Grant Application from Swapnil Ogale for Write the Docs Australia 2026

Your Email Address: [email protected]
Project name: Write the Docs Australia 2026
Grant Type: Community Grant
Aim of the project: ## Aim of the project
[Write the Docs Australia](https://www.writethedocs.org/conf/australia/2026/) is a conference that connects content professionals across disciplines. This includes technical writers, programmers, support teams, developer advocates, and content strategists - many of whom are open source advocates. The event has run since 2016 and serves as a platform for networking, education, and community building among Australia's documentation community.
### Purpose of the event
* **Networking:** The conference connects industry professionals, fostering collaboration and the sharing of best practices.
* **Education:** We feature presentations, lightning talks, workshops, and intentional networking sessions on current trends and tools in technical documentation and content strategy.
* **Community building:** The event strengthens the community of documentarians, promoting knowledge-sharing and professional growth.
This year, we’re going hybrid to extend our reach, and we're pleased to have lined up two internationally recognised technical writers to present, both joining virtually. 
### Alignment with Linux Australia values
Write the Docs shares a strong alignment with the values of Linux Australia. At first glance, Write the Docs and Linux Australia may not seem to have much in common. Many technical writers use proprietary tools, and many developers aren't thrilled about documentation. But technical writers and developers have a long history of working together, so our two communities align at a fundamental level.
Specifically, the Write the Docs values of [community-first, openness, and inclusivity](https://www.writethedocs.org/about-us/) resonate with Linux Australia's values of [community, open tech, respect and diversity](https://linux.org.au/about-us/values/). Many individuals actively participate in both communities.
### Event-specific values
The Write the Docs Australia conference upholds a culture of inclusion, respect, and diversity, as reflected in its [Code of Conduct](https://www.writethedocs.org/conf/australia/2024/code-of-conduct/). The conference is dedicated to creating a [welcoming space](https://www.flickr.com/photos/writethedocs/53654012869/in/album-72177720316224454/) for all participants, ensuring respectful interactions and promoting diversity in the tech community. This strong commitment to [inclusivity](https://www.flickr.com/photos/writethedocs/53654003333/in/album-72177720316224454/) aligns well with the ethos of Linux Australia.
Estimated cost breakdown of the project: ## Estimated cost breakdown
### Package amount
We're applying for a grant application for the "[First Draft](https://www.writethedocs.org/conf/australia/2026/sponsors/prospectus/#first-draft)" sponsorship package, which costs AUD $1,500. This package is aimed at open source organisations, startups, and non-profits, and includes:
* Two conference tickets.
* Linux Australia logo on the conference website.
* Linux Australia sponsor name included in all conference emails to attendees.
* Promotional Linux Australia displays and swag items (like Linux Australia stickers!) on the [conference swag table](https://www.flickr.com/photos/writethedocs/49076625406/in/album-72157711813997262/). All items to be provided by Linux Australia.
### How we'll use the grant
The grant will help cover the costs of running Write the Docs Australia 2026, including:
* **Venue hire:** We’re pleased to have secured the [Treasury Theatre](https://www.dtf.vic.gov.au/treasury-theatre-bookings) as our venue this year. It is an accessible, theatre-style auditorium with integrated audio visual equipment and hybrid meeting capability.
* **Food:** Catering for attendees, providing morning tea, boxed lunch, and afternoon tea throughout the event.
* **Social event:** An off-site event where delegates can chat and network, with snacks and drinks provided.
* **Videographer for hybrid production:** Streaming and production costs to support our first hybrid conference, plus recording all talks so they're available on YouTube afterward, free for anyone to access.
* **Sketchnote artist:** Visually capturing key points from sessions.
We're committed to keeping ticket prices affordable for a broad range of attendees, including freelancers, students, and those currently out of work. Your sponsorship will make it possible for a diverse group of documentarians to attend our event.
### How the grant will benefit the open tech community
All talks are recorded and made freely available on our dedicated YouTube channel, [WriteTheDocsAus](https://www.youtube.com/@WriteTheDocsAus), giving the wider industry access to the insights shared at the conference. 
Going hybrid in 2026 extends this further. Remote attendees, including those who can't travel to Melbourne/Australia during the busy summer period, can now take part in the conference as it happens, not just watch the recording afterward.
### What's in it for you
**Grow your membership.** Some of our attendees are new to open source and may not be familiar with Linux Australia. Including your logo and promotional materials at Write the Docs Australia 2026 is an opportunity to connect with a broader audience and showcase your initiatives.
**Attend the conference.** The two free tickets included in the sponsorship package allow Linux Australia representatives to attend the conference, network with attendees, and talk about your organisation directly. With the conference going hybrid this year, a representative could also join remotely if travel isn't an option. 
**Access a pool of contributors**. Over the past year, many experienced technical writers and documentarians have been made redundant as companies restructure their documentation teams around AI tooling. Contributing to open source projects is a practical way to build portfolio evidence while job hunting, and Write the Docs Australia 2026 will bring together a pool of skilled people between roles, including writers, API specialists, and testers. Linux Australia could connect with them in whatever form suits: a table at the conference, a lightning talk about projects needing contributors, or even just a shared list of opportunities.
Project team details: ## Project team details
### About Write the Docs
Write the Docs is an international community of technical writers, developers, support teams, and content strategists, founded to improve documentation practices across the tech industry. Eric Holscher played a pivotal role in its inception, helping shape Write the Docs into a thriving, global, open community that promotes high-quality documentation and the exchange of best practices.
Swapnil Ogale started Write the Docs in Australia in 2016. Over the years, the Write the Docs Australia conference and meetups have consistently included talks about documentation in open source. We're proud to have vocal open source advocates in our community and an active open-source channel in our Slack. Over the years, the Write The Docs Australia conference and meetups have consistently [included talks about documentation in open source](https://www.youtube.com/@WriteTheDocsAus/search?query=open%20source). In this way, our organisation helps grow, foster, and develop knowledge about open source communities and free and open source software (FOSS) projects in Australia.
### Meet the project team
The Write the Docs Australia 2026 conference team:
* **Swapnil Ogale (Conference Chair):** Swapnil started Write the Docs in Australia in 2016 and works as a Senior Technical Writer at Amazon Web Services.
* **Jared Morgan:** Jared is the lead technical writer at Squiz in Brisbane, and is deeply involved in the documentation community.
* **Felicity Brand:** Felicity is a Communications Consultant with Open Strategy Partners, and loves working with clients in open source.
* **Jennifer Appleby:** Jennifer is a Technical Writer at Microflite. Her passion for open source and community engagement make her a valuable team member.
* **Shiham Jamaldeen:** Based in Adelaide, Shiham is an experienced documentarian and budding full stack web developer.
* **Wendy Rowe:** Wendy joins the Write the Docs Australia team for 2026. She's currently a Senior Developer Content Designer at Atlassian.
First Name: Swapnil
Last Name: Ogale
Email Address: swapnil-zFOoicc2NItxZv2G/[email protected]
A statement including a willingness to provide regular project updates on the project: ## Updates statement
We, the organisers of the Write the Docs Australia 2026 conference, are committed to maintaining transparency and open communication with our sponsors. As part of this commitment, we pledge to provide regular updates on the progress and development of the conference project to the Linux Australia Council.

