Kerri Shying's journey with poetry began out of necessity when her degenerative disease made longer forms of writing difficult.
For Kerri, poetry is not just personal—it is a tool to bridge stories across communities. She notes that everyone has the right to tell their own story, and that includes voices often overlooked or underestimated.
I think people always forget that rap came from poetry. Drill music comes from poetry. You know, poetry is for everyone, and people's stories are their own stories.Kerri Shying
Based in Newcastle, Kerri is also a strong advocate for creating inclusive spaces for people living with disabilities. She runs bi-monthly online peer writing workshops, offering a supportive platform for individuals to express themselves creatively and build a sense of community. Kerri’s dedication to empowerment through both her poetry writing and advocacy highlights the importance of inclusivity in the literary world.
The Speak My Language (Disability) program is an initiative funded by the Commonwealth Government under the Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) Framework. It is proudly led by ECCNSW and the primary national Partners are ECCV, ECCQ, MCCSA, MCNT, MCOT, ECCWA, and our national broadcasting Partners SBS.
Podcast Tile Artwork: Paul Constable Calcott
