How many writers of colour are being published in Australia? Researchers will soon find out

A group of researchers has begun surveying how many Indigenous writers and people of colour are being published in Australia.

Researchers is seeking to discover how many writers of colour are being published in Australia. Source: Getty

A group of researchers is seeking to discover how many writers of colour are being published in Australia.

The First Nations and People of Colour Writers' Count is an Australian-first study of the publishing industry's efforts to publish Indigenous and POC voices.

"There is a distinct lack of statistical research in this area," one of the academics behind the project Natalie Kon-yu said in a statement.

"This project would be the very first look at the representation of First Nations writers and writers of colour within the publishing industry."

The group has raised $26,559 to fund the project, which will begin by examining about 3200 fiction and non-fiction titles published in 2018.

The research process is expected to take several months.

It's hoped the results will help to inform publishing practices and provide greater opportunities for First Nations and POC writers.