Bass Coast students unleash their poetic voices in creative writing workshops

STUDENTS across all campuses of Bass Coast College recently immersed themselves in a series of dynamic, inspiring and poetic storytelling experiences. Aligned with the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book Week program under the theme ‘A Symphony of Stories,’ local youth connected directly with award-winning author and professional poet Sas Hall to explore the creative process.

As part of the program students at the Wonthaggi, Dudley, and San Remo campus libraries stepped away from traditional study to participate in intense, hands-on spoken word poetry workshops. Known professionally as The Wondering Poet Sas Hall is sponsored by the Melbourne Public Humanities Initiative of the University of Melbourne.

The Wondering Poet is a travelling program explicitly designed to raise the profile of poetry and foster deeper public engagement with the process of creative writing.

During the 100-minute interactive sessions, classes of fewer than 25 students experimented with words and performance techniques. Sas Hall delivered a live, high-energy spoken word performance before guiding students to craft their own narratives, either for the page or tailored for vibrant, expressive microphone delivery.

The free Victorian high school incursion program has been specifically designed to break down the intimidation, academic stigma, and misconceptions often associated with poetry. By creating a supportive environment, the workshops successfully empowered Bass Coast students to tap into their unique artistic voices and safely communicate their ideas, passions, and frustrations.

The curriculum-linked workshop has been tailored for various secondary year levels to instil a lasting confidence in personal storytelling and language mechanics. For the most enthusiastic participants at Bass Coast College, the journey did not end in the library. Students who discovered a passion for the craft during the school sessions now have the opportunity to apply for an upcoming inter-school spoken word poetry slam, where they will perform original pieces live on campus in front of a public audience.

“Students learn that poetry can be fun and is within their skill set,” noted one Victorian teacher. “Sas makes poetry relevant to the students, and this will benefit them greatly in their schooling and beyond. There is nothing like getting those feelings out on paper, it is better and cheaper than therapy.”

“We often see resistance to creative writing especially when students are presented with a new person to work with, but Sas' innovative and engaging lesson design immediately created an atmosphere where every student felt comfortable exploring language,” wrote another teacher.

“Sas is an exceptional presenter warm and authoritative, masterfully handling the class dynamics, drawing out participation from even the quietest students. The workshop’s structure blended guided exercises with creative freedom, building confidence and delivering tangible results."

A Year 8 student was just as enthusiastic. "The Wondering Poet incursion was a fun and engaging experience that changed the way I think about writing poems. I loved how adaptive the session was connected to what was happening around us. When a pigeon flew into our class, Sas explained that any event can become a poem. Sas encouraged us to play with ideas and experiment with literary devices. She also gave us creative challenges, like rolling the first word of our poem on a dice with six different options.”

Wondering Poet Sas says poetry continues to be an undervalued artform. “I’m really excited to work with young people to unleash their poetic voices and contribute to shifting the perception of poetry from something inaccessible to something that belongs to us all.”