The Victorian Women’s Trust is thrilled to be partnering once again with the Melbourne Writers Festival (MWF), happening on 7-10 May, 2026. Known for platforming voices and stories that challenge assumptions and bridge divides, the 2026 MWF program drums home why this literary gathering has been the flagship event of our UNESCO City of Literature since 1986.
Honouring the legacy of Ukrainian journalist, Victoria Amelina
This year, we are particularly moved to support a session that sits at the intersection of literature and human rights: Looking at Women, Looking at War: Cities of Literature Book Club.
The session centres on the life and legacy of Victoria Amelina, a Ukrainian poet and war-crimes investigator. In June 2023, Victoria was tragically killed in a Russian missile strike while documenting the truth of the conflict. Her posthumously published work, Looking at Women, Looking at War, was recently awarded the 2025 Orwell Prize for Political Writing. It is a devastating, beautiful, and necessary piece of witness-bearing.
Join us
On Sunday 10 May at 3pm — Mother’s Day, very apt — we invite you to the State Library of Victoria Theatrette to explore Amelina’s work and the broader themes of gender and resistance with a unique panel of writers:
Maria Reva
Born in Ukraine and raised in Canada, Maria is a storyteller of immense wit and depth. Her debut novel, Endling, was long-listed for the 2025 Booker Prize and explores the surreal and sharp realities of life on the brink of war. She is also an award-winning librettist and the author of the acclaimed story collection, Good Citizens Need Not Fear.
Kate Larsen
A Naarm/Melbourne-based writer and cultural consultant with over 25 years of experience in the arts. Known for her social media poetry under the moniker @tinylittlepoems, Kate is a fierce advocate for community-led practice. Her debut poetry collection, Public. Open. Space. (Fremantle Press), explores the digitised and physical spaces we inhabit.
Madison Griffiths
An award-winning writer, artist, and producer whose work unflinchingly tackles lived experiences shrouded in stigma. Madison is the author of Tissue and Sweet Nothings, and was recently awarded the ELLE Magazine Next Gen Writer Award. Her reporting on violence against women has earned her the prestigious Walkley Foundation Our Watch Award.
Event details:
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When: Sunday 10 May, 3:00 PM
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Where: The Theatrette, State Library Victoria
See you there!
