About Nicole Smith
If I could spend my working life talking to interesting people and working on my laptop in hipster cafes, I’d be living the dream! I want to make writing and speaking my career. Until then, this blog is a hobby with which I am fast becoming obsessed.
I have a Bachelor of Behavioural Science and a Graduate Diploma of English from La Trobe University.
Thanks for visiting!
Testimonals
“I have had many people interview me and write about me.
This piece is simply outstanding. You have stayed true to our conversation and they way you weave the story together is simply wonderful.
Thank you for writing about me in a voice and style that resonates of me.
You are a very gifted young lady. I am not sure what your future plans are, whatever they are I wish you all the very best. Keep writing like this.”
– Sadhana Smiles, Harcourts Victoria
Projects and Experience
Write To Be Heard Own Voices Forum facilitator
This forum is presented in partnership with Scope and the Kathleen Syme Library. Explore how language, writing and telling our own stories helps transform ways of thinking about the self, disability and community.
Write To Be Heard fortnightly writing group mentor
The Writers Group is a series of free skills development workshops open to writers with all levels of experience. Sessions will include a tutorial with a guest writer with disability and will make use of films and other resources from Writers Victoria’s Writeability Archive. Participants in the group will be able to work towards putting together an entry for the Telescope Writing Awards.
Emerging Writing Festival Panel facilitator ‘Self-told Stories’
Historically, disabled people have been talked and written about— their stories have been told by others. This panel features writers who have lived experience of disability reflecting on writing today. The panel discuss Own Voices writing, intersectionality and navigating the literature industry.
Workshop Facilitator ‘Effective Interviewing’
Everyone has a story. How do we as writers gain trust to tell another person’s story? How do we honour the interviewee’s voice and balance it with our own? How do we find the narrative within the conversation? In this session, learn which characteristics of an interviewee to focus on, gain tips on interview
Storming the City Writing Group 2022 mentor
The Writing Group meets monthly at The Wheeler Centre in Melbourne’s CBD, providing free access to support and professional development for writers with disability in the place where they live. Participants in the group come together to share their work, develop their writing skills and build creative, professional and social connectedness in the City of Melbourne.
Live and Love Your Brand Podcast
Specials Dramatic Theatre Writing
Revolt of the Special Kids: One night of angry agit prop.
Former Special students Cheryl Smith (Nic Smith) and Simon West (Anthony Julian) battle a host of ghosts and memories based on real life Special School experiences with the Headmistress Anna Haldon (Sonia Marcon), Nurse Irma Grease (Jack Brady), Teacher Alan Ginger (Michael Cooper) and parent, Mr/s Toady/Professor Neal: Sarah Gordon.
I was on a panel September 10, 2021 titled ‘New Beginnings’
Join three writers—Heidi Everett, Nicole Smith and Beau Windon—as they each respond to the prompt of New Beginnings and discuss a new way of being, one where disability justice is paramount and intersecting forms of oppression are confronted and subverted. Hosted by Andy Jackson.
This event is supported by City of Melbourne through Storming the City, a program run by Writers Victoria designed to see writers with disability recognised, celebrated and employed.
Presented in partnership with the Melbourne Writers Festival and Footscray Community Arts Centre.
It can be watched here:
Gaslit
Nicole was cast as the main character of a short film recently named ‘Best Emerging Australian Film’ at The Other Film Festival.
The film was the brainchild of Naomi Chainey who was awarded the inaugural Lesley Hall Scholarship.
A young disabled woman fights to hold on to her identity in the face of the world’s assumptions, and strives for independence from her parents, who doubt her ability to become a mother.
No Limits and Chair Chat
For two seasons, Nicole was a presenter on Channel 31’s Antenna-Award disability panel show No Limits, which explained ‘everything you want to know about disability, but were too afraid to ask’.
Nicole also co-produced three episodes of media training television show Chair Chat.
Nicole was then invited to join ‘The F Word’, a Channel 31 show about feminism, and ‘burning our bras in the 21st century.
