Writing Your Memoir: Discovering an Australian Context
Course Overview
Writing Your Memoir: Discovering an Australian Context
How does your personal story connect with Australia's wider history?
This practical writing workshop explores how personal memories, family stories and meaningful places can be enriched by an understanding of Australia's historical and cultural landscape.
Through guided writing exercises, historical sources and discussion, participants will explore connections between their own experiences and Australia's Indigenous history, colonial past and evolving cultural identity.
Using familiar places, family photographs or significant memories as starting points, participants will learn how to weave historical context into personal narratives, adding depth and meaning to their writing.
Workshop Content
· Exploring personal and Australian histories: Understand how individual experiences intersect with broader historical and cultural events.
· Writing about place and belonging: Explore the significance of homes, neighbourhoods, landscapes and places that have shaped personal identity.
· Researching personal memories: Discover how historical records, photographs and family stories can enrich memoir writing.
· Bringing history into your writing: Practise incorporating historical and cultural context into engaging personal narratives.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this workshop you will be able to:
· Know how to discover a First Nations context that is relevant for most sites in Australia.
· Understand the key concepts outlined in writings about First Nations culture by a select number of distinguished Australian writers.
· Research and write about the early histories of Australia that matter to your story.
Who Is This Workshop For?
Suitable for beginners and experienced writers interested in memoir, Australian history and personal storytelling. No previous historical knowledge is required.
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Marie Geissler
Dr Marie Geissler is a cultural historian who is passionate about helping people write about their lives in ways that build confidence, insight, and personal empowerment. Drawing inspiration from archaeology—the practice of uncovering both visible and hidden layers of history—she encourages students to explore and reflect on their own experiences, memories and stories.
Marie is the author of numerous publications, including Dreaming the Land: Aboriginal Art from Remote Australia, an acclaimed work that profiles the lives and achievements of 100 leading Indigenous artists who helped pioneer Australia’s contemporary Indigenous art movement.
With more than three years of experience teaching memoir, Marie creates a supportive and engaging learning environment where writers of all backgrounds can discover and develop their unique voices. She is also a Board Member of the Foreign Correspondents Association of Australia and the South Pacific, where she actively promotes Australian innovation, creativity, and culture to international audiences.
Marie brings warmth, curiosity, and a deep appreciation for personal storytelling to her memoir classes, helping students uncover meaningful connections between their lived experiences and the stories they choose to tell.
About Marie Geissler
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