Meet Rob Waters: Australian Poetry Slam Champion and Word Travels’ Creative Producer, First Nations

Meet Rob Waters Australian Poetry Slam (APS) Champion and Word Travels’ Creative Producer, First Nations.

Rob Waters – photo credit: Kris Winter @MyUntamedLens

A proud Gomeroi man from North-West New South Wales, Rob’s journey from cultural educator to APS Champ to Creative Producer is a testament to the power of poetry to heal, unite, and ignite change.

For over two decades, Rob has used poetry to bridge generations, cultures, and country. His performances don’t just tell a story – they stir the soul. At the 2023 National Final at the Sydney Opera House, his moving ‘45’ piece about the Stolen Generation earned him a shared national title with 16-year-old K.J. Hayward.

Beyond the stage, Rob is leading our Word Travels First Nations program – curating and mentoring young poets to find courage and purpose through story.

His workshops are spaces of transformation, where silence gives way to voice. Rob’s work is a powerful reminder: storytelling is more than art – it can be a lifeline. In divided times, stories guide us towards deeper understanding and hope.

Every voice we amplify begins with a supporter like you.

Join us in championing the power of spoken word. 

Get in contact with our Development Coordinator, Dai Moret, to explore how you can support poets and young storytellers in finding their voice and driving change through STORY.