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"Your Email Address","Project name","Grant Type","Aim of the project","Estimated cost breakdown of the project","Project team details","First Name","Last Name","Email Address","A statement including a willingness to provide regular project updates on the project","Submit Application"
[email protected],"Write the Docs Australia 2026","Community Grant","## Aim of the project

[Write the Docs Australia](https://www.writethedocs.org/conf/australia/2026/) is a conference that connects content professionals across disciplines. This includes technical writers, programmers, support teams, developer advocates, and content strategists \- many of whom are open source advocates. The event has run since 2016 and serves as a platform for networking, education, and community building among Australia's documentation community.

### Purpose of the event

* **Networking:** The conference connects industry professionals, fostering collaboration and the sharing of best practices.  
* **Education:** We feature presentations, lightning talks, workshops, and intentional networking sessions on current trends and tools in technical documentation and content strategy.  
* **Community building:** The event strengthens the community of documentarians, promoting knowledge-sharing and professional growth.

This year, we’re going hybrid to extend our reach, and we're pleased to have lined up two internationally recognised technical writers to present, both joining virtually. 

### Alignment with Linux Australia values

Write the Docs shares a strong alignment with the values of Linux Australia. At first glance, Write the Docs and Linux Australia may not seem to have much in common. Many technical writers use proprietary tools, and many developers aren't thrilled about documentation. But technical writers and developers have a long history of working together, so our two communities align at a fundamental level.

Specifically, the Write the Docs values of [community-first, openness, and inclusivity](https://www.writethedocs.org/about-us/) resonate with Linux Australia's values of [community, open tech, respect and diversity](https://linux.org.au/about-us/values/). Many individuals actively participate in both communities.

### Event-specific values

The Write the Docs Australia conference upholds a culture of inclusion, respect, and diversity, as reflected in its [Code of Conduct](https://www.writethedocs.org/conf/australia/2024/code-of-conduct/). The conference is dedicated to creating a [welcoming space](https://www.flickr.com/photos/writethedocs/53654012869/in/album-72177720316224454/) for all participants, ensuring respectful interactions and promoting diversity in the tech community. This strong commitment to [inclusivity](https://www.flickr.com/photos/writethedocs/53654003333/in/album-72177720316224454/) aligns well with the ethos of Linux Australia.","## Estimated cost breakdown

### Package amount

We're applying for a grant application for the ""[First Draft](https://www.writethedocs.org/conf/australia/2026/sponsors/prospectus/#first-draft)"" sponsorship package, which costs AUD $1,500. This package is aimed at open source organisations, startups, and non-profits, and includes:

* Two conference tickets.  
* Linux Australia logo on the conference website.  
* Linux Australia sponsor name included in all conference emails to attendees.  
* Promotional Linux Australia displays and swag items (like Linux Australia stickers\!) on the [conference swag table](https://www.flickr.com/photos/writethedocs/49076625406/in/album-72157711813997262/). All items to be provided by Linux Australia.

