Society of Women Writers Victoria

Writing Trauma Without Traumatising Yourself - Part 2 with Sumitra Singam
Date: Thursday 11 June 2026 on Zoom
Time: 7:00 pm
Price: $20.00 for non members - members free.

This event has a number limit, so ordering a ticket (free for members) is essential.

Writing Trauma Without Traumatising Yourself Part 2 is the continuation of workshop Part 1 where writer and psychiatrist Sumitra Singam explained how to write trauma safely while staying regulated. This workshop is suitable for memoir writers, fiction writers, poets, and anyone interested in regulating from traumatic experiences.

This workshop focuses on emotions - what they are and how they manifest, and the “internal family” of parts that each character may have. This workshop, like Part 1, is experiential and involves relaxation techniques and writing exercises. Please wear your comfiest clothes, perhaps use a yoga mat, cushions blankets etc and interact as much or as little as you like. If you did not attend Part 1, no worries - watch this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2_gLFyIu3E

There will be some assumed knowledge required for Part 2, and the video covers most of that.

Speaker:

Sumitra Singam is a Malaysian-Indian-Australian who writes in Naarm/Melbourne. Her work has been published widely, nominated for a number of Best Of anthologies, and was selected for BSF 2025. She was the winner of our own Margaret Hazzard Short Story Award in 2022. She works as a psychiatrist and trauma therapist and runs workshops on how to write trauma safely, and the Yeah Nah reading series. She’ll be the one in the kitchen making chai (where’s your cardamom?) You can find her and her other publication credits on Bluesky: & sumitrasingam.squarespace.com

Sumitra Singam Sumitra SingamWriter. Trauma Therapist Hi, I’m Sumitra. I write small, and I run workshops on writing trauma safely. About Me BioI am a Malaysian-Indian-Australian writer and psychiatrist/trauma therapist. I live in Naarm/Melbourne on the unceded lands of the Wurrundjeri people. I pay my respects ...

Member Brigid Carrick talks about an aspect of her novel The Belfast Express.

I worked as a midwife when contraception was illegal. We shouldn’t forget what that looked like A midwife recalls delivering babies in poverty, reminding us reproductive rights shape women’s choices, lives and futures.

Tte Margaret Hazzard Short Story Award 2026 has now closed.
Thank you to all the entrants. The last entry came in at 11.57pm last night. But it made it!

Our team of readers will be busy for the next month. We will let everyone know when we have the long list and then the shortlist.

Good luck everyone who entered because while a well crafted story will rise to the top, we all know there's a bit of luck too.

Always good to see a member's success.

So happy to see my story in this journal

Just one week to go until entries close. For all information and payment pleased see https://www.swwvic.org.au/competition/the-margaret-hazzard-short-story-award/

SWWV Writing Groups' Lunch. Saturday 18th April 2026

Join us to hear from Judy Higgs on her new book: The Secret S*x Lives of Older Women
Date: Thursday 30 April 2026
Time: 7:00 pm
Price: $15.00

This event is free for members, $15.00 for non members - a Zoom link will be sent a day or two before the event


Judy is an author, former nurse educator, university lecturer, photographic model, cigarette girl, (it was a different era) film extra and mother of four very conservative children. Judy will present a candid, and thought-provoking talk exploring how today’s older women came to understand intimacy, relationships, and themselves. Drawing on personal stories, reflections, and conversations with other women, Judy offers a warm and often humorous look at a generation raised in silence—now finding its voice.

Despite the provocative title, don't be scared ... this is not about explicit detail, but about lived experience, changing attitudes, and the realities of love, connection, and identity later in life. Expect insight, honesty, and more than a few laughs.





Speaker:

Judy Higgs is a nurse, behavioural scientist, university lecturer, and writer with extensive professional experience in women's and men's sexual health. She trained as a nurse at one of London's oldest teaching hospitals, working in family planning clinics, genito-urinary surgery, and maternity care. Her clinical experience includes delivering babies in private hospitals, impoverished inner-city settings, and, on one memorable occasion, the back seat of a car in Singapore. After emigrating to Australia, Judy completed a degree in Behavioural Science and later became a lecturer at the University of Sydney when nursing transitioned into tertiary education. She has worked as a surgical tutor for nurses and has written and co-authored academic papers across health, behaviour, and education.

This event is free for members, $15.00 for non members - a Zoom link will be sent a day or two before the event.

For non-member tickets seehttps://www.swwvic.org.au/event/judy-higgs-the-secret-sex-lives-of-older-women/

Published or not – Online Essentials for Women Writers
with SWWV Member Sue Ellson.

Date: Friday 17 April 2026
Time: 11:00 am
Price: $15.00 for non-members

Whether you are a published author, aspiring author or regular writer, do you know what is worth publishing online?

Do you need an author website?
What social media could be helpful?
Can these help you sell books now or later?
Will these resources help you secure a traditional publisher?
Join this interactive session designed for all levels of expertise.
Comprehensive slides will be provided to participants.
Questions will be most welcome.

Speaker:

Sue Ellson is an Independent LinkedIn specialist, author, educator, career development practitioner, consultant, founder, gigster, trainer, speaker, professional learner and poet. Sue provides teaching, training, speaking and consulting services to individuals, small, medium and large businesses, corporates, schools, universities, associations and government in Australia and overseas.

Tickets: https://www.swwvic.org.au/event/april-meeting/

The Margaret Hazzard Short Story Award 2026.

Short stories of up to 2,000 words on an open theme.

Open to women writers across Australia.

Closes: 3rd May 2026
Judge: Melanie Cheng

Prizes: 1st $350.00. 2nd $200.00. 3rd $100.00.

Fees: For SWW Victoria members: 1 story $10.00 or 3 stories $20.00
For non-members: 1 story $15.00 or 3 stories $30.00

For all information and how to enter please see:

Society of Women Writers Victoria - The Margaret Hazzard Short Story Award The Margaret Hazzard Short Story Competition 2026. Short stories of up to 2,000 words on an open theme. Closes: 3rd May 2026 Judge: Melanie Cheng…