About the program
The Forest (formerly the Hedberg) Writer-in-Residence Program is open to established Australian writers with publication records in any genre.
The successful writer receives $32,500, which equates to a $22,500 stipend and domestic travel allowance, plus self-contained accommodation and travel in Hobart and elsewhere in Tasmania valued at $10,000. The writer will devote three months to writing in a quiet but stimulating environment, including their own office, in the University of Tasmania's new Forest Building in the heart of Hobart. During the residency, as well as working on an original piece, the winner will engage with the University's creative writing students, emerging Tasmanian authors, and the state’s creative community through a small number of workshops and masterclasses in the north and south of the state. Opportunities for other public engagement activities will also be supported.
- Applications will open in November 2026 for the 2027 fellowship.
- The successful recipient will be announced in mid-April 2027.
- The commencement date for the residency is negotiable, with the latest date of completion Friday 10 December 2027.
The residency is offered by the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Tasmania. The project is supported by the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund.
Applicants are required to provide:
- A cover letter
- A proposal outlining the project you will work on during the residency, indicating the current stage of development (maximum 1,000 words)
- A statement outlining how you will benefit from the residency (maximum 250 words)
- A short CV (maximum 2 x A4 pages)
- A sample of writing (maximum 3,000 words which can be selected from one or more texts)
- Please email your application as a single-file attachment in .pdf or MSW .docx format to hedbergwir@utas.edu.au. Include the subject line "Expression of Interest for 2026”.
For further information contact Associate Professor Robert Clarke.
Accommodation
Jane Franklin Hall
The University of Tasmania is partnering with Jane Franklin Hall in providing the accommodation for the residency. Jane Franklin Hall is an independent non-denominational residential college located in South Hobart, on one of Hobart’s many hills overlooking the city. Situated almost in the middle between the Sandy Bay and city campus, Jane is a 30-minute walk or short bus ride on the Jane Bus to all university sites in Hobart and the CBD.
The Forest writer-in-residence will have a self-contained studio apartment fully equipped for making meals, with a hot plate and convection oven plus all kitchen utensils, crockery and cutlery that might be needed. It will also have a washing machine and provision of bed linen, towels and equipment such as vacuum cleaners, an iron and ironing board and a television with unlimited wifi.
The writer-in-residence can also, at no extra cost, eat any meals in the dining hall, where residents are catered three meals a day throughout the year.
As part of living at Jane Franklin Hall, the writer-in-residence will have full use of all facilities such as the bus, the laundry, the tennis court, common areas and the Senior Common Room.
Frequently asked questions
Applications will be assessed on the following criteria:
- Artistic merit of the applicant's previous work;
- Artistic merit and achievability of the proposed project;
- Likely benefit of the residency for the applicant's professional development; and
- How the applicant and the proposed project will benefit the Tasmanian creative community.
- The successful applicant will be an Australian citizen/resident
During their term, the Hedberg Writer-in-Residence will:
- Undertake original work;
- Conduct a weekend workshop for emerging authors;
- Conduct two masterclasses with University English and Writing students (in Hobart and at a northern campus); and
- Engage in other activities as negotiated with the Program Coordinator
The program is open to writers in any field or genre (including fiction or nonfiction prose, poetry, script) with an established publishing profile in Australia (at least one major work published with a commercial publisher).
At the conclusion of their term, the writer-in-residence will submit a report on the experiences and achievements of the residency to inform the program's future development.
The program will provide one twelve-week residency, to be commenced after Monday 2 August 2027 and completed by 10 December 2027.
- Entries will be judged in confidence by the School’s selection committee
- The selection committee's decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into
- The selection committee may select no applicant at their discretion and readvertise the residency
The University will offer accommodation with Jane Franklin Hall.
- A cash stipend of $22,500 will be paid to the successful resident for their participation in the residency, and to cover all of their costs (e.g. travel, travel insurance, etc)
- Accommodation and extra travel costs within the state will be provided by the University valued at $10,000
- Office space in the new Forest Building located in the Hobart CBD; a library card, and printing equipment willalso be made available
- The School of Humanities and Social Sciences will organise and coordinate all workshops and public events
- All applications will be assessed by the Selection Committee
- The successful applicant will be informed of the decision in May/June 2027
Angela was the Hedberg Writer-in-Residence 2025.
She is a multi-award-winning author of novels, novellas and short stories, as well as a graphic novel collaboration with Mike Mignola, Castle Full of Blackbirds, set in the Hellboy Universe. Her work has been translated into Bulgarian, Chinese, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Polish, French, Turkish, Czechoslovakian and Romanian. Her most recent novels, set in the Sourdough Universe, are currently published by Titan: All The Murmuring Bones, The Path of Thorns, The Briar Book of the Dead, The Crimson Road and the forthcoming A Forest Darkly (2026). A contemporary horror novella, The Cold House, was published in October 2025.
During her residency, amongst other things, Angela completed a draft of a new novella, A Book for the End of the World, while commencing a new piece, Sleeping Under Ivy.
Eugen was the Hedberg Writer-in-Residence 2024
Award-winning African Australian speculative fiction author Eugen Bacon used her residency the work on and complete a new novel, Crimson in Quietus (A Sauúti novel), a new kind of mystery where the investigator is not a detective but a sound magic scientist.
Born in Tanzania and based in Melbourne, Eugen is the author of several novels and collections. She’s a British Fantasy Award winner, a Victorian Premier’s Literary Award finalist (for her most recent novel Serengotti), a Foreword Indies Award winner, and twice a World Fantasy Award finalist. Her work has appeared in some of the world’s best fantasy, science fiction and African literary magazines.
Michelle Cahill was the Hedberg Writer-in-Residence 2023
Michelle planned to use the residency to progress work on her novel, the story of an Indian sailor - or ‘lascar’ - who survives the wreck of the Brahmin off the King Island coast in 1854.
Michelle who is based in Sydney and of Indian heritage, has already spent time on King Island as part of her research for the novel. She said the Hedberg residency will allow her further access to important archives and cultural consultation with the local community.
Gail Jones was the Hedberg Writer-in-Residence in 2022
As the recipient, Jones planned to develop a major new work, deliver classes to writing students from the University and conduct a workshop for emerging authors.
Gail said she was delighted to receive the residency and was keen to connect with the writing community in Tasmania.
Robbie Arnott was the Hedberg Writer-in-Residence in 2021
Robbie used the precious residency time to write his third novel, Limberlost, which was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award and won the Age Book of the Year for fiction in 2023.
Based on the life of Arnott’s grandfather, it tells the story of teenager Ned on his family’s Tasmanian orchard during World War II.
Connect
Location
The Forest Building
University of Tasmania
83 Melville Street
Hobart TAS 7000
Postal address
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Arts and Society
University of Tasmania
PO Box 426
HOBART, TAS 7001