Growing Up Indian in Australia is a powerful and celebratory exploration of the vibrant diversity within the Australian-Indian community. This colourful, energetic anthology offers reflections on identity, culture, family, food and expectations, ultimately revealing deep truths about both Australian and Indian life.

Join influential curator, speaker, and advocate Daizy Maan as she speaks about her contribution. 

Investigative journalist Jess Hill shares what she found about Australia's National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children, and discusses her new Quarterly Essay Losing It: Can We Stop Violence Against Women and Children?

Join journalist, author and speaker Jess Hill in conversation with Lisa McAdams as they discuss what it will take to end gendered violence.

Hamish McDonald's Melanesia is an immersive journey through the tumultuous past and fascinating present of Australia's nearest neighbours.

On Tuesday 18th March at The Royal Oak, Balmain, join Hamish McDonald in conversation with Oliver Nobetau.

Copies of Melanesia: Travels in Black Oceania will be available for purchase at the venue through Roaring Stories, with McDonald signing copies after the discussion.

Hamish McDonald will be In Conversation with Dr Siobhan McDonnell on his latest book Melanesia: Travels in Black Oceania – Black Inc Books. An immersive journey through the tumultuous past and fascinating present of Australia's nearest neighbours.

Stretching from Fiji in the east to New Guinea in the west, Melanesia is astonishingly diverse. Its islands are home to some 1200 language groups, many of them still isolated from the outside world. In Australia, this complex region tends to make the news only in times of crisis: military coups in Fiji, Kanak unrest in New Caledonia, rioting in Solomon Islands. Melanesia offers readers a deeper insight into the people and places behind these headlines, combining travelogue, history and astute political analysis.

By land and sea, Hamish McDonald travels from one end of Melanesia to the other. Speaking with locals from all walks of life, he uncovers the histories, values, aspirations and tensions that have shaped their communities. He examines the impact of outsiders: the Indians recruited to work in Fiji; the white "blackbirders" who kidnapped Islanders for the Australian cane fields; the Americans during World War II; the Indonesians in New Guinea. And he considers the big changes unfolding today, as shifting demographics and the growing influence of China produce a new balance of power across the region.

Vividly written, Melanesia is essential reading for anyone looking to understand this fascinating part of the world and its growing international significance.

Meet three of the brilliant voices behind Growing Up Indian in Australia and hear their stories: editor Aarti Betigeri and contributors Daizy Maan and Priya Saratchandran.

Indian-Australian is not a one-size-fits-all descriptor. Given the depth and richness of diversity of the Indian subcontinent, it is fitting that its diaspora is similarly varied.

Growing Up Indian in Australia reflects and celebrates this vibrant diversity. It features contributions from Australian-Indian writers, both established and emerging, who hail from a wide range of backgrounds, religions and experiences. This colourful, energetic anthology offers reflections on identity, culture, family, food and expectations, ultimately revealing deep truths about both Australian and Indian life.

Join us for the Brisbane launch of Jess Hill's Quarterly Essay Losing It. Jess will be joined in conversation by Kathleen Noonan.

The evening will raise money for Second Chance Programme. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

What will it take to stop gendered violence?

Australian governments have promised to end gendered violence in a single generation. But this bold commitment to nation building has not yet been matched by the funding, innovation and resources necessary to achieve it. If anything, since governments made that commitment two years ago, gendered violence has only escalated: men are murdering women at an increased rate, coercive control and sexual violence are becoming more complex and severe, and governments are not doing nearly enough to stop perpetrators weaponising technology and systems. Australians have taken to the streets again this year to demand that governments act.

In this urgent essay, Jess Hill investigates Australia's National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children to find out what's working and what's not – and what we can do to turn things around

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jess Hill is an investigative journalist and the author of See What You Made Me Do and the Quarterly Essay The Reckoning. She has been a producer for ABC Radio and journalist for Background Briefing, and Middle East correspondent for The Global Mail. Her reporting on domestic abuse has won two Walkley awards, an Amnesty International award and three Our Watch awards. See What You Made Me Do won the 2020 Stella Prize and the ABA Booksellers’ Choice Adult Non-Fiction Book of the Year.

