Meet the 2023 APS National Finalists

In the lead-up to the Australian Poetry Slam National Final, we ask the 2023 National Finalists about poetry, slams, community and how it feels to represent their state or territory for APS 2023.

2022 APS National Final (winning hug!) – photo credit: Nicola Bailey

What motivated you to perform your poetry on stage?

I've always loved poetry. When I was ten, I received a book by APS winner Solli Raphael for my birthday, and that's where I learned the term 'Slam Poetry.' I was just kinda like, "Yeah, that's what I want to do." There isn't a lot of poetry opportunity outside of Victoria or Sydney, I would know because I travel in a caravan, so when we came back to Ballarat to visit family, I started looking for open-mic nights. At the first one I attended, someone from Word Travels just happened to be sitting in the audience and invited me to a slam, I was so excited to perform in Shepperton, but I had a day in between the two events to learn my poem, so as you can imagine, I missed a couple of words in my performance. The crowd was very supportive, and I was the highest-scoring poet, but had a point taken off for going overtime. I was elated to be going to the state finals, and my mishap in my first performance motivated me to do better in the finals. And I won!
K.J. Hayward rep’n Victoria 

It's a great platform for sharing Story about issues that matter for Aboriginal peoples. It's truth telling, and truth yelling. 
Rob Waters rep’n New South Wales

I was asked by a friend to perform a couple of my poems at her book launch which I did and afterwards was approached by someone who asked to feature at their gig. Then I heard about Perth Slam and went along and I was so inspired by the poets and how brilliantly they performed I just had to get up and give it a shot. I am so glad I did because I have been welcomed into this wonderful poetry community and they have become my family and haven.
Skylar J Wynter rep’n Western Australia

I perform because it allows me to express myself in complete truth, and use my voice for those who can’t be heard.
Eve Francis rep’n Victoria

It began at a time when I didn’t feel that I had a voice in my own life – spoken word gave me that safe space to express myself and transformed my tenuous self into my true self.
Amy Ocean rep’n Queensland 

This may be generic, but I do feel like I have a story to tell the wider community. My poems pertain to my father’s experiences as a military conscript during the Chilean dictatorship 50 years ago. This is a chance for his stories to be told, and to share truths that history has forgotten.
Kirk Cádiz rep’n Australian Capital Territory

I am naturally quite shy, but discovered that through spoken word, I am able to share my thoughts through poetry and connect to people through performance.
Cayley Jade rep’n South Australia

I was motivated to perform my poetry on stage by a combination of my background as a trained actor and my passion for storytelling through poetry and lyrics. From a young age, I had a strong desire to tell stories, and I often expressed myself through written poetry. However, it wasn't until I started looking up to artists like Debris Stevenson and Michaela Coel, who began their careers in spoken word, that I realised I could bring my written words to life on stage. That the art form I had been cultivating for years could be a powerful means of communication and self-expression.
Katherine Sortini rep’n South Australia

Poetry is a creative way to speak out and be heard, about issues that concern me. 
Zacharey Jane rep’n New South Wales

My community. My People.
Victoria Alondra rep’n Northern Territory

What does a poetry community mean to you?

Everything, we have a vibrant community of poets and storytellers on the coast and its great to work and perform with so many amazing artists. 
Rob Waters rep’n New South Wales

I am inspired by the bravery and courage of all the poets I meet. It is not easy to share your story, and sometimes it is challenging to bear witness to other people's stories. Everyone is so supportive and encouraging and they always make it a safe space to be vulnerable. You can learn so much from hearing about other people's life experiences, and the poetry community makes it possible to hear from people you might never have had the chance to meet outside of this community.
Cayley Jade rep’n South Australia

The poetry community is family – I’ve always felt completely at ease at open mics and slams. Everyone is supportive and uplifting – even when we are ‘competing’ there’s not a competitive culture amongst poets. We all have our stories and express them vulnerably on stage, so it’s always about genuine encouragement for being brave and respect for each other’s unique craft.
Amy Ocean rep’n Queensland

A safe space to be creative, challenge each other and grow.
Victoria Alondra rep’n Northern Territory

It means a lot. Poetry is my way to organise my thoughts and being a Homeschooler, it's a struggle to get my friends from when I went to high school interested in poetry because they are quite revolved around their social media lives. I also love being motivated into writing something. If a poem leaves me jumping up from my seat wondering how I can improve the world, then that is what I call a successful poem.
K.J. Hayward rep’n Victoria

I believe that the core of the poetic community is the people within it. Despite the nuance in individual writing, the human element is what binds poets. We support each other on stage, help with drafts and drill stagecraft. To me, this makes it more than a community, but an extended family.
Kirk Cádiz rep’n Australian Capital Territory

A poetry community is a place of acceptance, welcome, and love. It’s a place where anyone can share their story through poems and always be listened to.
Eve Francis rep’n Victoria

A place to speak out.
Zacharey Jane rep’n New South Wales

How does it feel to be representing your state or territory in the National Final?

I am absolutely thrilled to be representing South Australia in the National Final. I was born and raised in this quiet yet vibrant city, and the thought of knowing that people back home will be watching and cheering me on online is incredibly invigorating. It's an honour to represent South Australia.
Katherine Sortini rep’n South Australia

I feel humbled and also very excited – I hope I can do my state and the Sunshine Coast proud and also represent queer women and single mums to show that we can achieve our dreams.
Amy Ocean rep’n Queensland

I am really proud to be representing WA and the Perth Slam poetry community. They have supported and encouraged me since the day I first performed and are doing a stellar job at providing WA poets with a safe space to slam and be a part of a community. There is so much talent in WA and I think we get a bit forgotten so, to be here and have the opportunity to make some noise and hopefully get some attention focused back on them is a really wonderful and exciting opportunity.
Skylar J Wynter rep’n Western Australia

It was overwhelming to be offered the opportunity to represent South Australia in the National Final. I am excited and grateful to be a part of this performance and share in the experience with other amazing poets.
Cayley Jade rep’n South Australia

It's certainly a surreal sensation. I wasn't expecting to progress further than a casual open mic night.
Kirk Cádiz rep’n Australian Capital Territory

It is truly amazing! I never thought that I would get this far. For me it's not really about winning, I just wanted to read poems that people liked. When the other Victorian poets were waiting up in the green room to see who made it into the second round, I made a joke saying that I'd be kind of disappointed if I couldn't read my second poem, because I was really looking forward to it!
K.J. Hayward rep’n Victoria

It’s absolutely unbelievable and crazy that I was given this opportunity and I’m really grateful for it. People have listened to my stories and resonated with them, and that is all I could ever ask for.
Eve Francis rep’n Victoria

I love the coast, I've been made to feel at home even though I'm off country (Gomeroi).
Rob Waters rep’n New South Wales

An honour and privilege.
Victoria Alondra rep’n Northern Territory

Watch the APS National Finalists compete for the crown of Australian Poetry Slam Champion 2023 at the 2023 APS National Final on Friday 6 October at Customs House. Read more about all of the National Finalists here.