James Knight is a best-selling author who has written thirteen adult non-fiction books and two children’s non-fiction books. He is currently working on the first book in a middle-grade series that uses sporting themes to create cultural awareness and bridge cultural divides.

James is also an award-winning journalist who has worked for organisations including Australian television channels 7, 9, 10, and Fox Sports, radio stations 2GB and 2SM, the Sydney Morning Herald and CNN online. With a Master of Education in Contemporary Literacies, he works extensively in schools, conducting writing and storytelling workshops and presentations. He is currently developing a resource-driven website, Crackastory.com, for students and teachers. James has worked with young people from several countries including India, New Zealand, Sweden, and Botswana. He is married to Clare. They have one son, Iggy, and a dog called Roger who has never read a book.

Matthew Lin is a graphic designer and illustrator who has over 30 years experience — with the majority of that time in publishing, as well as advertising and promotional design.

Matthew began his career as a MAC operator in a small ad agency in Parramatta. After a year he moved on to be a designer and illustrator for Scholastic, then a senior designer/illustrator at Creata Promotion. He was an Art Director at Horwitz Publications and then Creative Director at Online Media Group. In 2004, Matthew decided it was time to go freelance and since then, hasn’t looked back!

Thank you to WestWords and Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese for inviting me to be part of this extraordinary project. When I was first asked to be involved, I was excited, but I also had some sense of trepidation because a long-term project often comes with the pressure of delivering a final product upon which the success of the project is determined. I’ll get back to that comment a little later.

Storytelling is at the very core of who we are. Stories help us make sense (and not make sense!) of our world, ourselves, and others. Stories connect. They are so very, very human. This belief was the initial stepping stone for this project. I hoped the students would grow to not only explore their writing but develop greater confidence in expressing themselves in ways beyond writing. It could be argued that ‘having a voice’ and ‘being heard’ is more important than ever for our young people.

The project went for seven weeks. Every Friday for two or so hours with each school group. Admittedly, the early weeks were, at times, a little hit-and-miss for me and the students. But nothing was wasted because I too was learning, and I must express my deep gratitude to Kathy Ferrari and Lise Sercombe (Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese), and Sheryl Cootes and Michael Campbell (WestWords) for providing such great feedback and support as the project evolved. In addition, the commitment of the schools’ teaching staff, Sheree Fenech, Amal Nizam, Eleftheria-Ellie Tsahtarlis, Nathaniel Goad, and Daniela Parli made my role so much easier. Thank you all for doing what you did and what you continue to do. It is critically important.

Xavier College is a distinguished co-educational institution with an extensive multicultural student population situated in Llandilo, a western Sydney suburb.

As a college, we strive to develop strong relationships with the local parish of Corpus Christi, ascertaining an excellent connection with the community through the engagement of parents and caregivers. Students are encouraged to contribute positively to the Xavier College community, playing an integral role in building a system of compassion and tolerance, delivering an authentic experience of Christian life who strive for The Greater Good. The College is committed to educational excellence and endeavors to encourage students to seek faith, love, and peace as lifelong learners, constituting the core values of Ready, Respectful, and Safe.

Our current enrolment includes 1164 total students, with 40 language backgrounds other than English, 50 English as a second language students, and 72 First Nations students. The College boasts a variety of teachers who are equipped with the knowledge to enhance the school experience of First Nation students, diverse students, and learners with high support needs in our Kirinari unit. Xavier College provides a high level of education through the belief that well-being is an integral part of learning, based on the understanding that good, healthy relationships are at the heart of education.

Michael Pate

Principal

Staff and students from Xavier College had the privilege to work with WestWords through a writing program that constituted 16 students across years 8-10. The diverse allocation of students from different cultural and family backgrounds meant they were able to tell their stories through a creative outlet and have a voice. Through their weekly engagements with author James Knight, students significantly grew in confidence in both their writing and their engagement with peers and staff. Students were able to craft their story using a non-conventional writing style, enabling them to be as expressive and creative as they wished, flourishing from both their experience with this workshop, but also their ability to engage in a rich cultural exchange with their peers. This program highly promoted the importance of maintaining cultural connectedness and a sense of belonging, fostering the ability to sustain a high level of well-being.