Youth and Schools
Poets Out Loud empowers young voices through creative writing and slam poetry. We offer school workshops, mentoring, and a flagship performance, all run by professional poets.
WATCH OUR YOUTH POETS
“This whole writing and mentoring process has opened my eyes to the world of poetry. And I don’t ever want to go back.”
SIGN UP FOR 2026 Youth Slam!!
Got something to say? If you’re aged 12-18 and live in the Northern Rivers we want to hear from you!
Poets Out Loud Youth Slam empowers you to share YOUR voice and YOUR story in slam poetry. Learn from professional writers, connect with friends, and have fun!
Join one of 5 FREE masterclasses to learn how to express yourself through writing and spoken word. Led by prize-winning poet Sarah Temporal, our workshops are fun, inclusive spaces for you to extend your creativity. More info here >>
If you’re selected as one of 12 finalists for Poets Out Loud Youth Slam, you get to perform live onstage at Byron Writers Festival. Held at Byron Writers Festival on Sat 15th Aug, this flagship event showcases young voices from around the Northern Rivers.
First prize is $500 cash – generously donated by Dangerously Poetic Press.
Register your interest now to be in the running for 2026 Youth Slam.
Registration extended to Friday 17 July.
“It’s really powerful and I’d encourage anyone to do it. All the nerves go away as soon as you’re up there. Just feeling other people connect with the poem was so special.”
FREE WORKSHOPS COMING UP:
Poets Out Loud invites you to a series of FREE Youth Masterclasses in writing and spoken-word. Learn from professional writers, connect with friends, and have fun!
Open to ages 12-18, the masterclass runs from March – August 2026 in Murwillumbah.
Led by prize-winning poets and professional writers, our masterclass is a fun, inclusive spaces for you to extend your creativity. Whether you love to write or are just curious to try, you’ll find the support you need to find your unique voice.
2026 Masterclass dates:
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- Sat 28 March, 10am
- Sat 25 April, 1pm
- Sat 23 May, 10am
- Sat 20 June, 10am
- Sat 25 July, 10am
What people are saying:
“I met the most awesome people who are now some of my best friends.” – Ella, aged 15, Youth Slam 2023
“Poets Out Loud is an extraordinary lighthouse for young people in the Tweed, a singular North Star that illuminates the best that every kid has inside them.” – David Lang, parent of 16yo Youth Slam performer
“These are young, courageous, brave, edgy thinkers, and we need more of these. It just makes me feel that we are in really good hands.”
Mandy Nolan, Judge for 2023 Poets Out Loud Youth Slam
“I was really impressed by how you scaffolded the writing process in order to get even the most reluctant writers expressing themselves. They were eventually so proud of what they created that they couldn’t help but share their writing.”
Summer Holiday program for teens
SLAM CAMP is a school holiday program for teens to explore creative writing and performance, so that you take your passion to the next level! Run by Poets Out Loud director Sarah Temporal, the 2024 camp was held at Drill Hall Theatre and featured guests sessions from comedian Mandy Nolan and musician Mitch King.
Please contact us if you’d like to hear more about Slam Camp.
“The right words in the right order can change the world.”
Our team
Sarah Temporal, Director. Sarah Temporal is a prize-winning poet who has inspired hundreds of young people to express themselves with the spoken and written word. Along with producing the Poets Out Loud Youth Slam, Sarah mentors young writers, runs after school writers’ groups, and designs workshops to inspire learners from Years 5-12. Sarah has delivered poetry education sessions for Red Room Poetry, Byron Writers Festival, GranSlam!, Kyogle Writers Festival, Murwillumbah Youth Festival, the Storyboard masterclass program. She is available for workshops, teacher PD, and poet-in-residence. See more >>
Jedda Winkworth, Poet-mentor. Jedda is a writer and poet who is passionate about the power of spoken word to move, heal and inspire change. She was selected to represent Griffith University in slam poetry demonstrations at the 2018 Georgetown Festival, Malaysia. Published in Talent Implied Anthology, Getamugstit magazine and Healing Times magazine, Jedda has competed in events such as the Nimbin Performance Poetry Cup and the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival Open Slam. Jedda is a contributing artist to Poets Out Loud Youth Program and mentors young writers for the Youth Slam.
Katinka Smit, Poet-mentor. Katinka Smit began performing as a poet alongside an acting career (mostly theatre) in Newcastle in the 90s. She has worked as a life skills coach with disadvantaged youth, as a speech and drama tutor in youth theatre, and volunteers for the Byron Writers Festival’s Story Board and youth master class sessions. She was a 2018 finalist in the Nimbin Performance Poetry Cup. Katinka is a poet-mentor assisting young writers in Poets Out Loud Youth Slam.