McMillan Trust Retreat 2026

An emerging NT writer is offered $5,000 grant to support a writing retreat tailored to their project’s unique needs, in a place of their choice. This retreat can be designed in any way that best supports their work. For example, the writer might take time off work to spend several weeks in their home office or studio, focusing on completing a final draft. Alternatively, they could use the funds to travel interstate for research or work with a mentor face-to-face to deepen their craft.

Please note:

• A minimum of $500 of the grant must be allocated toward engaging professional services to support the writer and their project. These services could include a mentor, editor, or other industry specialist to enhance the project’s quality and impact.

• The remainder of available fees should be budgeted. The budget may include accommodation, travel costs, travel allowance, artist stipend and childcare.

• Two weeks paid accommodation to the maximum value of $3,000 at an accommodation provider of their choice. The writer selects and books their own accommodation and travel as outlined in their budget, then provide receipts to NTWC.
• Travel assistance for petrol or flights to the value of $1000.
• $500 towards a writing mentor (To be negotiated between writer and mentor, but as a guideline, $80-200 per hour for face-to-face meetings, tutoring, reading and/or feedback. This could be taken up before, or during the residency according to the writers preferences. But must be spent by the conclusion of the residency.

N.B. Mentor reading time should be costed. A rough indication of reading time is 10K words three hours, 35K words eight hours, 70K words + sixteen hours.)

Successful residencies will be awarded based on:

• A clearly outlined residency structure and realistic budget.
• A passionate and well-articulated project, which outlines the benefit of the residency to their project and artistic practice.
• Allocation of $500 (as a minimum) of retreat funding for mentorship.

Applicants will be selected by a panel of 3, including a previous winners and NT Writers Board Member.

Eligibility:

• For this opportunity, an emerging writer is defined as someone who has not yet published a book through a publisher distributed by one of the major book
  distributors, such as Alliance Distribution Services (ADS), United Book Distributors (UBD), or HarperCollins Entertainment Distribution Services (HEDS).
• Applicants must have current membership to the NT Writers’ Centre.
• Preference will be given to writers working on a substantial writing project in any genre, with view to publication.
• Able to take the residency between May 2026 to February 2027.
• Over 18.

Applications open: 9am Wednesday 11 February, 2026

Applications close: 5pm Wednesday 18 March, 2026

Applicants notified Tuesday 31 March, 2026.

Successful applicants should organise their retreat to take place between May 2026 to February 2027.

Successful applicants will:

• Develop their retreat plan in line with their submitted application plan and budget
• Allocate a minimum of $500 of awarded funds to mentorship.
• Liaise with NTWC regarding the documentation and outcomes of their retreat.
• Acknowledge the Andrew McMillan Memorial Retreat and NTWC in all future publications and iterations of their project.
• Share documentation with NTWC for shared use.
• Be responsible for the coordination of their retreat and all bookings including travel, accommodation, and mentorship.
• Engage in a debriefing process with NTWC at the conclusion of their retreat.

• Please attach a budget for your retreat. All involved artists should be paid for their work, including necessary on-costs such as superannuation. Projects that do not include artists wages will not be considered.
• Budgets must include mentorship support, with a minimum of $500 of the potential $5000 funds allocated to mentorship. Artists may specify their plans for these funds and can reach out to NTWC to help suggest a mentor.
• Funds can be used for travel, wages, cultural consultation, accommodation, childcare, venue hire, editing, research or other activities related to the writing residency.

A budget template is available for download below, or you can create your own.

Budget template

You can reach out to NTWC at hello@ntwriters.com.au or on 8952 3810 to discuss your application or request an accessible version of the application process.

Applications are submitted via a simple online form below.

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