Open Book expands to three internships

The Open Book: Australian Publishing Internship program, which ran as a pilot program offering two internships in 2022, has expanded to offer three paid internships this year, with one an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identified role.

The internships will be offered in Sydney and Melbourne, with Allen & Unwin and HarperCollins to host in Sydney and Hardie Grant, Oxford University Press, Scribe and Thames & Hudson to host in Melbourne.

Jointly devised by members of the Australian publishing industry, the Open Book program is supported by funding from the Australia Council and the Copyright Agency and program support from Writing NSW, and was ‘devised to create alternate pathways into publishing for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds’.

Interns in the program will be supported by external mentor Camha Pham, a freelance editor with over 10 years of experience in the publishing industry, and will not need to demonstrate proof of a Higher School Certificate equivalent or university degree or have previous experience in the industry. ‘While the internship is an entry-level position, Open Book does not equate this with youth or inexperience, and there is no upper age limit for applicants,’ said a statement from Open Book.

Chair of the Open Book advisory board Grace Heifetz said the initiative was ‘indebted to the interns, mentors and hosts whose feedback from our pilot year has enabled us to grow and revise the program’.

‘We look forward to receiving applications to this year’s program, and announcing the shortlist and successful candidates,’ said Heifetz.

Applications are open until 3 April. For more information see the Open Book website here.

Category: Local news