Celebrating a decade of books, writing and ideas, 2010–2020.

Attend

In October, explore our Wheeler Education events on politics, self-care and creative careers ›

Read

Songwriter Alex Lahey on streams of consciousness, Teddy Geiger and the forgotten cinematic classic, Dunston Checks In ›

Listen

Introducing The Leap Year, a new podcast about the impact Covid-19 has had on Australians’ lives, hosted by Sally Warhaft ›

Highlights

New/interesting

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of #5 Dr Neil Cunningham on protecting others

The Leap Year

5 Dr Neil Cunningham on protecting others  /  Health & medicine

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of #4 Robyn Archer on looking forward

The Leap Year

4 Robyn Archer on looking forward  /  Performing arts & pop culture

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of #3 Brendon Gale on bringing it home

The Leap Year

3 Brendon Gale on bringing it home  /  Sport

News
Promo image for Announcing the 2020 Signal Boost mentors

Announcing the 2020 Signal Boost mentors  /  Radio & podcasts

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of #2 Chenxin Tu on rites of passage

The Leap Year

2 Chenxin Tu on rites of passage  /  Education

News
Promo image for Working with Words: Alex Lahey

Working with Words: Alex Lahey  /  Music

Guest post by Alex Lahey

Instant replay

Recent favourites from our video archive

 
Promo image for Broadly Speaking: Power, Privilege and Pushing Back

Broadly Speaking: Power, Privilege and Pushing Back  /  Activism

With Amy McQuire, Nyadol Nyuon, Tanya Talaga and 1 other

 
Promo image for The End of Orthodoxy: Australia in a post-pandemic world

The End of Orthodoxy: Australia in a post-pandemic world  /  History, politics & current affairs

With Penny Wong, Laura Tingle, and Michael Wesley

 
Promo image for We Are Nemeses: Talking Experimental Comedy

We Are Nemeses: Talking Experimental Comedy  /  Comedy & humour

With Alistair Baldwin, Vidya Rajan, Chloe Alison Escott and 1 other

 
Promo image for Writing Blak

Writing Blak  /  First Nations

With Meleika Gesa-Fatafehi, Racheal Oak Butler, Lorna Munro and 2 others

 
Promo image for Fire Front: First Nations Poetry and Power Today

Fire Front: First Nations Poetry and Power Today  /  Poetry

With Alison Whittaker, Evelyn Araluen, Natalie Harkin and 9 others

 
Promo image for How on Earth: Christiana Figueres and Ross Garnaut on Climate Solutions Now

How on Earth: Christiana Figueres and Ross Garnaut on Climate Solutions Now  /  Environment

With Christiana Figueres and Ross Garnaut

Running thoughts

From some upcoming presenters

Portrait of George Megalogenis

The pandemic has not only ended Australia’s record run of economic growth, it has taken the recovery out of our hands while we wait for a vaccine, or an effective treatment.

George Megalogenis on COVID-19

Portrait of Richard Flanagan

Fiction is not a lie, but a truth, a fundamental and necessary truth.

Richard Flanagan on the power of fiction

Portrait of Ann Goldstein

I don’t think it’s necessary to have an affinity for the writer, but with Ferrante, I do.

Ann Goldstein on the art of translation

Latest news

Updates from the Wheeler Centre and adjacents

Announcing the 2020 Signal Boost mentors  /  Radio & podcasts

Working with Words: Alex Lahey  /  Music

Guest post by Alex Lahey

Working with Words: Claire Christian  /  Books, reading & writing

Guest post by Claire Christian

Working with Words: Joey Bui  /  Work

Guest post by Joey Bui

Dive into our podcasts with these gateway episodes

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Tell Me a Story: Mem Fox on Reading Aloud

The Wheeler Centre

Tell Me a Story: Mem Fox on Reading Aloud  /  Children’s books

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of #1 The invasion of death

Better Off Dead

1 The invasion of death  /  Life & death

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of #1 Aziz, Not a Boat Number

The Messenger

1 Aziz, Not a Boat Number  /  Migration

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of #1 Moses Supposes He Has a Diagnosis

Pill Pop

1 Moses Supposes He Has a Diagnosis  /  Bodies

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Shelf Life: Paul Holdengräber and Susan Orlean on Libraries

