- New anthology collection 'This Home of Ours' celebrates 17 young Western Australian writers
- The Centre for Stories project explores themes of belonging, identity, love and connection to nature
- Part of the Cook Government's ongoing investment to foster a vibrant and creative economy
The next generation of Western Australian writers are sharing their voices through a new anthology collection launched with support from the Cook Government.
'This Home of Ours' brings together works by 17 young writers aged between 13 and 24 who have participated in programs run by Northbridge-based literary arts organisation, Centre for Stories.
The collection explores themes of belonging, connection, identity, love and connection to nature, and features stories and poems that celebrate the many ways we define and discover "home" - in place, in people, and within ourselves.
Centre for Stories receives $294,893 in 2025-2026 funding support through the Arts Organisation Investment Program, with previous funding of $232,760 being awarded for the delivery of its Schools Storytelling Program and its initiative for young people The Spark.
Participants in these programs included Year 7-9 students from schools in low socio-economic areas with high populations of Indigenous students and students from language backgrounds other than English. Over two years, they took part in oral storytelling and creative writing workshops that built skills, confidence, and creative expression.
As part of the anthology project, 10 writers joined the Centre's Mentoring to Publication program, where they were paired with experienced mentors to develop their writing - with one participant beginning a novel, an excerpt of which appears in the collection.
The remaining seven contributors joined the Poetry in Nature program, which included workshops and site visits to the Wetlands Centre to inspire their creative work.
Founded in 2015 by John and Caroline Wood, Centre for Stories fosters a more inclusive and cohesive society through the transformative power of storytelling.
As stated by Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk:
"The stories shared in 'This Home of Ours' are a testament to what happens when young people are given the platform to authentically express themselves.
"These stories and poems create a tapestry of experiences that celebrate our diversity and remind us of the power of creativity to connect and uplift.
"Centre for Stories occupies a unique place in our cultural landscape - a connector of stories and storytellers, a place of teaching and learning, and a community dedicated to giving everyone a voice."