Antonio Damarko acquired a knowledge of French and an extensive educational background including a Bachelor of Science (Business) degree, a Bachelor of Arts (Dramaturgy) degree, a Diploma of Journalism and several diplomas and certificates in languages and theatre. In Chile he worked as a drama teacher at numerous secondary schools, and was a tutor and lecturer of modern drama, aesthetics and literature at a tertiary level. In Chile he worked with the United Nations for 12 years. In Australia he has been a tutor in theatre, radio drama and creative writing, and a bilingual consultant to the Office of Multicultural Affairs. He became editor and principal of Cervantes Shakespeare Advanced Centre for Neocreative Studies, devised a bilingual program in literary arts and went on to produce the bilingual magazine New Parallel. In Australia he has become a member of the Australian Society of Authors and the Chilean Society of Writers, the Australian Literary Translators' Association and an executive co-ordinator of AUSCULTA.
Damarko was awarded the National Theatre Competition Prize in 1977 and in 1980 the Melbourne City Council Literature Award and the National Puppetry Theatre Competiton Prize. In the course of his writing career he has won three first prizes for adult drama, two for children's drama and puppetry and four prizes for creative writing: one for a novel, two for short stories, and one for poetry. His work has been broadcast widely on radio and television, particularly by the United Nations Organisation (UNO). During his years as a writer, he has read on many occasions including appearances at the Latin American headquarters of the UNO in 1986 and 1987.
