Australia's only literary festival run, owned and operated by women for women writers.
The Rose Scott Women Writers' Festival (RSWWF) showcases the rich diversity of contemporary Australian women writers across fiction and non-fiction, in print, performance, and digital media, exploring personal, social, and political issues. The RSWWF is Australia's only festival dedicated to women writers, described as "one of the most significant literary festivals on Sydney’s cultural calendar" (stella.org.au). Conceived with the mission of celebrating and promoting women writers, the festival aligns with Australia's National Cultural Policy, "Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place." Our festival is an essential part of this vibrant ecosystem, offering a platform for dialogue, discovery, and the celebration of women's contributions to literature.
The Rose Scott Women Writers’ Festival was established in 2013 as an annual flagship event for The Women’s Club. Named after Rose Scott, one of the founders of The Women’s Club, it seeks to honour the memory of this influential woman who used her own writing – speeches, pamphlets, and letters – to influence social policy and improve the living conditions of women and children.
Rose Scott Women Writers' Festival Announces Exciting Developments for 2024 and 2025
The Rose Scott Women Writers' Festival (RSWWF) is looking forward to the future of celebrating and promoting women's writing in Australia on 27 and 28 June 2025.
The Rose Scott Women Writers' Festival remains a cornerstone for female authors to share their voices and stories. With a robust lineup of events and initiatives, RSWWF is poised for another successful decade. Join us as we continue to honour and advance the literary contributions of women.
The Women's Club successfully applied to Creative Australia’s ACF Boost program, a matched funding initiative that doubles donations for independent artists and small arts organisations. Through this program, every dollar raised by our fabulous Members, was matched by Creative Australia, allowing us to exceed our goal of raising $5,000. Thanks to the generous support of our donors and the ACF Boost, we were able to double the impact of your contributions, further supporting Australia's only women writers' festival. For more information visit here.
In celebration of Rose Scott's birthday and the historic establishment of The Women's Club, the Club hosted a special Gala fundraising event in October 2024. The Gala highlighted the festival's legacy and its ongoing commitment to elevating women's voices in literature. Over $23,000 was raised for the Festival and we are not finished! Contributions, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference in the festival’s success and sustainability.
Jane Turner, TWC Member, RSWWF Gala Committee member and owner of Bondi's famous bookshop Gertrude and Alice has made all books from authors who supported our fundraising efforts on the Gala night available for purchase on their website (some signed), with 50% of sales being donated to the RSWWF.
For enquiries regarding the RSWWF including programming, partnerships, sponsorships and fundraising, please contact Danielle Asciak ceo@thewomensclub.com.au.