The Rose Scott Women Writers’ Festival was established in 2013 as an annual flagship event for The Women’s Club. Named after Rose Scott, one of the founders of The Women’s Club, it seeks to honour the memory of this influential woman who used her own writing – speeches, pamphlets and letters – to influence social policy and improve the living conditions of women and children.
The Festival showcases the rich diversity of genres in which contemporary Australian women writers explore issues of personal, social and political concern. The Festival features Australian women writers of fiction and non-fiction, in print, performance, film and electronic media. Offering guests inspiring speakers in welcoming environs, the Rose Scott Women Writers’ Festival has established itself as one of the most significant literary festivals on Sydney’s cultural calendar.
Rose Scott Women Writers' Festival Announces Exciting Developments for 2024 and 2025
The Rose Scott Women Writers' Festival (RSWWF) is delighted to announce several major updates as we look forward to the future of celebrating and promoting women's writing in Australia.
We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Helen Loughlin as the new Festival Director for RSWWF. Helen is an acclaimed figure in the literary community, having been published in several prestigious journals such as Southerly and Antithesis, and edited notable publications including the Phoenix Review and Hermes. Her rich background in poetry and significant contributions as an editor and organiser make her an exemplary leader to steer the festival into its next chapter.
As we reflect on a successful first decade, culminating in our celebratory three-day festival in 2023, we are excited to look ahead to our next major festival scheduled for June 2025. Specific dates will be announced later this year, promising another enriching experience of literary excellence.
In celebration of Rose Scott's birthday and the historic establishment of The Women's Club, we will host a special RSWWF Gala Event in October this year. It will highlight the festival's legacy and its ongoing commitment to elevating women's voices in literature. More details will be released soon.
The Women’s Club commitment to the festival continues with two special events in September. TWC will present a unique RSWWF Cocktail Literary Event and a Club Lunch (Friday 20 September) in partnership with education partner, Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney. The lunch will feature Associate Professor Melody Ding, a world-leading epidemiologist and population behavioural scientist, discussing the timely topic of the loneliness epidemic in conversation with ABC Radio National’s All in the Mind host Sana Qadar. Melody led the launch of the Lancet series on physical activity and was co-editor in Chief of the Journal of Physical Activity and Health.
The Women's Club successfully applied to Creative Australia’s ACF Boost program. The Australian Cultural Fund Boost is a matched funding program for independent artists and small arts organisations to leverage private sector support raised through their campaign with a small, matched funding ‘boost’ from Creative Australia. Thanks to the ACF Boost program, every dollar donated will be matched up to $5,000 by Creative Australia. This is a unique opportunity to double the impact of your support for Australia's only women writers' festival. TWC’s RSWWF 2025 fundraising campaign will be launched on 27 May. For more information visit here.
The Rose Scott Women Writers' Festival remains a cornerstone for female authors to share their voices and stories. Under the new leadership of Helen Loughlin and with a robust lineup of events and initiatives, RSWWF is poised for another successful decade. Join us as we continue to honour and advance the literary contributions of women.
For enquiries regarding the RSWWF including programming, partnerships, sponsorships and fundraising, please contact Danielle Asciak ceo@thewomensclub.com.au.