Wheeler Education 2023 Workshops

The Wheeler Centre, Melbourne’s home for books, writing and ideas invites secondary students to participate in a series of special workshops to hone their skills in oration, performance poetry, creative writing, epistemology and graphic narratives.

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