19 March 2021

Meet the young writers of Toolkits: Nonfiction 2021

We are so excited to begin our Toolkits: Nonfiction program with 8 talented young writers from across Australia. During this 12-week intensive, these artists will  join Cabramatta writer Stephen Pham, to explore the many and varied formats of non-fiction.

Stephen will lead the program’s fortnightly online sessions and workshops, providing one-on-one mentorship during the alternating weeks, and support these young writers with individualised feedback.

For more information on our Toolkits and Toolkits: Live program (which you can participate in right now!) visit our website.

But for now, say hello to the Nonfiction class of 2021!


Rashna Farrukh

Rashna is a journalist, photographer and DJ who’s writing looks at key issues facing her generation from the perspectives of people that get forgotten. She got her start at uni, where she worked at ANU’s student newspaper Woroni and founded Bossy magazine. Since then, she has worked for The Conversation and Junkee, and had pieces published in the ABC, SBS, and The Guardian.

Cindy Jiang

Cindy Yuqing Jiang is a Chinese writer, performer, and theatremaker based in Naarm on unceded Wurundjeri land. Her work has been featured in the Australian Poetry Journal, The Melbourne Fringe Festival, Multicultural Arts Victoria, and more. Her writing chases ancestral echoes through dreams, food, and karaoke. She likes to play.

Phoebe Lupton

Phoebe Lupton is a writer of mixed European and South Asian settler heritage. She likes to explore the ‘big questions’ in her practice, particularly those which pertain to culture, identity and mental health. Her recent essays and poetry have been published in Kill Your Darlings, Cordite Poetry Review and Archer Magazine.

Robbie Wardhaugh

Robbie is a genderqueer performer, writer and historian living on Gadigal land. They are passionate about queer community in the arts and the need for artistic practice centered around collaboration and play. Their proudest achievement is that one time they caught a lizard, but don’t worry they gave it a little head kiss before releasing it into the wild. There’s a rumour that they’re just three teenage boys in a trench coat but you’d have to ask them to find out for certain.

Christopher Phung

Chris is a second-generation Vietnamese-Australian deep listener, youth advocate and emerging artist based on the Western suburbs of Naarm/Melbourne.His creative practice is an open love letter for us to come together to heal the wounds of social injustice and inequity. Beginning with looking deeply within ourselves and using the energy of compassion, understanding, and love in action. He is in the final year of his undergraduate studies in sociology.

Hassan Kalam Abul

Hassan Kalam Abul writes, edits, and makes art and small games on the lands of the Boonwurrung people of the Kulin Nation. Their work has been published by LIMINAL, Running Dog, and Subbed In, among others. www.hassan.soy

Hannah Wu

Hannah Wu is a writer and musician, studying on unceded Wurundjeri land. Her work has been published or is forthcoming with un Magazine, Island Island (Bus Projects Gallery’s online platform), Seventh Gallery, Liminal Magazine, Disclaimer Journal (Liquid Architecture), Cordite Poetry Review, and Enjoy Contemporary Art Space. She was longlisted for the Liminal Fiction Prize and was a recipient of The Scroggin Prize for Creative Writing from the University of Melbourne.

Mali Hermans

Mali Hermans is a disabled organiser, writer and community worker living on Ngunnawal and Ngambri land. Mali is a Wiradjuri, Irish and Flemish woman deeply invested in disability justice work, committed to challenging ableism and its intersections with colonialism, white supremacy, patriarchy and class. Mali has had work published in Overland, The Guardian and New Matilda, and has appeared on podcasts such as Living the Dream, Chronically Chilled and Movement Memos with Kelly Hayes, among others.