The Understory

“The lure of writing is the lure towards deep listening.” – Kate Prendergast

Sustained by the woodland ecology of Dja Dja Wurrung Djandak, Bonny’s practice takes its purpose from the understorey – where what is hidden meets what is known, a place of diversity, colour, nourishment and surprise.

The Understory Collective is where Bonny works with others on writing for purpose and curiosity. It combines all of her passions – writing craft, listening, reflection, critical discussion, psychology, health and ecology. Whether you are a mid-career author seeking mentorship, or someone with a story to share who is unsure where to begin, work with Bonny to find or develop your voice.

For aspiring or established writers, she runs an ongoing series of private workshops. Bonny’s award-winning expertise includes art writing, nature writing, poetry and nonfiction. As well as her own methods as a writer, she brings extensive teaching and facilitation experience to a changing series of writing walks, retreats and groups. Her workshops draw on her background with non-profit creative writing workshops for kids, art museums and festivals, as well as 15 years as an awarded Creative Writing lecturer and internationally published researcher of Australian Literature. Bonny holds a PhD (Arts - English) and Bachelor of Creative Arts (Hons - Creative Writing), and is an Honorary Fellow at RMIT University and member of its non/fictionLab research group. She is also a youth mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Have a look at what’s coming up, above, or contact Bonny with a suggestion.

For the wider community, Bonny is interested to work with groups and individuals to express and narrate problems and experiences they care about. She is fascinated by the ways that writing and narrative uncover what feminist psychologist Carol Gilligan calls “the story under the story”. Bonny is developing writing- and language-centred interventions and collaborations on social, historical and environmental issues and knowledge with which she has lived experience and personal connection: climate change and ecology, colonial history and Reconciliation, women’s lives and more. See what community projects she is currently exploring, above.

Informed by narrative therapy practice, phenomenological psychology and creative therapy, Bonny believes writing and stories are about much more than literature. She is currently completing a Grad Dip (Psychology) and has undertaken training in Narrative Therapy at the Dulwich Centre. She is a member of the Australian Psychological Society and Psychology for a Safe Climate.

The Understory is a female-owned business and is largely run on renewable sources of energy and water. It is developing towards a social enterprise supporting youth mentorship, regional community arts and land restoration. It was featured as a climate change-maker business by Mount Alexander Shire Council in 2025.

Bonny’s always interested to discuss individual needs and custom enquiries, as well as collaborations, so get in touch.