Menu
Menu
Nicole Hayes is an award-winning author of books for children and young adults. She is also a writing instructor who has taught with the Australian Writers’ Centre for more than eight years, as well as at universities, TAFEs and schools around Australia. She currently teaches Creative Writing at Deakin University and Sports Media at Swinburne.
Her latest project, a collaboration with Adrian Beck on a Junior fiction series, Little Legends, celebrates the great game of AFL, a sport Nicole loves. Her other books include the young adult novels A Shadow’s Breath, shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Award and a CBCA Notable, the INKY award longlisted, The Whole of My World, and One True Thing, winner of the Children’s Peace Literature Award, CBCA Notable Book, and shortlisted for the WA Premier’s Literary Award.
Nicole published an anthology of writing from writers and thinkers from the margins who love AFL, called From the Outer: Footy Like You’ve Never Heard It, co-edited with Alicia Sometimes. On the back of this release, Alicia and Nicole joined with friends to form the groundbreaking, award winning all-female Australian football podcast, The Outer Sanctum. The Outer Sanctum has since expanded its team, as well as its platform, including a live AFLW radio program broadcast on ABC Grandstand and Melbourne Radio for the AFLW season.
Nicole regularly speaks about writing, sport, politics and gender at festivals and literary events around the country, and has written op ed and articles for The Guardian, The Saturday Paper, and The Griffith Review. She is a Stella Prize in Schools Ambassador, has a Master of Arts in Creative Writing, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Creative Writing, with a focus on Young Adult fiction.
Nicole teaches Creative Writing Stage 1 and Novel Writing Essentials.
“Having taught adult students myself, I understand the difficulties in teaching but Nicole could not have been better suited to this course. It is little wonder she is a published author. She was nothing short of fantastic. I really appreciated her honesty and insights and found the course outline incredibly helpful for an aspiring fiction writer.”
– Kirstie Bedford
“Nicole was an absolute darl and her enthusiasm for good writing was infectious.”
– Elise Maki
“Nicole was excellent, she was very approachable and imparted real information in a down-to-earth way. The small class size and extensive notes made the course content rich. I learnt a great deal in two days!”
– Saveria Dimasi
“Nicole is a down to earth and very likeable person. She oozes knowledge and is great sharing it. I enjoy an unbiased presenter who gives all sides to the subject matter and leaves you with all the facts/options to make up your own mind. She had a response for every question and encouraged debate. I doubt you could find a better presenter!”
– Ruth Yates
“Nicole was great; knowledgeable, encouraging and generous with her insider information on how to become a published writer. It was great to be among like-minded book lovers and hopeful writers.”
– Tamara Blackmore
Connect with us