Growing Up Indian in Australia is a colourful, energetic anthology offering reflections on identity, culture, family, food and expectations, ultimately revealing deep truths about both Australian and Indian life.

Join contributer Daizy Maan as part of our Hamony Week celebrations for this engaging discussion at Frankston Library. Tickets are free!
 

Kate Grenville has often drawn inspiration from her family history for her writing. In her new memoir, Unsettled: A Journey Through Time and Place, she revisits her family story and repositions First Peoples within it. In conversation with Jason Steger at Clunes Booktown Festival, she will reassess both her own and Australia’s history of colonisation.
 

It’s time for truth-telling. At Clunes Booktown Festival, author Kate Grenville (Unsettled: A Journey Through Time and Place), author Jane Harrison (The Visitors), and historians Clare Wright (Näku Dhäruk: The Bark Petitions) and Amanda Laugesen (Australia in 100 Words) will explore the reality behind Australia’s colonial myths in an enlightening session with Barry Golding.
 

Jess Hill will be in conversation with Hayley Boxall on Jess's new Quarterly Essay Losing It. 

What will it take to stop gendered violence? Australian governments have promised to end gendered violence in a single generation. But this bold commitment to nation building has not yet been matched by the funding, innovation and resources necessary to achieve it. If anything, since governments made that commitment two years ago, gendered violence has only escalated: men are murdering women at an increased rate, coercive control and sexual violence are becoming more complex and severe, and governments are not doing nearly enough to stop perpetrators weaponising technology and systems. Australians have taken to the streets again this year to demand that governments act.

In this urgent essay, Jess Hill investigates Australia's National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children to find out what's working and what's not – and what we can do to turn things around.

Join us to hear Hamish McDonald in conversation with Professor Michael Wesley

Stretching from Fiji in the east to New Guinea in the west, Melanesia is astonishingly diverse. Its islands are home to some 1,200 language groups, many of them still isolated from the outside world. In Australia, this complex region tends to make the news only in times of crisis- military coups in Fiji, Kanak unrest in New Caledonia, rioting in Solomon Islands. Hamish McDonald's Melanesia offers readers a deeper insight into the people and places behind these headlines, combining travelogue, history and astute political analysis.

Free, but bookings are essential.

A crucial and unflinching discussion on Australia’s failed plans to stop perpetrators of violence against women and children – and what must happen next. 

Jess Hill, the esteemed and award-winning investigative journalist who redefined how we hold perpetrators to account in See What You Made Me Do, continues to push for reform in her latest Quarterly Essay, Losing It: Can We Stop Violence Against Women and Children? 

Join Hill in conversation with Tarang Chawla – leading educator, activist, and co-founder of Not One More Niki – as they dissect Australia’s National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032 and its shortcomings in addressing the relentless waves of violence in homes, online and across our communities. 

With a federal election on the horizon, there’s never been a more critical time to demand action to end this national crisis. 

Simmer Down — The role of civilised conversations in a healthy democracy with Rana Hussain, David Marr and Peter Inge.

In Australian Gospel: A Family Saga, acclaimed author Lech Blaine explores the fraught intersections of faith, family, and identity in a gripping memoir. On one side, Michael and Mary Shelley are devout fundamentalist Christians who reject what they see as the indulgences of Australian culture—sports, swearing, and alcohol. On the other, Lenore and Tom Blaine are publicans with a raucous, rugby leagueobsessed household, raising both their biological and foster kids, including Lech himself. This sensational tale, woven with Blaine’s signature wit and keen insight, chronicles these two families’ profound tensions and unexpected connections. It is a story of love, loyalty, and the clash of worldviews, offering an unflinching look at the ties that bind and the beliefs that divide.
Host: Steve Cannane

Join us at Rowville Library for an opportunity to meet Daizy Maan, one of the voices and contributors of Growing Up Indian in Australia. This powerful anthology offers a deep exploration of identity and community, featuring vibrant stories of cultural adaptation and resilience. Don’t miss this chance to discover the rich and diverse experiences of the Australian-Indian community.

