Cirrus@Austlit

'Thirty-seven writers from First Nations, migrant and refugee backgrounds reveal the true wealth and beauty of Australia’s cultural melting pots.

'Australia is often referred to as The Lucky Country ― a land of economic opportunity and vast natural resources. But how does this myth square up against the true experiences of Indigenous and culturally diverse Australians living in our nation’s most densely populated regions?

'Featuring original works of prose, poetry and non-fiction which centre and celebrate the eclectic vibrancy and linguistic fluidity of a new generation of Australian writers.

'Povo features a ground-breaking collection of works by emerging and established writers from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. The collection includes experimental writing from the Asylum Seekers Centre, Macquarie Fields High School and Leumeah High School.

'Acclaimed & Award-Winning contributors include:

'Phoebe Grainer is a Kuku Djungan, Muluridji, Wakaman, Tagalaka, Kunjen, Warrgamay and Yindinji actor, writer and editor from Far North Queensland. In 2023, Phoebe won the prestigious Australia Council Dreaming Award.

'Natalia Figueroa Barroso is a Uruguayan-Australian writer from Penrith. Natalia is currently working on her debut novel, Hailstones Fell Without Rain (UQP, 2025).

'Daniel Nour is an Egyptian-Australian writer. In 2020, Daniel won the New South Wales Premier’s Young Journalist of the Year Award. Daniel is currently working on his debut novel as a recipient of the 2021 Affirm Press Mentorship for Sweatshop Writers.' (Publication summary)

'Blacklight : Ten Years of First Nations Storytelling is a definitive anthology of writing produced entirely by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives from Western Sydney and beyond.?This powerful collection showcases forty-eight short stories, vignettes, poems, essays and artworks that have been developed over the past ten years as part of the nationally renowned literacy movement known as Sweatshop.' (Publication summary)

'Are we a nation of racists? Thirty-nine writers confront our darkest truths in this fearless collection of short stories, poems and essays from the margins of Australia.

'Featuring Tyree Barnette, Meyrnah Khodr, Adam Phillip Anderson, Guido Melo, Janette Chen, Riley Ingersole, Sydnye Allen, Chris Tupouniua, Rizcel Gagawanan, Amani Haydar, Christine Shamista, Krisneth Paddy, Ting Huang, Heikmah Napadow, Mark Mariano, Daniel Nour, Monikka Eliah, Shirley Le, Kabien Parker, Ayoub Jama, Ferdous Bahar, Ayusha Nand, Pamela Asare, Natalia Figueroa Barroso, Sara Saleh,  Nellie Tapu Nonumalo Mu, Cassandra Taylor, Noor Abuzamaq,  Dezheen Shivan, Fiti Fainifo, Elisha Toese, Mahran Asghari, Lara Ahmed, Sopanha Chea, Yash Bab, Zoyal Dahal, Cleveland Brown, Max Edwards & Sarah Ayoub. Edited by Winnie Dunn, Stephen Pham & Phoebe Grainer.'(Publication summary)

'Sweatshop Women is an exciting and contemporary collection of prose and poetry written by women from Indigenous, migrant and refugee backgrounds. In this second volume, Australia’s most urgent new voices return to reclaim their stories of culture, sovereignty and diaspora.

'Featuring: Christine Afoa, Sydnye Allen, Maryam Azam, Ferdous Bahar, Flordeliz Bonifacio, Shankari Chandran, Janette Chen, Cindy El Sayed, Phoebe Grainer, Aseel Harb, Amani Haydar, Sheree Joseph, Meyrnah Khodr, Shirley Le, Abeny Mayol, Jessicca Wendy Mensah, Gayatri Nair, Lieu-Chi Nguyen, Sara Saleh, Christine Shamista, Mary Anne Taouk, Divya Venkataraman and Diane Wanasawek.' (Publication summary)

 (Publication summary)

'Sweatshop Women is an exciting and contemporary collection of prose and poetry written by women from Indigenous, migrant and refugee backgrounds. In the first volume of this urgent new series, the diverse women of Western Sydney reclaim their stories of love, faith, home and history.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Place, Race, Space: Bent Not Broken is a ten year showcase of award-winning stories by young people from the backyards of South Western Sydney.

'Featuring prose and poetry by Donna Wilson, Christine Wu, Anneliese Joy, Seini Fuko, Mohamad Al- Abdallah, Frances An, Rebecca Nguyen, Sarah Hoang, Peviula Taotua, Duc Luu, Tiana Munro, Angeliki Georgakopoulou, Indiana Dinh, Lydia Villavarayen, Christophine Demetrios, Dan Nguyen, Amir Harris, Daniel Kabbara, Yoosuf Mohamed, Maria Rulloda, Danielle Nguyen, Alex Driessen, Filip Stempien, Mehek Fatiha Rahman, Ushna Bashir, Peta Murphy, Brooke Mansell, Isabella Whitcher, Mary Tran, Anita Grassy, Sheza Khan, Talia Walker, Amanda Yeo, Luke Lancaster, Rayanne Elhgar, Moslimah Zoud, Dorothy Kamal, Daniel Bishara, Paul Boustani, Rebekah Bijkovska and Arthur Wang'  (Publication summary)

'The Big Black Thing: Chapter. 2 is the second issue in a new series of prose and poetry by emerging and established writers from Indigenous, migrant and refugee backgrounds.'  (Publication summary)

'The Big Black Thing: Chapter. 1 is the first issue in a new series of prose and poetry by emerging and established writers from Indigenous, migrant and refugee backgrounds.

'Featuring Peter Polites, Winnie Dunn, Stephen Pham, Shirley Le, Jason Gray, Maryam Azam, Louisa Badayala, Jessicca Mensah, Nitin Vengurlekar, Monikka Eliah, Socorro Cifuentes, lina Kastoumis, Ricky Tran, Alex Aditia, Masen Guerreiro, Teddy William Owuor, Hisham Mallah, Eteroma Hunt, Mohamed Lababidi, Nancy Huynh, Kyaw Kyaw Phyo, Kelvin Yu, Ali Haydar, Jessica Tran, Kane Harrington, Kiarna Evans, Mark Streeter, Courtney Miller, Hamani Tanginoa, Adina Aslett-Robertson, Shanae Hajsinger, Taylah Hansen, Mary Al-Nashy, Omar El-Ali, Dani Mejbel, Samer Mejbel, Gilbert Tran, Breeze Makiri, Hanane Elnajjar, Matati Hunt, Maryian Nagib and Idarosareen Sooalo.' (Publication summary)

At size 22, Zara Hagopian is obese. She is 17 years old and about to complete her HSC. She has a secret and overpowering crush on Pablo Fernandez, who has never given her the time of day. Pablo already has a girlfriend and to make matters worse Zara is bullied at school by Pablo's twin sister.Zara hangs out with her best friend, Carmelina. They go window shopping in Parramatta and drink hot chocolate in Stockland Wetherill Park with Carmelina's boyfriend, Ramsi and his friend Max. Zara learns some of life's hard lessons when she puts these friendships on the line and goes on a diet to win Pablo's heart. [from Trove]