About

WA Poets Inc (WAPoets) was established in 2006 as an incorporated, not-for-profit organisation managed and operated by volunteers.

WAPoets is dedicated to the support, promotion, presentation and professional development of poets and poetry in Western Australia, and introducing Western Australian poetry to local, national and global audiences.

WAPoets has a strong commitment to promote poetry in new and innovative ways, to increase poetry audiences and to raise public awareness of the contemporary relevance of poetry. WAPoets aims to strengthen and build relationships between local, national and global arts communities.

Mission

The support, development and promotion of Western Australian poets and poetry

Goals

  • Establish WA Poets Inc as the umbrella organisation for poetry activities in Western Australia
  • Encourage, support and develop poets and poetry by providing competitions, readings, events and workshops locally and regionally in Western Australia
  • Create inclusive and thriving community through poetry events
  • Build alliances and partnerships with other local and regional poetry and art organisations
  • Support diversity through mentoring and showcasing disadvantaged and marginalized poets/ voices
  • Promote poetry as fostering wellness
  • Increase awareness of poetry as an art form within Western Australia by including  poetry in public places and spaces
  • Preserve and share Western Australia’s unique poetry culture and heritage
  • Collaborate with other arts and Government agencies to deliver poetry workshops and events.
  • Maintain a knowledge of the market and industry of poetry

Objectives

  • Organise an annual Poetry Festival
  • Organise public poetry events throughout the year, independently or in conjunction with other community and writers’ groups
  • Showcase members’ poetry in the e-journal Creatrix
  • Encourage and foster developing and emerging poets
  • Form partnerships with community groups and organisations to highlight creative connections between poetry, visual arts and other forms of media
  • Liaise with national and international poets and poetry groups to form reciprocal arrangements for mutual benefit
  • Develop a poetry culture in WA that will help promote local poets and improve opportunities for professional development
  • Provide avenues for poets at all levels to engage with a broader public audience
  • Encourage active participation by the public in local writers’ groups and expose them to the personal and social benefits of poetry writing and performance

Email:
— To email WA Poets Inc. click here

Office
— TBA—

Office Hours
— by appointment.

Postal Address:
184 Hope Rd Bibra Lake WA 6163
—

WA Poets Inc.

2026 Corporate Directory
ABN: 91 816 741 902

Constitutional Committee

Office Bearers (Executive)

Executive PositionNameOfficial Contact
ChairpersonLakshmi Kanchichair@wapoets.com
Deputy ChairpersonSamantha Meliadep.chair@wapoets.com
TreasurerIan Caseytreasurer@wapoets.com
SecretaryGillian Clarksecretary@wapoets.com

Ordinary Committee Members

StatusNameContact
Committee MemberCaitlin Kotulasocial@wapoets.com
Committee MemberManveen Kohliinfo@wapoets.com
Committee MemberJaya Penelopeinfo@wapoets.com
Committee MemberDamien Shieldsinfo@wapoets.com
Committee MemberNatalie Damjanovich-Napoleoninfo@wapoets.com
Committee MemberZac Cawdroninfo@wapoets.com
Committee MemberRohit Kanchiweb@wapoets.com

Operational & Administrative Divisions

Operational Portfolio(s)Appointee NamePortfolio Contact
Project ManagerLakshmi Kanchiprojects@wapoets.com
Festival DirectorSamantha Meliadep.chair@wapoets.com
WA Poets Publishing CoordinatorZac Cawdroninfo@wapoets.com
Social Media OfficerCaitlin Kotulasocial@wapoets.com
Woman Scream CoordinatorManveen Kohliinfo@wapoets.com
Administration OfficerJaya Penelopeinfo@wapoets.com
Web Officer (IT & Websites)Rohit Kanchiweb@wapoets.com

For general enquiries, please contact our Organisational Email: info@wapoets.com

WA Poets Structure 2026