonging. With authors Jumaana Abdu (Translations), Mark Brandi (Eden), and Kumi Taguchi (The Good Daughter) speaking with chair Sunil Badami.

Join graphic novelist Rachel Ang (I Ate the Whole World to Find You), poet Anne-Marie Te Whiu (Mettle) and philosopher Damon Young (Immortal Gestures) for a discussion on trauma, memory, and bodies, and how we connect our past to our futures. With Ashley Hay.

Twenty years ago, The Book Thief became an international bestseller and instant classic. Join Markus Zusak in conversation with David Leser to reflect on this significant milestone, his literary career, and why the book still resonates so strongly today.

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Supported by The Book Room

Energy policy loomed large over the 2025 federal election. Join businessman and environmentalist Geoff Cousins, Climate 200's Simon Holmes à Court, and Slick author and climate journalist Royce Kurmelovs to discuss what's next in the transition to net zero, and attempts to establish nuclear power in Australia. With ABC Radio National Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell.

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Supported by Australian Ethical

World champion surfers Layne Beachley (Awake Academy) and Pauline Menczer (Surf Like a Woman) share stories of resilience, rebellion and radical joy for women in surfing, past and future, and above all – a deep love for the ocean. With Jock Serong.

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Supported by Tasmanian Walking Company

From science and mathematics to understandings of space and time, memory, kinship systems, languages and linguistics, celebrate Indigenous knowledge and culture with Debra Dank (Terraglossia), JM Field (The Eagle and the Crow) and Delta Kay. With Bebe Oliver.

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Supported by Blak & Bright

A panel of celebrated artists, writers and academics delve into the unspoken realities of class and unequal opportunity to careers in the arts, and how reading and writing changes lives. With Vincent Fantauzzo (Unveiled), Anita Heiss (Red Dust Running), Gail Jones (The Name of the Sister) and chair Grace Lucas-Pennington.

Indian graphic novelist Ita Mehrotra discusses storytelling and illustration as a powerful tool of protest and resistance. Her latest book Uprooted tells of the fight for forest rights in India, while Shaheen Bagh documents the women-led anti-CAA protests. With Mary Therese Kurkalang.

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Join award-winning literary novelists Robbie Arnott (Dusk), Melanie Cheng (The Burrow) and John Vaillant (The Tiger) to discuss the power, mystery, and poetry of animals, and their role as characters and symbols in their work. With Ashley Hay.

For Aboriginal people, the past is the present. In Deep History: Country and Sovereignty, Jackie Huggins and Ann McGrath explore Indigenous histories of caring for places and people over millennia. With Rhianna Patrick.

Sky-high rents, a generation fearing they'll be locked out of the market, and uninsurable towns. The housing crisis and climate change are on a collision course. Join Executive Director of the Australia Institute Richard Denniss and Director of Living Lab Northern Rivers Elizabeth Mossop for an urgent discussion of what can be done to restore and protect the most fundamental human right: shelter. With Esther Anatolitis.

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Supported by The Australia Institute

From the theft of artist labour and intellectual property, 'slop' content, errors and hallucinations, is the AI bubble about to burst? Join Josh Bornstein (Working for the Brand), Saul Griffith (Plug In!) and Jennifer Mills (Salvage) to discuss the role of AI at, and in, work. With Alice Grundy.

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Supported by Southern Cross University

What constitutes a good death? In The Power of Choice, award-winning photographer Julian Kingma and voluntary assisted dying advocate Andrew Denton explore the stories of those on their final journey. Join them in conversation on the future of end-of-life care with Virginia Trioli.

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Supported by The Vasudhara Fund

Explore the natural beauty and poetic pathways of the festival site in this walking tour featuring performances by acclaimed poets Akhil Katyal, Kirli Saunders, Anne-Marie Te Whiu, and hosted by Laurie May.

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Supported by Australian Poetry via funding from the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund

Get the analysis on Donald Trump's second presidency with an all-star lineup of political commentators Nick Bryant, Barry Jones, Emma Shortis and Don Watson. Is Australia's relationship with the USA intact, and what can be done in the face of authoritarianism? With Julianne Schultz.