Daizy Maan is a founder, advocate and speaker. Her work focuses on empowering diverse women. She is the founder of Australian South Asian Centre - an organisation dedicated to empowering South Asian women founders, creatives and professionals. She recently produced and performed in Brown Women Comedy at Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sydney Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Fringe. Her work has featured in SBS World News, ABC & The Age. She is proudly Punjabi-Australian and lives in Melbourne.

Almost 18 months after The Voice referendum, it is regarded as one of the key political failures of the Prime Minister and his government. We reflect on the emotional and cultural impact of this pivotal event and explore the heartbreak, resilience, and ongoing journey of Australians deeply affected by its rejection through Broken Heart by lawyer and adviser on Indigenous Constitutional recognition, Shireen Morris, and through two novels that explore the same themes: The Desert Knows Her Name by Lia Hills and The Leaves by Jacqueline Rule.
Host: Isabella Higgins 

The Indian diaspora in Australia is one of the country’s fastest-growing and most vibrant and diverse cultural groups. According to recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data, more than 700,000 Australians identify as having Indian ancestry, many of whom are first-generation migrants. Growing Up Indian in Australia, compiled by Aarti Betigeri, is a heartfelt, reflective account of navigating two worlds: the rich traditions of Indian heritage and contemporary Australian life. Betigeri and her contributors, including Manly local Sharon Verghis, capture the joys, struggles, and humour of straddling two worlds, also captured by the tales of Deep Gujral (Manjits and the Tandoor of Secrets) through his experience as a Sikh child at one of Sydney’s most conservative private boys’ schools to an event and restaurant enterprise catering largely, but not exclusively, to the Australian Indian community.
Host: Summer Land

Two deeply personal journeys that explore episodic mental health breakdowns, the path to recovery, and achieving a new equilibrium. Psychologist Ariane Beeston (Because I’m Not Myself, You See) provides an intimate look at her struggles with post-partum depression and hallucinations. Craig Semple (Getting Back Up Again) shares his experience after dealing with post-traumatic stress and severe depression following 25 years as a detective. Together, their memoirs illuminate what is needed to confront unexpected and unforeseen challenges and the courage to rebuild a fulfilling life.
Host: Tracey Kirkland

A thought-provoking discussion that unpacks how pivotal political events—like the rise of autocrats and the shifting power in Eurasia—are transforming geopolitical relationships and the world order as we know it. Our expert panel will delve into the profound implications of these shifts and their drivers. Drawing on their recent books and extensive political and international experience, our panellists will offer unique insights to help make sense of a rapidly changing world.
Panel: Damian Collins, Dennis Glover, Geoff Raby,
Don Watson
Host: Geraldine Doogue

Join us for a discussion with Hamish McDonald about his book Melanesia: Travels in Black Oceania.

ABOUT THE BOOK

An immersive journey through the tumultuous past and fascinating present of Australia's nearest neighbours
Stretching from Fiji in the east to New Guinea in the west, Melanesia is astonishingly diverse. Its islands are home to some 1200 language groups, many of them still isolated from the outside world. In Australia, this complex region tends to make the news only in times of crisis: military coups in Fiji, Kanak unrest in New Caledonia, rioting in Solomon Islands. Melanesia offers readers a deeper insight into the people and places behind these headlines, combining travelogue, history and astute political analysis.

By land and sea, Hamish McDonald travels from one end of Melanesia to the other. Speaking with locals from all walks of life, he uncovers the histories, values, aspirations and tensions that have shaped their communities. He examines the impact of outsiders: the Indians recruited to work in Fiji; the white "blackbirders" who kidnapped Islanders for the Australian cane fields; the Americans during World War II; the Indonesians in New Guinea. And he considers the big changes unfolding today, as shifting demographics and the growing influence of China produce a new balance of power across the region.

Vividly written, Melanesia is essential reading for anyone looking to understand this fascinating part of the world and its growing international significance.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hamish McDonald is an award-winning Australian journalist. He has been correspondent and foreign editor for The Sydney Morning Herald and the Far Eastern Economic Review, reporting from the Pacific Islands, Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong, New Delhi and Beijing as well as around Australia. His latest book is Melanesia: Travels in Black Oceania.