The Neilma Sidney Literary Travel Fund

The Neilma Sidney Myer Travel Fund recognises the unique value of travel in the development of new writing and literary careers.

In partnership with the Myer Foundation, the travel fund is intended to support emerging, midcareer and established Australian writers and literary sector workers. This includes writers, editors, agents, publishers, librarians, booksellers, employees and associates of literary organisations and journals, and other literary professionals currently living in Australia.

Applicants can apply for grants between $2,000 and $10,000.

The travel fund was launched in 2017 and was named in honour of poet, novelist and short story writer Neilma Gantner (1922-2015).

Application kit

Key Dates

Round 6

Round 6 was previously open for applications, but has now been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find more information in this statement.

We anticipate that the rescheduled Round 6 will open in August 2020, with a closing date in September 2020. Proposed travel projects will take place between 1 November 2020 and 31 May 2021 (dates inclusive). More information will be available in due course.

To Apply

Applications are to be made through an online Submittable form, which will become available when applications open in late 2020. 

Please download and read the application kit before preparing your application. It would also be beneficial to read what we learned from previous rounds, go through the FAQs and T&Cs, and watch the online Q&A video to answer any fund and application questions.

For more information, email us.

Previous recipients

Round 1

Alexandra Collier, Andrew Bovell, Arwen Summers, Bren MacDibble, Eda Gunaydin, Mark O'Flynn, Michael Earp, Michael Green, Robert Dessaix, Vanessa Russell.

Round 2

Bruce Pascoe, Chris Andrews, Damon Young, Ellen van Neerven, Emma Viskic, Janine Mikosza, Jennifer Porter, Jessica Friedmann, Laura Woollett, Louis Klee, Melinda Smith, Rebecca Giggs, Sam Cooney.

Round 3

Allison Colpoys, Cassandra Pybus, Christine Sun, Eleanor Limprecht, Josephine Wilson, Katherine Collette, Lauren Chater, Sam Twyford-Moore, Tom Holloway.

Round 4

Annabel Brady-Brown, Cher Tan, Ellen O'Brien, Fiona Murphy, Heather Dyer, Melanie Joosten, Oliver Reeson, Sara Mansour, Sista Zai Zanda, Susie Anderson, Yvette Holt. 

Round 5

Cate Kennedy, Evelyn Araluen and Jonathan Dunk, Fiona Hardy, Madelaine Dickie, Maria Takolander, Mirandi Riwoe, Robert Lukins, Ruhi Lee, Sara Saleh, Tamara Lazaroff.