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Supported by The Australia Institute

From misogynistic 'manosphere' influencers like Andrew Tate to viral TV series Adolescence, the radicalisation of boys is a worldwide concern. Join Jess Hill, Thomas Mayo and George Megalogenis for a discussion on how to empower and protect young people. With ABC Radio National Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell.

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Supported by Quarterly Essay

Explore the richness of the past and contemporary resonances with masterful storytellers Tom Keneally (Fanatic Heart), Emily Maguire (Rapture) and Jock Serong (Cherrywood) in conversation with Jill Eddington.

The lyrical and profound winning novel of the 2025 MUD Literary Prize, Why Do Horses Run?, was described by Tim Winton as 'tender and humane, a haunting debut' about love and loss, and what might make a person never want to be found. Author Cameron Stewart is joined in conversation by prize judge David Sly.

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Supported by MUD Literary Club

Explore the paradoxes of the bedroom from hookups to the ballot box with historian Judith Brett (Fearless Beatrice Faust), podcaster and advocate Hannah Ferguson (Taboo), and philosopher Damon Young (On Getting Off). With Carody Culver.

From health conditions, neurodiversity and mental illness, how does putting a name on something change how we understand ourselves? Join Lucie Morris Marr (Processed), Sonya Voumard (Tremor), Rosie Waterland (Broken Brains). With Liz Nowell.

Join acclaimed writer and broadcaster Robert Dessaix to muse on pleasure, art, sex, literature, infatuation, happiness, music, life, death and all the rest. His new book Chameleon is a virtuoso performance of self-revelation, on a search for what makes life good. With Suzy Freeman-Greene.

Named one of SMH's Best Young Australian Novelists 2025, Jumaana Abdu's exquisite debut novel Translations explores identity, trauma, faith and community in rural New South Wales. See her in conversation with Anne-Marie Te Whiu.

Now that the dust has settled on the 2025 federal election, get the political analysis with an independent twist from commentator and past candidate Jane Caro, Climate 200's Simon Holmes à Court and Quarterly Essayist George Megalogenis (Minority Report). With Misha Ketchell.

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Supported by The Conversation

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Explore Indian and Sri Lankan literature with Miles Franklin winner Shankari Chandran (Unfinished Business), poet and translator Akhil Katyal (The Last Time I Saw You) and graphic artist Ita Mehrotra (Uprooted), and savour the stories and memories woven from place. With Sunil Badami.

A Bit on the Side is Virginia Trioli's ode to joy, filled with wisdom, stories, memories and recipes, all told with her renowned insight and wicked sense of humour. Join Virginia in conversation with Jennifer Wong.

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Supported by Crystalbrook Byron

Host Peter Helliar

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9.00am - Rhyme and rap with Word Travels' poets Miles Merrill and Rachael Williams

9.30am - Chase your dreams with Tony Armstrong (George the Wizard and Maggie the Dragon)

10.00am - Solve crimes with Peter Helliar (Detective Galileo)

10.30am - Storytime with Anita Heiss (Koori Princess and Yirra and Her Deadly Dog, Demon)

11.00am - Create a story with Sarah Armstrong (Run)

11.30am - Jesse Blackadder Prize Presentation

11.45am - Dance with The Gumboots

What are the books that shape our culture? Join biographer Helen Ennis (Max Dupain), novelist Nikki Gemmell (Wing) and poet Hasib Hourani (rock flight) to discuss the books that wield influence and form the new canon. With Suzy Freeman-Greene.

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Supported by The Conversation

Activities & Storytime

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9.00am - Storytime with Kirli Saunders (Afloat)

9.30am - Bee a nature hero with Judy Friedlander (The Bee Squad: Boosting biodiversity in your neighbourhood)

10.10am - Flower crowns with Zanni Louise

10.50am - Poetry with Sarah Temporal

11:20am - Draw with Jake A Minton (Inked: A Graphic Novel)

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Journalists are said to write 'the first rough draft of history' as key witnesses and writers of world events. Join intrepid journalists Nick Bryant (The Forever War), three-time Walkley Award-winner Colleen Ryan and Pulitzer Prize finalist John Vaillant to chart the geopolitical landscape, from the USA and China to the Middle East. With Lenore Taylor.

