Jo Giles

Jo Giles is the 2024 Australian Poetry Slam Champion. On 13 October 2024, Jo won the National Final with a deeply personal story about the painful and humorous sides of undergoing a lung transplant. They shared their journey living with cystic fibrosis and other illnesses on the Sydney Opera House stage, captivating the audience with a powerful performance that showcased their dry wit and a no-holds-barred approach to storytelling.

Jo lives on Beeliar Boodjar country in the Perth suburb of Hamilton Hill. They write short stories and slam poems. It was a serious health crisis that motivated them to first perform their poetry on stage: 'I have pushed myself to try things I wouldn’t have before I became sick.'

When they aren't writing, sometimes they teach tai chi. Sometimes they sit on the verandah of their railway carriage and look at birds.