Kirli Saunders

Kirli Saunders is a proud Gunai woman, born on Gundungurra Country with ties to the Yuin, Biripi and Gadigal people. An award winning international children’s author, poet, emerging playwright and artist, she founded and manages Poetry in First Languages at Red Room Poetry.

Kirli is a passionate advocate for the celebration, sharing and preservation of First Nations language, culture and country through the arts. Her Poetry in First Languages project, delivered with Red Room Poetry connects schools with Elders, language custodians and poets, who support both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal kids to create poetry in First Nations languages.

Kirli was the inaugural winner of the WA 2019 Premiers Literary - Daisy Utemmorah Award and the winner of the University of Canberra ATSI Poetry Prize 2019. Her books include Prime Ministers Literary Award Shortlisted, CBCA nominated and internationally published, The Incredible Freedom Machines (Scholastic) and Kindred (Magabala Books).

Kirli’s work seeks to heal intergenerational trauma and promote pride in First Nations communities.