All Story Factory programs align closely with the syllabus to support teachers achieving their goals.
We work with schools in many ways:
- One-off workshops: bring a class to visit us for a two-hour blast of creative writing inspiration at our beautifully-designed creative writing centres in Redfern or Parramatta.
- Term Programs: book us to come to your school. We can work with you to deliver a writing program once a week for a term, or multiple terms.
- Residency Programs: once you’ve tried the above, apply to become a Story Factory Residency School. We’ll commit to working with your students for at least a year, working with multiple classes, to create a culture of writing throughout the school.
All programs, whether they run for two hours or a term, end with the publication of students’ writing in a handsomely bound book which they can take home to share with their family and community.
Enquire for a free writing workshop series via: info@storyfactory.org.au
Term-long workshops
Robots and Recipe Machines
- Stage 2
- Term 2, 2026 (term-long)
- In person
In this term long series of workshops students will engage with the playful worlds of renowned Japanese paper cut artist and picture book author Chihiro Takeuchi.
Students will develop skills in poetry writing, narrative development, and character as they imagine a world in which everyone has their very own robot and recipe machines make animals. They will write poems, an interview and a short narrative as they document the experience of when their robot friends loses an important body part.
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Freedom Machines
- Stage 3
- Term 2, 2026 (term-long)
- In person
What is freedom to you? It means different things to different people at different times. What if you could build your very own freedom machine: what would it look like; where would it take you?
In this term-long workshop students will explore Kirli Saunders and Matt Ottley’s beautiful picture book The Incredible Freedom Machines. Students will use this as inspiration to design and describe their own freedom machine, and write about the exotic and magical locations it can take them. Students will compose short texts and free verse poetry, focusing on developing and experimenting with vocabulary.
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Blak Bayumi
- Stage 4
- Term 2, 2026 (term-long)
- In person
Turn it up – let’s find the beat.
Blak Bayumi brings together two powerful ideas. “Blak” is a term coined by Indigenous artist and activist Destiny Deacon to assert pride in and reclaim Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity. “Bayumi” is the Dharug word for music or song. Together, Blak Bayumi is about identity, voice, and the stories we carry – set to the rhythm of song.
In this term-long workshop series, students explore the lyrics of First Nations artists as examples of quality literature. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Thelma Plum, 3%, and Archie Roach, students will write their own original lyrics in genres like pop, rap, hip hop and the ballad. They will experiment with rhythm, language and storytelling to create a collection of lyrics that are personal and powerful.
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Sporting Chance
- Stage 5
- Term 2, 2026 (term-long)
- In person
On your marks. Set. Go.
What do a boxing ring, a football field and a chessboard have in common? Pressure. Stakes. Stories.
In this workshop series, students use the world of sport as their starting line, transforming moments of competition into powerful writing. From the bravado of Muhammad Ali to the quiet strategy of Judit Polgar and the electric energy of the Matildas, students will explore what it means to compete. Across the program, they will experiment with poetry, prose fiction, persuasive speeches and personal essays, developing their voice while exploring the drama and complexity of competition.
Enquire Now!One-off workshops
Robot Bird
- Stage 2 and 3
- In person
At Story Factory we’ve wrestled (in a totally gentle and bird friendly way of course) birds and writing into the mechanised, robotic 21st century. In this workshop students will begin by creating their own fantastical Robot Bird, a creature that represents some special aspect of their own personality, then write a story sharing the tale of their first meeting with the Robot Bird.
Freedom Machines
- Stage 3 and 4
- In person
What is freedom to you? It means different things to different people at different times. What if you could build your very own freedom machine? What would it look like? How would it move? Where would it take you? In this two hour workshop students will explore Kirli Saunders and Matt Ottley’s beautiful picture book, The Incredible Freedom Machines. They will use this as an inspiration to design their own freedom machine. Students will then write a 1 to 2 stanza narrative poem describing their machine and where they would use it to go to feel free.
An Ounce of Joy
- Stage 4 and 5
- In person
Looking for an opportunity to promote student wellbeing through positive, achievable and supported writing experiences? In this workshop students will ideate and reflect on the things in life that bring them joy and happiness. The mentor text and inspiration for their own short and personal piece of writing will be an Instapoem by acclaimed British-Indian writer and illustrator Nikita Gill This workshop is ideal for reluctant writers.