Visiting International Publishers (VIPs) Program – Committee Members 2027-2029
Key dates
Applications open: Tuesday 7 July 2026 at 3pm AEST
Applications close: Tuesday 1 September at 3pm AEST
Notification: Approximately six weeks after the closing date
Program dates: 2027-2029
Location: Sydney, Australia
Details
Art form: Literature
Amount: $2,000
Contact
To discuss your application, please contact:
Alice Cottrell, Project Officer, Writing Australia
03 9616 0353
alice.cottrell@creative.gov.au
Please note:
To apply you must be registered in our application management system a minimum of two business days prior to the closing date.
About the opportunity
The Visiting International Publishers (VIPs) program invites international publishers, scouts and literary agents to Australia each year, to showcase Australia’s literary talent, discuss global publishing trends, strengthen cross-cultural relationships, and promote the sale of rights to Australian titles in international markets. The week-long schedule of business meetings, networking events, and industry forum panel discussions is delivered in Sydney across the same dates as the Sydney Writers’ Festival each year.
Since its inception, the program has been delivered in consultation with a committee of Australian industry representatives, selected on the basis of their extensive industry expertise and international market knowledge. They represent a range of skills and experience across the Australian publishing industry, have strong connections internationally, and are passionate about Australian writers and writing.
Two of our current committee members, Emma Dorph from Hachette Australia & New Zealand and Marika Webb-Pullman from Scribe Publications, are concluding their terms this year, and we would like to sincerely thank them for their generous contribution of expertise and enthusiasm during their tenure on the VIPs committee. We are seeking two industry representatives to fill their positions on the committee.
Membership of the committee comprises a rights manager, a publisher and a literary agent, with at least one of the committee members specialising in books for younger readers. With Alexandra Christie from Curtis Brown Australia continuing her term as our literary agent representative, we invite applications from publishers and rights managers working in children's or adult fiction and non-fiction (or across lists for both adults and younger readers).
Applications are now open for positions on the committee for the next three years, with 2027 program dates of 16-21 May 2027.
About the role
Responsibilities include:
- selection of the VIPs each year
- assistance with program planning and events, in particular the industry forum
- hosting one panel during the industry forum
- availability for the duration of the program week to host the VIPs in Sydney
- promoting the program internationally to encourage suitable applications.
Support
An honorarium of $2,000 will be paid to the successful candidates as a contribution towards their work on the program. Return economy airfares to Sydney and accommodation for the program dates will also be covered by Writing Australia, along with meals at official VIPs events.
All other costs associated with participation in the VIPs program are the responsibility of the individual.
Further details will be provided to committee members upon invitation.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Australian rights managers and publishers working in children's or adult fiction and non-fiction (or those working across lists for both adults and younger readers).
Applicants will have a broad range of skills and expertise across the Australian publishing industry, have strong international market knowledge and networks, and will be passionate about Australian writers and writing.
Please check the general eligibility requirements on the Creative Australia website.
Who can’t apply
You can’t apply for a grant if:
- you have an overdue grant report to Creative Australia
- you owe money to Creative Australia.
Protocols
Your application must comply with the following Protocols. We may contact you to request further information during the assessment process, or if successful, as a condition of your funding.
Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts
All applications involving First Nations artists, communities or subject matter must adhere to these Protocols, provide evidence of this in their application and support material. More information on the First Nations Protocols is available here.
Commonwealth Child Safe Framework
All successful applicants are required to comply with all Australian law relating to employing or engaging people who work or volunteer with children, including working with children checks and mandatory reporting. Successful organisations who provide services directly to children, or whose funded activities involve contact with children, will additionally be required to implement the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.
Assessment
Writing Australia staff will assess your application against the published selection criteria and will seek recommendations by industry advisors as needed.
You will be notified of the outcome of your application approximately six weeks after the closing date.
Expressions of Interest are reviewed against a framework which considers the overall mix of representatives necessary to reflect the Australian publishing industry, including:
- Rights managers and publishers
- Genres and areas of expertise
- A mix of smaller and larger publishing houses
- Geographic spread across states and territories.
Assessment criteria
Applicants are required to respond to the following selection criteria:
- industry experience and knowledge of international markets
- the contribution you can make to the success of the program .
Application form
The types of questions we ask in the application form include:
- a response to the selection criteria.
Support material
No support material is required. Please note that you will be unable to attach support material to your online application.
You are not required to submit a budget with your application.
