Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship

Overview

The Fellowship is open to Australian citizens and permanent residents. Up to $20,000 is awarded for travel and research to further a writing proposal or work in progress. It may not be used to pay for a research assistant or to subsidise a publication.

The focus is on biography, but extends to an aspect of cultural or social history compatible with Hazel’s interest areas. Preference is given to projects that are about ‘risk-taking’ and expanding horizons, promote discussion of ideas, and make a significant contribution to public intellectual life.

Opening dates

Applications open each year on 1 October and close on 16 November, the shortlist is announced in the following January and the Fellowship is awarded in March. For more information and to make an application, visit Writers Victoria website.

Previous applicants

Previous applicants are eligible to apply again. If submitting a second application for the same project, any progress should be reflected in the proposal. The judges will take into account any progress that has been made.

Resources

Click here for the Fellowship Terms and Conditions.

Click here for a link to a recording of an online information session about the 2025 Fellowship application process.

Click here for a link to a recording of an online information session about the 2026 Fellowship application process.

Terms & Conditions

1. Applicants must be over 18 years of age.
2. Applicants must be Australian citizens (living anywhere) or permanent residents and write in English.
3. The Fellowship will not cover tuition fees, professional editing, research assistant salary, PhD research or publishing subsidy.
4. Projects must be works of non-fiction biography or memoir (rather than biographical fiction).
5. Where relevant, the work must comply with Creative Australia Protocols for Using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts.
6. Those shortlisted will be notified in January and the recipient will be notified in February before the public announcement in March.
7. The successful applicant will enter into an agreement to be negotiated with Writers Victoria and the Hazel Rowley Literary Fund Advisory Committee. The agreement will cover the project timeline, payment schedule and reporting requirements.
8. The Fellowship must be commenced and expended within 12 months of receipt of funds.
9. All Fellowship recipients travelling in 2026-27 must agree to comply with public health guidelines before, during and following travel.
10. The Fellowship recipient will be required to complete an artistic and financial report (acquittal) halfway through and at the completion of the project.
11. The Fellowship will be acknowledged in any publication resulting from the work supported during the Fellowship.
12. The Fellowship recipient will be asked to provide three copies of any subsequently published biography or work to the Hazel Rowley Literary Fund Advisory Committee.
13. The judges’ decision will be final. No correspondence will be entered into.