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Supported by the Walkley Foundation

One of Australia's most prolific writers, Tom Keneally has won the Miles Franklin Award, Booker Prize, Los Angeles Times Prize, Mondello International Prize and is the subject of a 55 cent Australian stamp. Join Tom in conversation with Esther Anatolitis to reflect on his life in books and the future of Australian literature.

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Supported by Southern Cross University

Human is the searing, thought-provoking analysis of Australian society, from Wik singer-songwriter Ziggy Ramo. Part memoir, part historical treatise, Human invites readers to confront the realities of colonisation and their own biases, dispelling the myths that this nation is built on. With Rhoda Roberts.

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Supported by Koori Mail

Griffith Review 89: Here Be Monsters surveys beasts and bogeymen past and present to peel back the layers of our social and cultural anxieties. What are we most afraid of? And what form might the monsters of the future take? Join Jumaana Abdu and Sita Walker in conversation with Carody Culver.

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Supported by Griffith Review

It’s footy season in Melbourne, and Helen Garner is following her grandson’s under-16s team. The Season is a celebration of the nobility, grace and grit of team spirit, a reflection on the nature of masculinity, and a tribute to the game’s power to thrill us. Helen is joined in conversation by fellow writer Jock Serong.

New York Times #1 bestseller Tigest Girma (Immortal Dark) and Australian BookTok star Stacey McEwan (Forbidden Alchemy) delve into the deliciously dark, dangerously romantic world where fantasy and romance collide. With Naima Brown.

Love, family, friendship – it’s complicated. Join Rachel Ang (I Ate the Whole World to Find You) and Saman Shad (The Sex Lives of Married Women) as they delve into the magnificently messy lives of the characters in their books. A witty, heartfelt conversation about identity, connection and the chaos that makes us human. With Rhianna Patrick.

Australian intellectual and former ALP politician Barry Jones is a ‘living national treasure’. Kerry O’Brien is arguably Australia’s most distinguished and respected journalist with six Walkley Awards and a career spanning more than fifty years. Don't miss this meeting of two titans of Australian political and social commentary. Expect profound insights, quick wit and decades of wisdom.

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Supported by Tasmanian Walking Company

Author, feminist, public education activist and commentator Jane Caro is a force to be reckoned with. The author of thirteen novels, including the bestselling The Mother, Caro has turned her prodigious talent to a page-turning thriller with Lyrebird. Get set for an utterly entertaining conversation with Mick O’Regan.

What will it take to stop gendered violence? Australian governments promised to end violence against women and children in a single generation. Instead, it is escalating. What went wrong? And what can we all do to turn it around? Jess Hill (Losing It: Quarterly Essay, See What You Made Me Do) is one of Australia’s most respected thinkers on gendered violence. Hear her in discussion with The Guardian’s Lucy Clark.

Australians love the sun – our outdoor lifestyle is our trademark. It’s also why every thirty minutes someone is diagnosed with melanoma. In her revealing memoir, Sunburnt, Anne Gately recounts her life-saving immunotherapy treatment under the care of Professor Georgina Long (2024 co-Australian of the Year with Richard Scolyer). In this valuable discussion Anne also outlines the path she took to publish her own story. With Anna Featherstone.

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Supported by IngramSpark

What will it take to heal our planet – and how can each of us play a meaningful role? This inspiring panel explores the intersection of education, philanthropy, and community action in the fight against climate change and the practical things you can do to decarbonise, boost biodiversity, and green our world. Featuring Amy Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles, Judy Friedlander, Saul Griffith and Kate Saunders. With Courtney Miller.

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Supported by Australian Ethical

Unravelling the day-to-day reality of shared parenting amid growing environmental and class concerns, David Stavanger writes poems of excruciating beauty and acute humanity. Hear him in conversation about his collection The Drop Off with acclaimed ABC broadcaster Angela Catterns.