Admissions at Sydney Writers' Festival

Mohammad Awad is a Health and Psychology student working in mental health, striving to destigmatise mental health in diverse communities. A writer/artist/musician/poet who’s running out of ways to express himself.

Kristen Dunphy has over 30 years' experience writing and story producing drama for Australian television. In 2012, she was awarded the Foxtel Fellowship for Excellence and is the recipient of three AWGIE Awards. Kristen co-created and co-wrote The Principal (aired on SBS TV/Netflix) and created, co-wrote and produced the critically acclaimed Wakefield (aired on ABC TV/Showtime USA).

Kirli Saunders is a proud Gunai Woman and award-winning multidisciplinary artist and consultant. An experienced speaker and facilitator, advocating for marginalised communities and care for country, Kirli was the NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year (2020). In 2022, she was awarded an OAM for the contribution to literature.

Comedian, musician and mental health advocate Nat had a fan base already in the hundreds of thousands when he rocketed to global prominence with his isolation cooking content. Nat's openness about his mental health struggles has resonated with champions the world over, amassing a dedicated audience of over 3.5 million thanks to his sweary, no-nonsense approach and underlying message of kindness and inclusivity.

David Stavanger is poet, performer, cultural producer, editor and former psychologist living on unceded Dharawal land. He is the author of the poetry collections The Special (UQP, 2014), and Case Notes (UWAP, 2020), and co-editor of Solid Air: Collected Australian & New Zealand Spoken Word (UQP, 2019) and Admissions: Voices Within Mental Health (Upswell, 2022.)