Have your say: Victoria’s Literature Strategy begins its first chapter

The Victorian literary sector and the broader community are invited to help shape the first statewide Literature Strategy, which is being developed by the Victorian Government in partnership with The Wheeler Centre.

An online consultation session, run by Correa Consulting, will be held on Monday 26 October at 9.30am to inform the strategy and strengthen Victoria's literary sector into the future. 

At a time of changing technologies, declining literacy levels and the diversity of ways people now share and connect with stories, this strategy will champion writing, reading, publishing and bookselling across Victoria.    

Globally recognised for its literary achievements and publishing excellence, Victoria is home to acclaimed authors, poets and writers across all genres and is a major national hub for book publishing. State Library Victoria is the third most visited public library in the world. Victoria’s network of more than 50 public library services reaches every corner of the state.  

The strategy is being developed by the Victorian Government in partnership with The Wheeler Centre working with Dr John Daley and Dr Rebecca Coates of Correa Consulting and an industry advisory group comprising: 

• Co-chairs: Erin Vincent, CEO, The Wheeler Centre and Zack Buchanan, Director of Policy and Industry Development, Creative Victoria 
• Tony Birch, Writer and Boisbouvier Chair in Australian Literature at the University of Melbourne  
• Maxine Beneba Clarke, Author and Poet 
• Lauren Bialkower, Director, Creative Melbourne, City of Melbourne 
• Susannah Bowen, CEO, Australian Booksellers Association 
• Anna Burkey, CEO, Australia Reads 
• Wenona Byrne, Director, Writing Australia 
• Stuart Glover, Head of Policy, Australian Publishers Association 
• Leanne Hall, Author and Director, Australian Society of Authors 
• Roxanne Missingham, Director of Collections, State Library Victoria 
• Alice Pung, Author and Adjunct Professor, RMIT  
• David Ryding, Director, City of Literature Office 
• Angela Savage, CEO, Public Libraries Victoria 

The strategy will focus on ways to boost reading, writing and engagement with Australian stories, strengthen career and employment pathways for writers, sustain and grow literary businesses, events and markets and leverage Melbourne’s status as a UNESCO City of Literature for the benefit of all Victorians.  
 
An initiative of the government’s creative industries strategy Creative State 2028, the Victorian Literature Strategy will be released in 2027.  

Minister for Creative Industries Vicki Ward says:
‘Melbourne was the second city in the world to be named a UNESCO City of Literature - which speaks to our love of books, our writers, our readers and the stories that make our state Australia’s cultural capital. Our Literature Strategy is how we build that legacy to be even stronger – from the next generation of storytellers to the readers who will love them – this strategy will keep literature at the cultural heart of our thriving state.’ 

Erin Vincent, CEO, The Wheeler Centre says:
'The Wheeler Centre is proud to be working with the sector to help shape a strategy for the future of reading, writing and literature in Victoria, informed by the transformative power of storytelling to build connection and understanding. 

Drawing on deep expertise across public policy, cultural strategy, publishing, bookselling, libraries and the literary sector, this strategy will lay out a statewide plan to help promote the lifelong joy and value of reading. We encourage our literary community across the state to share their ideas and have their say by joining the online session.'