Photo by Danica Zuks, for a poetry program with the City of Vincent
“You bring a level of care and thoughtfulness to your role that truly goes above and beyond the call of duty. It’s obvious you care deeply about your students, and about poetry”
About My Workshops
Planning and delivering workshops is my happy place!
My workshops are enthusiastic and engaging - with a focus on participants approaching their own writing in a playful way. Often they include a series of writing prompts, which are framed as fun exercises, and I lead the participants through step-by-step. This means that whether someone is writing their first poem, or is already an expert, they feel supported each stage of the process. The mood of my workshops is celebratory, which builds confidence and encourages creativity. I truly believe in the power of storytelling.
In addition to my extensive experience teaching in University settings and my fervent enthusiasm about creating increasingly inclusive curriculums (and reading lists!) - I am passionate about supporting LGBTQIA+ writers, young writers and disabled writers. As an extension of this, I am passionate about supporting organisations to develop inclusive opportunities and courses.
Teaching science fiction writing with Jo Newman for ‘Moonboorli’ National Science Week. Photo by Tasha Faye, via Propel Youth Arts WA.
“Maddie has a passion and energy for working with young writers and a work ethic to be proud of. Our students loved being a part of Maddie’s workshop”
Previous
Experience
My past workshop delivery experiences includes libraries, NHS hospitals, Not-For-Profit organisations, online classes, primary schools, high schools, non-traditional schools, creating a speech therapy course with MSWA and developing University curriculums at a postgraduate level. I’m always happy to adjust my workshop to suit your learning outcomes.
2020 - now • Creative Writing lecturer and tutor at Curtin University, Perth.
Courses include poetry, short fiction, experimental writing and cultural studies.
2019 - now • Tutor at Online Universities Australia (OUA). Creative Writing & Experimental Writing.
2022 • Course facilitator and teacher of Toolkits: Poetry, a national online course, with Express Media.
2019 - 2020 • Weekly English and Literature tutor at Perth College, WA.
2019 • ‘Poetry As A Form Of Self Preservation’ workshop at Perth Poetry Festival.
2019 • Poetry workshops at Kyilla Primary School, North Perth WA.
2019/2020 • Slam poetry workshops at Perth Waldorf School, Bibra Lake WA.
2018 – 2020 • Workshop facilitator for young writers. Globetown Project, Fremantle.
2019 • Associate Producer for Express Media’s ‘Making Tracks: Perth’ program. Involved facilitating workshops with young writers and producing a publication.
2019 • ‘Poems As Paragraphs / As Rooms’ prose poetry workshop for WA Poets Inc.
2019 • Creative coordinator of Youth Week WA 2019, with Propel Youth Arts WA.
2018 • ‘Beyond The Binary’, writing poems outside gender binaries, with a focus on trans and non-binary exemplars. Delivered at Perth Poetry Festival for WA Poets Inc.
2018 • Course coordinator of ‘Ode To Confidence’, an eight week course for MSWA which combined speech pathology, spoken word poetry and community building.
2018 • Workshop facilitator at ‘Storycamp 2018’ with Express Media. Maddie represented Voiceworks Magazine and taught approximately 100 students over three days at State Library Victoria.
2018 • Prepared and facilitated poetry workshops at KSP Writers’ Centre.
2017 • Facilitated copywriting workshops for The Anne Frank Trust (UK) in various cities around the United Kingdom.
2017 • Co-director, workshop facilitator and event host at the WA Literary Youth Festival.
2016 • Work experience at Penguin Random House, Vauxhall London.
2015 • Organiser, host and publicist of ‘Spoken Word Perth’.
The Fine Print
I have a Working With Children Check and a recent National Police Clearance - both available on request.
My rates are based around guidelines from the Australian Society of Authors. As of 2024, following the completion of my PhD and experience in this field, my rates increased and are now approximately 20% higher than ASA rates.
All student feedback on this page is quoted from anonymised surveys collected by Curtin University. Reports can be made available on request.