14/03/2023
Applications for the 2024 Open Book: Australian Publishing Internship are now open, with three interns to be hosted by six publishers in Sydney and Melbourne.
The Open Book internship program, jointly devised by senior publishing professionals, aims to foster cultural and linguistic diversity in the Australian publishing industry.
Open Book was developed to create alternate pathways into publishing for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Interns will not need to demonstrate proof of a Higher School Certificate equivalent or university degree, nor will they need previous industry experience. While the internship is an entry-level position, Open Book does not equate this with youth or inexperience, and there is no upper age limit for applicants.
Success to date
The Open Book program is now entering its third year, and has:
- received over 400 applications
- supported five interns, four from First Nations backgrounds
- collaborated with 12 host organisations
- over 20 professionals on the Advisory Board
All three interns who participated in the 2023 Open Book program have secured permanent positions within the publishing industry.
2024 program
This year, the program again offers three paid internships in Sydney and Melbourne, with funding support from Creative Australia and the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund. Of the available positions, one is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identified role.
The Sydney hosts are Allen & Unwin, Hachette Australia, Ultimo Press and UNSW/NewSouth Press, and the Melbourne hosts are Affirm Press and Cambridge University Press.
Interns will be supported through the program by external mentor, Olivia Whenman. Whenman is the Digital Business Manager at Pan Macmillan Australia, with eight years of experience in the publishing industry. She is a passionate advocate for innovative storytelling, leads Pan Macmillan Australia’s Cultural Competency Group and has sat on the Open Book Advisory Board since 2022. Learn more about Olivia in this interview. Camha Pham, Open Book mentor in 2023, shared her experience with the program here.
Chair of the Open Book Advisory Board, Grace Heifetz says:
'We’re so thrilled to be offering the Open Book program for a third year, with the generous support of Creative Australia and the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund. We’re committed to improving this program and sharing learnings with the Australian publishing industry, and are delighted to see a range of new host organisations sign onto the program this year.'
Applications are now open and will close on Monday, 25 March 2024, with more information available at openbookinternship.org