Skip to content

Wheeler Education
2023 Workshops

When

Event Status

Secondary students are invited to participate in a series of special workshops to hone their skills in oration, performance poetry, creative writing, epistemology and graphic narratives. 

About

This series of on-demand creative workshops offered by Wheeler Education asks students to imagine the future of the planet with acclaimed storytellers, authors, poets and graphic novelists.

Participating students will also be invited to express their interest in performing at the Wheeler Centre’s 2023 mid-year Teen Gala, an evening of stories, performances and speeches by talented young people.

 


 

Available workshops

Oration 

Hone your speech writing and public speaking skills with 2021 Plain English Speaking Award Victorian winner, Zuva Goverwa. Zuva will help you to tease out your thoughts on the future of our planet and pull them together into a persuasive speech. Students will have the opportunity to practice their speeches (and brush up on their public speaking skills) on the mic.

Creative writing 

How do we create place as a character? Award-winning writer Zana Fraillon will run a series of mapping exercises that encourage students to develop their relationship with places they’re familiar with and to bring them to life in fresh, evocative stories.

Performance poetry

Join writer, poet, and performer Laniyuk to reimagine your visions of the world through the power of performance poetry.

Participants will be encouraged to write poems reflecting on the past, present, and future, responding to the pressing issues our world faces while also sharpening skills around performance and public speaking

Epistemology

Award-winning novelist and tree-lover Sophie Cunningham will lead students to compose letters that speak from the heart and compel the reader. If you could share a message with one reader, who would they be, and what would you say? Would you tell a tree you’ll take care of it? Ask a politician to support your cause? Or would you write to someone closer to home – a parent, teacher, or friend? Join us to learn how to shape a convincing argument on the page.

Graphic Narratives 

Sometimes words just aren’t enough. What does the future of the planet look like? Amateur artists are invited to join graphic artist and comics maker Rachel Ang to create miniature zines that might offer hope, speak truth to power, or capture some of your favourite places.

 

How to book

For more information or to book a workshop, please contact the Wheeler Centre’s Youth Programming Manager Bec Kavanagh via email: bec.kavanagh@wheelercentre.com

Duration: 60 minutes. Contact us to discuss alternative workshop lengths.

Cost: $600 for up to 20 students. The Wheeler Centre is committed to financial accessibility and has a limited number of free workshops available for schools that require financial support. Please contact us if you are interested in bringing a class.

Featuring

Rachel Ang

Rachel Ang is an artist and writer who makes comics. Their work has been published by The New Yorker, The Washington Post, kuš! and Australian periodicals like The Age and Meanjin. Rachel’s first book, Swimsuit (Glom Press, 2018) was not read by many people, but those who did really liked it. The... Read more

Sophie Cunningham

Sophie Cunningham is a non-fiction writer and novelist with a passion for trees, walking and broader environmental issues. Sophie’s most recent books are This Devastating Fever (Ultimo Press) and Flipper and Finnegan –The True Story of How Tiny Jumpers Saved Little Penguins (Albert Street Books)... Read more

Zana Fraillon

Zana Fraillon is an internationally acclaimed, multi-award-winning author of twelve books for children and young adults, including The Curiosities, The Lost Soul Atlas, and The Bone Sparrow. Her work has been published in over 15 countries and is in development for both stage and screen. Zana’s bo... Read more

Zuva Goverwa

Zuva Goverwa is a passionate young creative, with a keen interest in music, writing and public speaking. Winner of the 2021 Plain English Speaking Award State Final, she is a strong believer in the power of young people to change the world and the necessity of foregrounding their voices in conversa... Read more

Laniyuk

Laniyuk is a Larrakia, Kungarakan, Gurindji and French writer and performer. She has been published nationally and internationally in poetry collections such as Solid Air (2019) and Fire Front (2020), in the 2022 speculative fiction anthologies Unlimited Futures and This All Come Back Now as well as... Read more

Stay up to date with our upcoming events and special announcements by subscribing to the Wheeler Centre's mailing list.

View our privacy policy
Acknowledgment of Country

The Wheeler Centre acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the traditional owners of the land on which we work. We pay our respects to the people of the Kulin Nation and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, past and present.