How the ILF turns Tiwi Island schoolgirls into published authors

Through the ILF’s Create program, students learn to sharpen their writing skills and develop a strong mindset to take them further in life.

Tiwi College student, Sandra, will never forget November 2023.

That month, she travelled to Sydney with seven other Year 11 and 12 First Nations schoolgirls as part of the Create program, a five-day writing workshop organised by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF).

The girls study at Tiwi College, a residential school located on Melville Island off the coast of the Northern Territory.

This is the ILF’s ninth Create program to date. Since its launch in 2013, the program has involved six publishing houses and eight selected ILF ambassadors. ILF’s Create 2023 is supported by Australia Post and publishing house, Hachette Australia.

Over the five days, the students are mentored by two ILF ambassadors as they create, write and illustrate a culturally appropriate book on their topic of choice. The book is written in both the English and Tiwi languages.

This year, ILF ambassadors Shelley Ware and David Lawrence, helped the girls produce a collection of stories about two best friends going hunting.

“As a teacher, it's about passing on my skills in a gentle way that empowers them and fills them with the ability to believe in themselves so they can create their own work,” said Shelley, who has previously mentored five Create programs.

Building writing and life skills

“It’s good,” Sandra said on day two of the program. “We get to type on a laptop, learn new writing tips and how to draw. We’re experiencing so many new things.”

“We’re writing a book that shows what life is like on Tiwi so we’re learning to describe the weather, the roads and the animals on the Tiwi Islands.”

Sandra’s older sister was part of Create 2013 and when she brought her published book home, Sandra instantly knew she wanted one of her own. She was thrilled to be handpicked for this year’s program. And she was also prepared for the long days of hard work.

“We create authors from students – that really stands out for me,” said Shelley. “The girls were highly motivated and it was very exciting to be around them. And they left with a real sense of pride and accomplishment.”