Varuna, the National Writers’ House, is one of the few places in the world where a writer’s only obligation is to write. The 2027 Residential Fellowships open the doors of the historic Blue Mountains house to 47 writers across Australia, offering a stretch of uninterrupted time, full meals, a private studio, and a one-on-one mentoring session in one of the country’s most storied literary environments.
About the Varuna Residential Fellowships
Based at the former home of Australian writers Eleanor and Eric Dark in Katoomba, New South Wales, Varuna has been supporting writers since the property was bequeathed to the nation by Mick Dark. The 2027 cohort will be drawn from a single application round that assesses all submissions for both standard fellowships and the suite of Flagship Fellowships simultaneously. Of the 47 fellowships awarded, 29 will carry Flagship status, which may include a longer residency, editorial support, travel funding, or publisher access.
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Funding Size
- Full accommodation and all meals covered for the duration of the residency at no cost to the fellow
- Travel reimbursement of up to $350 available through the Varuna Equity Fund for writers living more than 400 km away who hold a Healthcare card or are experiencing financial hardship
- Some Flagship fellowships include additional stipends, extended residencies, or travel coverage
- Application fee: $70 standard, $40 with a Healthcare card, waived for applicants experiencing financial hardship via the Varuna Equity Access Fund
Who Can Apply
- Australian citizens and permanent residents aged 18 and above
- Exemptions to the permanent residency requirement may be considered for recently arrived migrants and refugees
- Writers working across all creative forms including fiction, short stories, screenplay, drama, poetry, children’s books, and narrative non-fiction
- Writers who have received a Varuna Residential Fellowship in the last three years are not eligible to reapply
Geographic Eligibility
- Australia only
- Australian citizens living overseas may apply, but international travel costs are not covered
- Some Flagship fellowships have specific geographic requirements, including the Blue Mountains Fellowship and the Northern Territory program
Sector or Thematic Focus
- Creative writing across fiction, non-fiction, poetry, children’s literature, and screenwriting
- Environmental writing and First Nations storytelling
- Writing by and for people with disability and Deaf writers
- Young writers and emerging voices in Australian literature
- Regional, remote, and underrepresented Australian writing communities
Application Process
A single application covers all Flagship fellowships simultaneously; no separate submissions are required. Writers select relevant flagship categories within the application form based on genre, identity, location, and career stage. All assessments are conducted blind, and applicants must ensure no identifying information appears in their manuscript submission. Applications are submitted through the Varuna website before the deadline.
Required Materials
- Completed online application form
- Writing sample of 7,000 to 10,000 words from the beginning of the manuscript for most genres; 10 pages for children’s picture books
- Application fee or Equity Access Fund waiver request
- Travel reimbursement request through the Varuna Equity Fund if applicable
Key Dates
- Residency dates: September 2026 through September 2027, arranged directly with Varuna
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Selection Notes
- Submissions are assessed blind; no identifying details should appear anywhere in the manuscript excerpt
- Writers may not resubmit an unchanged manuscript previously submitted to the same program
- No late applications are accepted under any circumstances
- Some publisher-partnered Flagship fellowships, including the Penguin Random House, Ultimo Press, Scribe, and UQP fellowships, carry first right of manuscript refusal by the relevant publisher