RIPPLES
Primary Schools Program 2026
Monday 25 May, 2026
Venue: Gosford Regional Library
Bookings Now Open.
Book Before 27 April
Primary Schools Program 2026
Monday 25 May, 2026
Venue: Gosford Regional Library
Bookings Now Open.
Book Before 27 April
The 2026 Ripples Schools Program is back for its sixth year of inspiring the next generation of readers, creative artists and storytellers of the Central Coast.
Taking place in the Coast’s newest public auditorium at the beautiful Gosford Library on Monday 25th May 2026 we are once again bringing engaging, educational and interactive sessions for primary students to connect with award-winning children’s authors and illustrators.
2026 entry to the Ripples Primary Schools Program is being offered as a DAY PASS of $25 per student. Sessions accommodate up to 300 students.
All sessions are developed with connections to the NSW Curriculum. They are best aimed at grades 5 – 6 but suitable for grades 3 – 6.
Visiting primary school groups receive three fun-filled author and illustrator talks where they can engage with presenters and learn about journey, craft, and inspiration.
Students will also receive a walking tour of the Juvenilia Exhibition including meet & greets with an author or illustrator whose work is displayed. (More information to come)
Dates & Venues
Monday 25 May, 2025
Primary Program
Suitable for students grades 3-6
Venue
Gosford Regional Library. 123A Donnison Street Gosford
Entry
$25 per student
All students will receive the same three sessions plus the Juvenilia walk-through with author meet and greet.
How to Book
Book here or by email or phone on 0412 985 909
Bookings close Monday 27 April
Bookings can only be made by schools or homeschool organisations unless otherwise agreed.
How to Order Books
Pre-order your books here.
Timetable
Doors
9:10am
Acknowledgement of Country
9:20am
Session One
9:30am – 10:15am
Session Two
10:20am – 11:00am
Lunch Break, Book Purchase and Signings
11:05am – 11:55am
Session Three
12:00pm – 12:45pm
Session Four
12:50pm – 1:50pm
Note: Additional book sales and signings may be available during and after session four at the book sellers and authors discretion.
Monday 25 May, 2026
Gosford Regional Library, 123A Donnison Street, Gosford
9:10am
Doors Open
9:20am
Acknowledgement of Country
9:30am – 10:15am
Author Talk | Included in Day Pass
Louise Park
What can Louise Park not do?! Find out how best-selling author Louise Park spends her time prank-busting, battling beasts and dinosaurs, finding secret doors and hidden tunnels to magical lands, and travelling back in time to write her historical mysteries.
Learning Areas: English, History
General Capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Literacy, Personal and Social Capability
10:20am – 11:00am
Author / Illustrator Talk | Included in Day Pass
Clayton Zane Comber and Conor McCammon
How did friends and workmates Clayton Zane Comber and Conor McCammon go about co-authoring their illustrated junior fiction adventures? Conor and Clayton share their experience of creating together, illustrating and coming up with adventurous ideas!
Learning Areas: English
General Capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Literacy, Personal and Social Capability
11:05am – 11:55am
Lunch Break, Book Purchases & Signings
12:00pm – 12:45pm
Talk | Included in Day Pass
Victor & Sandra Steffensen Author Talk
Mother Nature has a language. If we listen, and read the signs in the land, we can understand it.
For thousands of years, First Nations people have listened and responded to the land and animals using this knowledge to create beautiful places to live. Join Uncle Kuu and sister Sandra for an afternoon of stories about caring for our natural world and the special connection between First Nations peoples and their Country.
Learning Areas: English, History, Geography
General Capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Literacy, Personal and Social Capability, Intercultural understanding
12:50pm – 1:50pm
Walking Tour | Included in Day Pass
Explore Juvenilia with Aimee Chan & Dub Leffler
Be the first on the Central Coast to walk through the unique Juvenilia exhibition! The Juvenilia exhibition showcases early attempts at storytelling, all produced in childhood by some of Australia’s best-loved children’s authors and illustrators. Whether handwriting stories on scrap paper or drawing pictures in pencil and then rubbing them out again, today’s most prominent children’s books creators all started with childhood dreams of publishing their own story. Meet author and curator Aimee Chan and illustrator Dub Leffler on you step back in time and journey through early works of our favourite creators.
Learning Areas: English, Creative Arts
General Capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Literacy.
How to Book
The Ripples Primary School Program can only be booked directly between Words on the Waves and the participating school or homeschool. All sessions are best aimed at grades 5 – 6 but are suitable for grades 3 – 6
- Teachers/Guardians: You are entitled to one (1) complimentary teacher ticket for bookings up to and including 25 student tickets purchased.
- For schools with an ICSEA value under 1,000 all teacher tickets are complimentary.
- Teacher/Guardian supervision is required at all sessions.
- Homeschool parents accompanying less than 5 students must be ticketed.
To make a booking:
- Complete our booking form
- Contact: Fiona Lloyd 0412 985 909
- Email: schools@wordsonthewaves.com.au
Bookings close Monday 27 April 2026
We look forward to welcoming your students to our sixth year of engaging literary programs!
How to Purchase Books
Books for these events can only be purchased at the venue or by pre-order.
Cash or card is accepted at the venue. All purchased and pre-ordered books will be signed on the day by the author or illustrator where possible.
Due to the limited time available, students wanting to collect general signatures may only do so if time permits.
As part of the Ripples booking process, you consent to being contacted by us/our Festival Bookshop in relation to book orders for your students.
Short Story Competition
Details for the third Ripples short story competition will be made available during Term One. The story competition will open for entries in June 2026. First prize includes an author or illustrator visit to your school.
Partners
With thanks to program partner, Jackie Tesoriero.
T&Cs
Bookings made prior to Monday 30th March are required to pay a 50% non-refundable holding deposit and should consult their invoice for when final payment is due.
All deposits become non-refundable as of Monday 30th March 2026. Bookings made after this date must be paid in full within 48 hours of invoice issue.
Bookings close Monday 27 April 2026
Final invoices will be issued on Tuesday 28 April 2026.
All invoices must be paid in full by Monday 11 May 2026.
Refund requests will be carefully considered in light of individual and school circumstances. All requests must be made in writing to schools@wordsonthewaves.com.au
Credits for future events may be offered in place of refunds.
Words on the Waves Writers’ Festival records photos for archival and marketing purposes. For all Festival events, we employ a professional photographer and videographer. The booking of a ticket grants implied permission for these photographs/footage to be used for the intended purposes. Our volunteers may also take photos on the day. These are provided to the Festival Team for the above us and are required to be deleted from any personal devices before leaving the premises.
If you, or any students in your care, do not wish to be photographed/filmed, please contact a Festival representative on the day or inform the photographer/videographer at the venue.
