The Copyright Agency’s Fellowship for Non-Fiction Writing will support an Australian author to develop and create a significant new work of literary non-fiction.

The Fellowship will provide sustained support for a year to one Australian writer to create an important work for publication. Applicants should submit a compelling description of their intended project accompanied by a writing sample to demonstrate their literary merit.

As the Fellowship is intended to support one writer, joint applications are not eligible.

The project should span up to 12 months. A project of one or two months is not regarded as a substantial Fellowship activity.

Applications will be accepted for the following literary genres:

• memoir
• biography
• autobiography
• history
• criticism and review
• arts/science writing
• political analysis
• writing on the environment; and
• other genres which contribute to the national discussion/polemic.

One Fellowship will be awarded each year. As the Fellowship is intended to support one writer, joint applications are not eligible. Projects must start after 1 November 2025. The project should span up to 12 months. A project of one or two months is not regarded as a substantial Fellowship activity.

Who can apply?

• Applicants must have previously published at least two full-length books of their own creative writing (of which one book may be self-published).
• Authors must have secured either a publishing contract for the work or a letter of interest or intent to publish from an Australian-based publisher.
• Authors must submit their own applications. Publishers cannot apply on behalf of authors.
• Applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents.
• Applicants must have acquitted any overdue Cultural Fund grants.

• Phone: 02 9394 7600
• Email: culturalfund@copyright.com.au