18 May 2021
The University of Sydney Business School's Honour Society, Beta Gamma Sigma recognised Dr Catherine Keenan, she Co-Founder and Executive Director of Story Factory as an outstanding business community leader at the recognition ceremony on 18 May 2021.
Dr Catherine Keenan AM is Executive Director and Co-founder of the Story Factory, a not-for-profit creative writing centre for young people with bases in Redfern and Parramatta. The Story Factory works with young people in under-resourced communities to improve their writing skills and confidence, and nurture their creativity and well-being. Since opening in 2012, Story Factory has taken over 30,000 enrolments; 19% of students are Indigenous and 44% from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Before setting up the Story Factory, Cath was a journalist, arts writer and literary editor at The Sydney Morning Herald. For her work with Story Factory she was named 2016 Australian of the Year Local Hero, and in 2019 was admitted to the Order of Australia (General Division).
Founded in 2012, Story Factory is a not-for-profit creative writing centre for young people aged 7 to 17, from under-resourced communities.
At Story Factory, they know that stories have the power to change lives. Research shows that quality arts-based learning significantly improves social and emotional wellbeing. Their storytelling workshops have been designed by creative writing and literacy experts to build literacy, confidence, and creativity: essential skills young people need to shape their future.
Since 2012, Story Factory have have taken over 25,000 student enrolments, working with as many as 900 young people a week, and 6,000 a year. They work with young people most at risk of low literacy. The priority is young people from Indigenous, culturally and linguistically diverse and lower socio-economic backgrounds. Creative writing workshops are run all across Sydney, Western Sydney and NSW – free of charge.
Congratulations to Catherine on receiving the award.