### How we'll use the grant

The grant will help cover the costs of running Write the Docs Australia 2026, including:

* **Venue hire:** We’re pleased to have secured the [Treasury Theatre](https://www.dtf.vic.gov.au/treasury-theatre-bookings) as our venue this year. It is an accessible, theatre-style auditorium with integrated audio visual equipment and hybrid meeting capability.  
* **Food:** Catering for attendees, providing morning tea, boxed lunch, and afternoon tea throughout the event.  
* **Social event:** An off-site event where delegates can chat and network, with snacks and drinks provided.  
* **Videographer for hybrid production:** Streaming and production costs to support our first hybrid conference, plus recording all talks so they're available on YouTube afterward, free for anyone to access.  
* **Sketchnote artist:** Visually capturing key points from sessions.

We're committed to keeping ticket prices affordable for a broad range of attendees, including freelancers, students, and those currently out of work. Your sponsorship will make it possible for a diverse group of documentarians to attend our event.

### How the grant will benefit the open tech community

All talks are recorded and made freely available on our dedicated YouTube channel, [WriteTheDocsAus](https://www.youtube.com/@WriteTheDocsAus), giving the wider industry access to the insights shared at the conference. 

Going hybrid in 2026 extends this further. Remote attendees, including those who can't travel to Melbourne/Australia during the busy summer period, can now take part in the conference as it happens, not just watch the recording afterward.

### What's in it for you

**Grow your membership.** Some of our attendees are new to open source and may not be familiar with Linux Australia. Including your logo and promotional materials at Write the Docs Australia 2026 is an opportunity to connect with a broader audience and showcase your initiatives.

**Attend the conference.** The two free tickets included in the sponsorship package allow Linux Australia representatives to attend the conference, network with attendees, and talk about your organisation directly. With the conference going hybrid this year, a representative could also join remotely if travel isn't an option. 

**Access a pool of contributors**. Over the past year, many experienced technical writers and documentarians have been made redundant as companies restructure their documentation teams around AI tooling. Contributing to open source projects is a practical way to build portfolio evidence while job hunting, and Write the Docs Australia 2026 will bring together a pool of skilled people between roles, including writers, API specialists, and testers. Linux Australia could connect with them in whatever form suits: a table at the conference, a lightning talk about projects needing contributors, or even just a shared list of opportunities.","## Project team details

### About Write the Docs

Write the Docs is an international community of technical writers, developers, support teams, and content strategists, founded to improve documentation practices across the tech industry. Eric Holscher played a pivotal role in its inception, helping shape Write the Docs into a thriving, global, open community that promotes high-quality documentation and the exchange of best practices.

Swapnil Ogale started Write the Docs in Australia in 2016\. Over the years, the Write the Docs Australia conference and meetups have consistently included talks about documentation in open source. We're proud to have vocal open source advocates in our community and an active open-source channel in our Slack. Over the years, the Write The Docs Australia conference and meetups have consistently [included talks about documentation in open source](https://www.youtube.com/@WriteTheDocsAus/search?query=open%20source). In this way, our organisation helps grow, foster, and develop knowledge about open source communities and free and open source software (FOSS) projects in Australia.

### Meet the project team

The Write the Docs Australia 2026 conference team:

* **Swapnil Ogale (Conference Chair):** Swapnil started Write the Docs in Australia in 2016 and works as a Senior Technical Writer at Amazon Web Services.   
* **Jared Morgan:** Jared is the lead technical writer at Squiz in Brisbane, and is deeply involved in the documentation community.  
* **Felicity Brand:** Felicity is a Communications Consultant with Open Strategy Partners, and loves working with clients in open source.  
* **Jennifer Appleby:** Jennifer is a Technical Writer at Microflite. Her passion for open source and community engagement make her a valuable team member.  
* **Shiham Jamaldeen:** Based in Adelaide, Shiham is an experienced documentarian and budding full stack web developer.  
* **Wendy Rowe:** Wendy joins the Write the Docs Australia team for 2026\. She's currently a Senior Developer Content Designer at Atlassian. ",Swapnil,Ogale,[email protected],"## Updates statement

We, the organisers of the Write the Docs Australia 2026 conference, are committed to maintaining transparency and open communication with our sponsors. As part of this commitment, we pledge to provide regular updates on the progress and development of the conference project to the Linux Australia Council.",click