Applications are now open for the 2022 Readings Teen Advisory Board!

We’re currently looking for a new intake of teenagers (aged 14–19) to join our advisory board, starting in April 2022 and running until March 2023.

The board is a volunteer group of teenagers who meet monthly to learn about the book industry, discuss young adult books, meet authors, publishers and book industry experts, write reviews, provide Readings staff with feedback on a range of topics, and more. This year, the board will be run online via Zoom, and we welcome applications from teenagers from anywhere in Australia. We are an equal opportunity bookshop and aim to nurture an inclusive environment for our teen volunteers. We encourage applications from, including but not limited to, First Nations people, those with a disability, and LGBTQIA+ applicants..

The meetings will take place online, from 4.30pm-6pm, on the third Wednesday of every month, beginning on Wednesday 20 April. Select books will be provided free of charge to the board throughout the year and posted out to individual members.

Who should apply?

We’re looking for a diverse group of teenagers with a love of reading, specifically of young adult books, as these are the books we will be focused on discussing. We’re keen to hear from any teenagers who love bookshops (especially those who are familiar with Readings!), and teenagers who are interested in learning more about a career in the Australian book industry, whether it be a bookselling job, working in publishing, being a writer, an editor, an illustrator, a librarian etc. Several of our teen advisory board alumni now work at Readings, and others have gone on to work for libraries and publishers.

How do I apply?

To apply, please tell us why you would like to take part, the types of books you like to read and why you love bookshops. Your application should be a single-page document of no more than 500 words, in either Word or PDF format, addressing the points above and including your name, age and contact details. Send it to [email protected] by 5pm, Friday March 11, 2022. All applicants will be notified if their application has been successful or not.