28/04/2025

The successful interns for the 2025 Open Book: Australian Publishing Internship have been announced.

The paid internship program launched in 2021 is a joint sector initiative which aims to foster cultural diversity in the Australian publishing industry. This year the program has expanded to offer four paid internships with placements in Sydney, Melbourne and, for the first time, Brisbane.

This year, the program received over 450 applications, and – alongside representatives from the seven participating publishers – has selected the following 2025 Open Book interns:

Olivia De La Mare

Olivia De La Mare grew up in and moved through rural Australian towns before settling in Sydney. Raised in a family of Thai, South African, and Indigenous Australian cultures, she quickly learned that storytelling is the most important form of communication. She knows the importance of each book genre and reads widely to enrich her life with dynamic texts. She maintains her creativity through written and spoken word poetry, having featured at Enough Said Poetry Slam and the Illawarra Folk Festival. Through publishing, Olivia hopes to elevate texts through each department to create works worthy of the author's brilliance.

Olivia will be undertaking her placement at Pan Macmillan and HarperCollins.

Kin Francis

Kin Francis (they/them) is a community engagement specialist, writer, and a 2014 graduate of RMIT’s Associate Degree in Professional Writing and Editing. Since completing their studies and being unable to grip onto publishing work, Kin adventured through the world of arts management. They’ve enjoyed collaborating with over 30 non-profit organisations in Australia and beyond such as the Emerging Writers’ Festival, Battersea Arts Centre, and Transgender Victoria. Kin returns to the book industry with a sustained interest in editing and to advocate for LGBTIQA+, multicultural and Disabled writers. A voracious reader of epic fantasy, they love disobedient characters, worldbuilding, and queerness in all its forms.

Kin will be undertaking their placement at Affirm Press and Thames & Hudson.

Darby Jones

Darby Jones is a freelance writer and editor with matrilineal ties to the Kamilaroi mob in Southwest Queensland. In 2023, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Writing) as the valedictorian of his graduating class. He is a proud alumnus of the black&write! Indigenous Writing and Editing Project, where he was rigorously trained in the art of culturally sensitive editing and manuscript development. As an advocate for diverse representation in literature, he has dedicated his career to amplifying the voices of marginalised peoples.

Darby will be undertaking his placement at UQP Press.

Rebecca Zhong

Rebecca Zhong is a second generation Chinese New Zealand immigrant. She is an avid reader across all genres but finds it particularly difficult to pass up any opportunity to hype up an unhinged female protagonist. Rebecca has previously worked as an editor and staff writer for her university magazine and as an Editorial Assistant at the New Zealand Listener. Currently undertaking the Master of Creative Writing, Publishing and Editing at Melbourne University, Rebecca is passionate about enhancing accessibility and platforming minority voices across the publishing industry.

Rebecca will be undertaking her placements at Oxford University Press and Hardie Grant.

The four successful interns will be supported through their placements by Open Book mentor, Alisa Ahmed – managing editor at Ultimo Press.

Rebecca Slater, program manager of the Open Book program, says:

'We are so pleased to have expanded the 2025 Open Book internship program to welcome four outstanding interns this year. As always, we thank our dedicated and enthusiastic host publishers, and invite hiring publishers from across the sector to explore our shortlisted applicants – selected from an incredible 450+ applications this year –and to get in touch with any hiring opportunities.'

Details of the 2025 interns and shortlisted candidates can be found on the Open Book website. The program strongly encourages publishers who are actively recruiting to read their bios and reach out with any opportunities. Open Book can facilitate introductions via email.