Australian Writers' Guild

29/08/2026

First Break Victoria Online wraps up today with WEEK THREE In the Writers' Room.

The writers’ room is where writers pitch ideas, brainstorm, break down the scenes, create characters and write first drafts. In order to succeed, it’s crucial to understand how a writers’ room works - who does what and when. This workshop is covering character development, plotting, dialogue and the all-important social etiquette of a writers’ room.

Be sure to check out the Pathways First Break portal where you will find our trained note-takers and script coordinators.
https://www.awgpathways.com.au/note-takers/

Our latest additions to the Pathways First Break portal are:
Kathy Bard, Madeline Davies, Max Evans, Lucie Jamison, Anna Lyon, Siobhan Mithen, Alyssa Moller, Ryan Prestipino, Nikki Teeuw, Brendan Wan, and Alexander Wardrop

Thanks to VicScreen for their ongoing support of First Break!

27/08/2026

🚨 Final call! Entries for the 2026 Shane & Cathryn Brennan Prize for close 5pm AEST today.

Get your entries in here: https://awg.com.au/shane-and-cathryn-brennan-prize/

The Shane & Cathryn Brennan Prize for Playwriting has been developed to discover and celebrate the best new scripts among Australian playwrights.

25/08/2026

Ready to take your storytelling to the next level? Join the Africa Film Fest Australia and Australian Film Television and Radio School for The Art of Storytelling, an inspiring masterclass featuring acclaimed writers, filmmakers, and industry professionals:

Ratidzo Mambo – Moderator
Malla Nunn – Writer & Filmmaker
Huna Amweero – Screenwriter, Filmmaker and AWGIE Award winner
Jenevieve Chang – Screenwriter, AFTRS

Together, they'll explore the craft of creating stories that move audiences and shape culture. Hear directly from leading creatives as they share their journeys, practical insights, and the realities of working in today's screen industry.

WHEN: Friday, 4 September 2026, 2:00–5:00 PM
WHERE: Playhouse, Sydney Opera House, NSW
Book here: https://africafilmfest.au/storytelling

24/08/2026

! Entries for the 2026 Shane & Cathryn Brennan Prize for Playwriting close this Thursday, 27 August.

The Prize invites playwrights to submit unproduced plays in one of two categories: Stage and Theatre for Young Audiences.

$10,000 is awarded to the winner of each category, with a further $40,000 to be shared evenly among the shortlisted entries.

Find out more and enter here:

The Shane & Cathryn Brennan Prize for Playwriting has been developed to discover and celebrate the best new scripts among Australian playwrights.

22/08/2026

First Break Online with Terence McCarthy continues this week with our exceptional cohort.

Week Two covers Script Coordinating. During the filming of a television show or movie, the script is constantly evolving. A script coordinator monitors these changes and makes the appropriate revisions for each version of the script. In this workshop, participants will learn what a script coordinator does, how a production office works and how a script coordinator operates within it. The workshop will also cover the basics of Final Draft.

Congratulations again to our cohort:
Kathy Bard
Madeline Davies
Max Evans
Lucie Jamison
Anna Lyon
Siobhan Mithen
Alyssa Moller
Ryan Prestipino
Nikki Teeuw
Brendan Wan
Alexander Wardrop

First Break is delivered by the AWG with the support of VicScreen

17/08/2026

The 59th Annual AWGIE Awards are officially open for entries. Once again we are celebrating the very best of Australian screen, stage, interactive and audio writing. Categories include Feature Film, Short Film, Television, Theatre, Music Theatre, Documentary, Interactive & Gaming, Children's Television, Audio and our newest category: Stand-Up comedy. Entries are now open and will close at 5pm (AEST) on Thursday 17 September 2026. Find out more about eligibility and submit your entry at our website. https://www.awg.com.au/59th-annual-awgie-awards/

17/08/2026

✍ Applications close tomorrow, 18 August 2026. If you're an emerging writer who identifies as a woman or non-binary, don't let Netflix and AWG's The Next Brilliant Career pass you by!

Apply via your state or territory's screen agency. Find out more here: https://awg.com.au/the-next-brilliant-career-netflix-launches-nationwide-search-for-australias-next-great-screenwriter/

To celebrate the upcoming release of My Brilliant Career and the legacy of pioneering author Miles Franklin, Netflix ANZ, in partnership with the

15/08/2026

First Break Victoria Online is underway!

Week one is focussed on note-taking. Our facilitator today is the brilliant Catherine Kelleher. First Break is made possible with the support of VicScreen

The role of the note-taker in a writers’ room is a crucial one – detailed and accurate notes can either make or break a room. Creating a perfect set of notes isn’t easy, and nailing it requires a different skillset to screenwriting. In this workshop, participants will learn the art of skilful note-taking - how to take notes, how to present them and how to make the most of the opportunity.

Are you a Victorian writer keen to take part in First Break? Our First Break Victoria In-Person is currently accepting applications with entries closing on Thursday 20 August. https://awg.com.au/first-break-vic/

14/08/2026

Last chance. Applications for The Next Brilliant Career close 18 August 2026.

If you identify as a woman or non-binary and you've got an original story ready, apply via your state or territory's screen agency.

https://about.netflix.com/en/news/the-next-brilliant-career

To celebrate the upcoming release of My Brilliant Career and the legacy of pioneering author Miles Franklin, Netflix ANZ, in partnership with the