black&write! and Backyard Footy

black&write! is a groundbreaking national project that has been dedicated to nurturing and empowering First Nations writers and editors through writing Fellowships and editing internships since 2011.  

Each year black&write offers two Fellowships to First Nations writers, awarded through an unpublished manuscript competition open to any Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander writer currently living in Australia. Each Fellow receives $15,000, editorial development with the black&write! editing team, and a publication opportunity with Hachette Australia. 

The Fellowship program is run by the black&write! team at State Library of Queensland, with the support of Creative Australia, Hachette Australia and Copyright Agency Cultural Fund. 

Over the last 13 years the black&write! program has supported many books including award winners such as Song of the Crocodile by Nardi Simpson (2021) and Terra Nullius by Claire G Coleman (2017). 

Once of the more recent publications to come out of the black&write! program — already kicking goals —  is Backyard Footy written by Carl Merrison and illustrated by Samantha Campbell (2023). Backyard Footy is one of only two picture books to win the Fellowship and, excitingly, will shortly be followed by Backyard Basketball. 

Backyard Footy is an energetic story about playing backyard AFL. A group of neighbourhood kids jump one fence after another following the football until everyone ends up at the field. The writing and illustrations are fun and accessible and capture the important development that happens when playing. 

Children learn through play, right from their first weeks of life. When children play, they build physical, social and emotional skills, and discover more about others and the world around them. Play is essential for learning and development and, as Backyard Footy shows, play is also heaps of fun! 

While the illustrations proudly evoke Indigenous kids in the Kimberley and the unique feeling of living in a regional community, they also feel very accessible. These could be any kids in any neighbourhood.  

For children who might be a bit too young to hop the fence for backyard footy, First 5 Forever creates opportunities for families to build their child’s brains and bodies through free, fun, playful experiences at their local library. First 5 Forever also supports parents and caregivers to find resources that support them, as the most important person in their child’s life.    

For more information about how you can support your child’s health and wellbeing through play, attend a First 5 Forever session at your local library and chat with the First 5 Forever staff.  You are never too young to be a member of your local library. You can sign your child up from birth and start talking, reading, singing, playing… and gently rolling the football!  

More sporty picture books by First Nations writers: 

My Deadly Boots written by Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler and illustrated by Samantha Campbell (2022) 

The Heartbeat of the Land written by Cathy Freeman and Coral Vass and illustrated by Tannya Harricks (2022) 

Going to the Footy written and illustrated by Debbie Coombes (2019)