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The state of play for Australian KidLit

A panel discussion

  • ONLINE VIA ZOOM

The KidLit community is one of the strongest in the Australian publishing industry, and for good reason; the unique challenges facing these creators has forged a close-knit, active, and supportive community. But what are these challenges, and how have they evolved in recent years? 

Join author and publisher Rachel Bin Salleh, author Sally Rippin, and author Kate Temple to learn what the state of play for Australian KidLit is in 2026. The panel will join the ASA’s Professional Development and Events Manager, Kate Adams, in conversation to share what they have learned and observed throughout their incredible careers, as well as discuss specific insights from Sally’s recent tenure as Australian Children’s Laureate.

Together, they will address the core concerns of children’s authors and illustrators in the current climate, including:

  • The limited and highly competitive publishing opportunities available to Australia’s children’s creators
  • How the issues and conservatism of the wider publishing industry are impacting children’s creators
  • Australia’s falling literacy rates, the impact this has on children’s publishing, and what is being done to improve them
  • The challenges and changing opportunities facing diverse and marginalised children’s creators
  • The particular labour performed by children’s creators outside of writing and illustrating, such as promotion, events, and community building

Whether you’re a children’s creator just getting your start in the industry, or an established author or illustrator eager to gain perspective on what your fellow creators are experiencing, don’t miss this opportunity to hear valuable insights from three deeply respected and beloved figures in the Australian KidLit community and feel a sense of solidarity with your peers.

There will be time for questions from the audience.

Who is this for?

  • Emerging children’s authors and illustrators seeking professional insight into the contemporary children’s publishing industry
  • Established children’s authors and illustrators seeking different perspectives from their community of peers
  • All children’s authors and illustrators wanting to feel a sense of solidarity and purpose within the Australian KidLit community

About the panellists

Kate Temple
Kate Temple
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Rachel Bin Salleh
Rachel Bin Salleh
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Sally Rippin
Sally Rippin
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Can't make it to the live session?

No problem! Everyone booked in to this event will be emailed a link and passcode to access the recording afterwards. This recording will be available to view for 10 days after the live session. This also means that if you wish to revisit the session after attending it live to take further notes, you can do so!

After 10 days, the link will expire and the recording will no longer be available to view.