The Australian Association of Writing Programs was established in 1996 with its first conference, a gathering of teachers and students of creative and professional writing at the University of Technology, Sydney and organised by Graham Williams and Dr Jan Hutchinson. Since then it has grown, holding annual conferences at campuses around Australia. The annual AAWP Conference is now the most important forum in Australia for the discussion of all aspects of teaching creative and professional writing and for debating current theories on creativity and writing.
In 1996 members of the AAWP established the online journal, TEXT, an independent refereed journal which publishes a wide range of research, reviews and debates on creative and professional writing and the teaching of writing in academic and industry contexts. TEXT is sponsored by the AAWP and the editors' host universities: Griffith University, School of Arts and University of Canberra, School of Creative Communication. In 2008 there are 1100 subcribers to TEXT, approximately 300 of them accessing the journal from Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Asia, and 800 in North America.
In 1999-2002 the editors of TEXT compiled the first database of its kind on tertiary institutions and courses offered Australia-wide and in New Zealand (details available under Writing Courses). This was the beginning of a compilation of basic statistics on writing teaching in Australasia, an area which has grown rapidly. (This growth might be gauged by the fact that in 1999 there were 8 PhDs in creative writing offered around Australia; in 2003 the updated Guide showed there were 17 such PhDs on offer plus 5 DCAs and DComms.) The database is also a useful tool for anyone looking for particular degree programs and where they are offered.
In 2000 the AAWP initiated a program of State-based Seminars, the first of which were held in Adelaide and Melbourne. These seminars involved many of the teachers of writing in a given state, from both the TAFE and University sectors. Topics under discussion included publishability and publishable standard; exegesis; and examination procedures and practices.
National conferences of the AAWP have been held at:
The association will hold its 14th conference at Wintec, the Waikato Institute of Technology, Hamilton, New Zealand in November 2009.
An electronic quarterly newsletter of general news for AAWP members began in March 2003 and is currently edited by Jordan Williams of the University of Canberra. For further details and contributions contact Jordan at Jordan.Williams@canberra.edu.au
Past-Presidents of the AAWP include Judith Rodriguez, Professor Tom Shapcott, Dr Eva Sallis, Assoc Professor Jeri Kroll and Assoc Professor Donna Lee Brien of CQUniversity.
The current President of the AAWP is Dr Marcelle Freiman from Macquarie University. Her email address is Marcelle.Freiman@humn.mq.edu.au
The 2008 AGM of the AAWP was held in Sydney on 27 November 2008 and a new National Executive for 2008-09 was elected.