Video transcript
NSW Premier's Reading Challenge 2022 - SWF author interview (primary) - 05. Corey Tutt

[intro music]

AANIKA: Hi, I'm Aanika from Chatswood Public School. Today we're at The Concourse in Chatswood on Cammeraygal land as part of the Sydney Writers' Festival with the fabulous Corey Tutt. Hi, Corey. How are you?

COREY TUTT: Yaama, I'm well. How are you?

AANIKA: I'm good. So what inspired you to become an author?

COREY TUTT: Well, I run a charity that sends a lot of books and resources off to remote communities all over Australia and I really wanted to send a book that was going to inspire young people to love all things science, particularly animals as well, because I love my animals. But really, I wanted to create books that show science in a different light, because we're used to really reading about Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison. And they're really great scientists, but actually, Australia has some really deadly scientists.

AANIKA: If you had to describe yourself in just 3 words, what would they be?

COREY TUTT: Well, that is a very tough question. I would say I'm energetic, love wildlife-- I'm a bit wild-- and I kind of love learning. That's what it-- But that's not really 3 words. That's many words.

AANIKA: Yeah.

COREY TUTT: But I would say that they would be the ones that I'd look for.

AANIKA: Can you tell us about how you do research for your books?

COREY TUTT: Well, research for the books is really important because you have to talk to a lot of different people. And you have to look at a lot of different research papers and you have to look at a lot of different information. Then you've got to collate it all together and you've got to kind of match it up. Have you ever played a game of memory?

AANIKA: Yeah.

COREY TUTT: It's kind of like a game of memory because you've got to say, 'OK, this bit of science here is being told by this person. But does the research back it up? Does the evidence back it up?' And then you've got to match it together, and that's how it makes a book.

AANIKA: You write a lot of non-fiction books with Indigenous perspectives. Why do you think this is important?

COREY TUTT: Because for non-Indigenous kids, it's just as much my history as it is your history. And it's important that we learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in the classroom because it's important that you learn about the first people so you can understand the land a bit better. Because if you care for Country, the Country will then care for you.

And it's important that young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples understand that they can do science and they can do whatever they want to do. And if you have a passion, you're already ahead of everyone else 'cause all you need is passion and purpose.

AANIKA: Thank you so much for coming along today, Corey.

COREY TUTT: Thank you so much for having me, and yaluu which is goodbye. And yeah, we'll see you soon.