Get ready for a day full of thoughtful discussions and creative insights that will inspire your writing and help you build your career.
Join an audience of aspiring writers and over 30 of Australia’s most beloved and exciting children’s and young adult authors for a jam-packed celebration of storytelling on 9 August in Callan Park. From panels, pitching sessions, book signings and more, don’t miss out on securing your ticket to the world of kids and young adult literature today!
Now in its twelfth year, the 2025 Kids and YA Festival is directed by one of Australia’s most popular authors for children, Jacqueline Harvey.
We hope you enjoy this opportunity to come together with some of Australia’s finest children’s and young adult authors, illustrators and publishing professionals to learn more about the industry, make connections and further your own writing journey.– Jacqueline Harvey, Author
From our Keynote Address with current Australian Children’s Laureate Sally Rippin, to meeting authors and illustrators across a range of genres, you’ll hear about their successes, challenges, how they’ve built their careers and how they’re staying there, as well as insights into what’s hot and not in 2025.
There will be a unique opportunity to sit in on a mock acquisitions meeting with the team from Penguin Random House and the chance to pitch your own work in progress to a range of Australia’s top publishers.
Whether you’re a picture book illustrator or writer, middle grade, or young adult author, there’s truly something for everyone in the line-up of events Jacqueline Harvey has curated for the 2025 Kids & YA Festival. Panel discussions will cover everything from breaking into the industry to maintaining career longevity, to the importance of Australian stories. Publishers from some of Australia’s top houses will also give a behind-the-scenes look at the Australian publishing scene. Plus, don’t forget to book your separately ticketed one-on-one pitch session with a top kids and YA publisher (strictly limited supply). And make sure to stay until the end of the day for a glass of wine or soft drink and the chance to mingle with some of Australia’s best kid lit authors.
Bookseller and Signing Sessions
Bookseller and supporter of local authors, Better Read than Dead, will be on hand with the latest releases from the authors speaking at the festival. Pick up a copy (or two!) and attend a signing session to get your book signed as well as chat with the author. There will be several designated opportunities to have your books signed following the panel discussions throughout the day. Better Read Than Dead has been supporting readers and writers for over two decades in Sydney’s Inner West and we are grateful for their support.
Location
The festival will be held at the Rozelle Campus of The University of Tasmania, a short distance from Writing NSW in Callan Park. It is is part of the Callan Park Precinct and is accessible by bus and light rail. There is a free designated carpark and on-street parking available. Best entry is via Wharf Road Rozelle. Friendly volunteers will be on hand to guide you in the right direction.
Pitch Sessions
Our allocation of pitch sessions is now fully sold out and no longer available for purchase.
We’re grateful to our generous sponsors and funding partners for their support of the 2025 Kids & YA Festival:
