A training program for children's book editors to enhance their skills in developing book projects.
Inspired by the highly esteemed Residential Editorial Program, which has been running for over 25 years, the Children’s Editorial Program will address gaps in training available for editorial staff working in children’s publishing. As well as practical skills development, the program will also provide opportunities for community building and knowledge sharing among editors working in this diverse field.
2026 Graphic Novel Editing Intensive
The Graphic Novel Editing Intensive is aimed at mid-career editors and publishers with minimal to some experience in editing graphic novels, with a focus on children’s titles. Editors with more experience are also encouraged to apply as the editing process can vary widely between graphic novel projects.
Developed by the Children’s Publishers Committee and led by esteemed graphic novelist and editor Eleri Harris, the two-day training program will take place at RMIT in Melbourne on 29-30 October 2026, and include an offsite dinner.
Drawing on a range of guest speakers, including creators, editors and designers, the program will cover:
- An introduction to graphic novels
- The editor’s toolkit
- Stages of production
- Guiding sequential art
- Design considerations
- File management
- Working with different creators
- Market insights
Chair of the programming committee, Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Director Marisa Pintado, says the program has been designed to give editors the skills and confidence to tackle this growth area for children’s publishing:
‘Graphic novels are a hugely exciting growth area for Australian children’s publishing, and an area in which editors must manage a complex array of logistical, editorial and production challenges. This training intensive will equip children’s editors with the skills and confidence they need to work closely with comics creators across a range of genres, styles and audiences.’
Eligibility and applications
The program is open to Australia-based editors and publishers working on children’s books, either in-house or freelance.
Applicants from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply, including people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people with disability.
Up to twenty participants will be chosen on the basis of their applications, selected by members of the Children’s Publishers Committee. Successful applicants will be notified by the end of August 2026.
How to apply
The application guidelines and form are available to download:
The deadline for application is Monday 3 August 2026.
Fees and bursaries
- APA full members: $800 plus GST
- APA associate members: $1000 plus GST
- Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd) members: $800 plus GST
Fees include tuition and meals. Any travel and accommodation costs will be the responsibility of the participant or their employer.
Bursaries of up to $1000 are available to assist participants travelling from outside of Victoria. See the application guidelines for more information, or contact Andrea Hanke on
[email protected].
Further information
Our thanks to the APA’s Children’s Publishers Committee and Graphic Novel Editing Intensive Sub-Committee for their development of the program, the Perth Comic Arts Festival for program support and speaker sponsorship, and RMIT for the venue.