Words to Sing the World Alive:
A Celebration of First Nations Languages
by Jasmin McGaugheyThe Poets Voice

Jasmin McGaughey is a Torres Strait Islander and African American author and editor. She has completed a Master of Writing, Editing and Publishing at the University of Queensland and a Master of Philosophy (in creative writing). She has spent time as a black&write! editor intern, was a winner of a 2019 Next Chapter Fellowship with The Wheeler Centre and won the 2021 Nakata Brophy Short Fiction and Poetry Prize. She has written for Overland, Kill Your Darlings, SBS Voices, Griffith Review and was highly commended for the ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize in 2020. Jasmin’s passions have always been writing and reading and she is the proud author of Ash Barty’s Little Ash series.

Founded and directed by Ellen Koshland and Nikki Anderson, The Poet's Voice was established to enhance the role of poetry in the public realm. It is based on the belief that without poetry a dimension of our lived experience is lost to us.

Although the voice of the poet is singular and speaks to us powerfully on the page, it also offers something invaluable when heard in a vivid present among others.

By including a wide range of participation in its events, The Poet's Voice reflects the fact that poetry is a resource for many people who are not poets.

Ellen Koshland has worked in arts and education advocacy since 1989. She is the driving force behind ALL (Australian Learning Lecture), a joint project between Koshland Innovation Fund and State Library Victoria, which seeks to bring big ideas in learning to national attention. Ellen was founder/president of the Education Foundation, as well as being a Global Education Leaders Partner, and past director for Foundation for Young Australians.

Nikki Anderson has worked as a literary agent, rights manager, festival and events coordinator, and currently works in communications and change management.