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.

Update 28/08/20: With COVID-19 restrictions still in place and international travel unfeasible for the near future, we have had to further delay Round 6 of the Neilma Sidney Travel Fund. Writers Victoria is currently determining when we should run Round 6, and what shape the Travel Fund will take during these restrictions. We will provide an update once these dates and guidelines have been decided. While there is a small possibility of opening Round 6 in November/December 2020, it is most likely that this will be extended and will not be opened until early or even mid-2021. We appreciate your understanding and patience with these unavoidable changes.

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.