Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Campus held its first Writers Festival on Friday, 13 February, giving students a full day of workshops and creative sessions aimed at building their confidence as writers.
Sarah Peachman, head teacher of English who spearheaded the event, explained the festival was designed to show students that writing extends far beyond classroom assessments.
Ms Peachman noted that in an increasingly complex world, storytelling has become more vital than ever for young people.
The festival programme offered various workshops to ensure every student could find an entry point into writing, emphasising how the skill supports learning across all subjects and future career pathways.
Guest speakers included authors Maxine Fawcett, Kristen Darell and Zena Shapter, alongside Morag Ramsay, executive producer of Foreign Correspondent, and former journalist Mike Carlton. The line-up also featured Bruna Gomes, a Freshwater campus graduate and current student learning support officer who has become a published author, as well as media specialist Liz Nable.
Ms Darell, a children’s author known for her Football Fever series, spoke about writing as a way to share diverse perspectives, describing everyone’s story as unique.
Ms Shapter discussed storytelling as a fundamental human trait that helps our species thrive.
The workshops covered creative writing, media writing, business communication, advocacy and finding inspiration.
Year 12 students shared positive feedback following the event. On the school’s Facebook page, students commented on learning that writing skills from the HSC will be valuable throughout their lives, and that meaningful writing can create real impact. One student was so inspired by a guest author that they planned to book an appointment with the careers adviser to pursue writing professionally.
Ms Peachman expressed hope the festival would become an annual fixture, continuing to strengthen students’ confidence, creativity and connection to their community.
Published 23-February-2026
