Australian Poetry Slam: Melton Heat

We write revolutions!

Over 1000 writers release wild words on audiences across Australia. Poets break free from their notebook cages landing on a stage near you.

Australian Poetry Slam 2024 (APS ’24) invites you to this nation-wide celebration of spoken-wordsmiths. APS ’24 is about unleashing your thoughts; launching mini-revolutions, like a chorus of kingfishers on a mission.

Writers let fly. Alight upon the mic for two minutes. Shout, call out, even softly warble your fresh lit. Judges, chosen from the audience, will send two poetic messengers to represent Melton in the Melbourne Final!

Are you the next APS Champion? Win a prize worth $20,000, including publication and gigs from Byron to Bali and beyond.

Hosted by 2022 Australian Poetry Slam Champion, Jo Yang, and 2023 Co-Champion, K.J. Hayward.

Jo Yang is a Naarm based poet, high school teacher and host of an education podcast, rethinking the current education system. She was the 2022 Australian Poetry slam champion, and placed as a finalist in the World poetry slam championship. Her poetry is influenced heavily by her proud Chinese identity, and role as an educator. With often difficult topics to digest, she sees poetry as an honest means to share stories through empathy and connection.