The Wheeler Centre

Shelf Life: Paul Holdengräber and Susan Orlean on Libraries  /  Books, reading & writing

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Take Home Reading: Victoria Hannan

The Wheeler Centre

Take Home Reading: Victoria Hannan  /  New & emerging writers

Alexander Chee: How To Write An Autobiographical Novel

Watch




Listen to Housekeeping – an audio mini-series about voting, beyond the ballot box

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Housekeeping #1: Sizzle

The Wheeler Centre

Housekeeping #1: Sizzle  /  Australia

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Housekeeping #2: ID

The Wheeler Centre

Housekeeping #2: ID  /  Government

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Housekeeping #3: No-Shows

The Wheeler Centre

Housekeeping #3: No-Shows  /  Australian politics

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Housekeeping #4: Scrutiny

The Wheeler Centre

Housekeeping #4: Scrutiny  /  Government

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Housekeeping #5: Locked Out

The Wheeler Centre

Housekeeping #5: Locked Out  /  Crime

Some of our favourite notes

Note
Promo image for Reading into Dementia

Reading into Dementia  /  Young & old

Guest post by Melanie Joosten

Note
Promo image for The Case for Cartoons

The Case for Cartoons  /  Comedy & humour

Guest post by Oslo Davis

Note
Promo image for Live the Lie: how narrative is used in crowdfunding

Live the Lie: how narrative is used in crowdfunding  /  Internet, journalism, media & publishing

Guest post by Oscar Schwartz

Note
Promo image for Beyond Bars: two perspectives

Beyond Bars: two perspectives  /  Social justice

By Sophie Quick

Note
Promo image for Heat Waves: Something Good is Gonna Happen

Heat Waves: Something Good is Gonna Happen  /  Music

Guest post by Sam George-Allen

Note
Promo image for Putting Quarters in a Broken Machine: on the merit of literary prizes in Australia

Putting Quarters in a Broken Machine: on the merit of literary prizes in Australia  /  Awards & prizes

Guest post by Omar Sakr

Note
Promo image for I'm Only Sleeping: Stories from the edge of wakefulness

I’m Only Sleeping: Stories from the edge of wakefulness  /  Radio & podcasts

Guest post by Bec Fary

Note
Promo image for Jumping Off Mountains

Jumping Off Mountains  /  Biography & memoir

Guest post by Cheryl Strayed

Note
Promo image for Deny, Deny, Deny

Deny, Deny, Deny  /  Race & multiculturalism

Guest post by Santilla Chingaipe

Note
Promo image for Miranda July's Internet Interventions

Miranda July’s Internet Interventions  /  Books, reading & writing

Guest post by Connor Tomas O'Brien

Note
Promo image for Radio is Dead: Long live radio documentaries and features

Radio is Dead: Long live radio documentaries and features  /  Radio & podcasts

Guest post by Kyla Brettle

Note
Promo image for The Tern

The Tern  /  Fiction

Guest post by Tony Birch

Note
Promo image for Loudest Libraries

Loudest Libraries  /  Books, reading & writing

Guest post by Stuart Kells

Note
Promo image for Members Only: on politicians who write fiction

Members Only: on politicians who write fiction  /  Fiction

By Sophie Quick

Note
Promo image for Dear Lexdyslic Reader: why I love Roald Dahl

Dear Lexdyslic Reader: why I love Roald Dahl  /  Literacy

Guest post by Jackie French

Note
Promo image for Memories of an Island

Memories of an Island  /  Climate change & weather

Guest post by Xiaolu Guo

Note
Promo image for Do Not Ask for Whom the Pinball Chimes

Do Not Ask for Whom the Pinball Chimes  /  Life & death

Guest post by David Astle

Note
Promo image for What's the difference between a religion and a cult?

What’s the difference between a religion and a cult?  /  Faith, religion & spirituality

Guest post by Andrew Singleton

The Wheeler Centre is Melbourne’s home for smart, passionate and entertaining public talks on every topic. Across 180+ events each year, you’ll find some of our finest local and international speakers sharing their expertise, their imaginations and their ideas.

Find out more about us ›