The understory

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

The Understory is where Bonny works with others on writing for purpose, curiosity, craft and healing. It combines all of her passions – writing forms, image and language, listening, reflection, critical discussion, psychology, health and ecology. 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.

For aspiring, emerging and established writers, she runs an ongoing and changing series of private workshops. Have a look at what’s coming up, above. Bonny’s award-winning work includes art writing, nature writing, poetry and nonfiction. As well as her own creative methods, she brings extensive teaching and facilitation experience including 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 (Literature) and Bachelor of Creative Arts Honours (Creative Writing), and is an Honorary Fellow at RMIT University and member of its non/fictionLab research group.

For individual writing mentorship and consultation, Bonny can work one-on-one to develop your drafts, guide your craft knowledge or consult on creative process. She is also a creative youth mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

For the wider community, Bonny is interested in healing through writing — the ways that writing and narrative uncover what feminist psychologist Carol Gilligan calls “the story under the story”. See what community projects she is currently exploring, above. She collaborates with fellow practitioners and organisations on public events that address social, historical and environmental issues with which she has lived experience and personal connection: climate change and ecology, colonial history and Reconciliation, women’s lives and more. She is currently completing a Grad Dip in Psychology and has undertaken training in Narrative Therapy at the Dulwich Centre. In 2026 she will be available for individual therapeutic practice, join the mailing list below for updates.

Bonny’s practice is a female-owned business and is largely run on renewable sources of energy and water. It is a social enterprise supporting youth mentorship, regional community arts and land restoration.

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