Monika is a Melbourne based writer and researcher. Life’s intricacies and curiosities inspire her to write and give voice to stories that haven’t been heard.

Monika’s particularly interested in lost industrial communities and communities that have been isolated or segregated, and interpreting stories from these past communities before they’re lost forever. She once practiced as a fine artist creating texture on metal or canvas and as such, writes to create movement in her words and stories.

Monika was shortlisted in the Ada Cambridge Writing Prize, won the Wyndham Art Prize and had her books The Faraway land of the house and two cows and My dad built me the best and wackiest cubby ever become finalists in the ABLE Golden Book Awards 2025. She has written several short stories, articles and various publications and presents regularly at international forums and speaking engagements.

Monika wrote the social history of Melbourne’s Metropolitan Sewerage Farm community as part of her PhD research into sewerage ghost towns and how these communities flourish in their abject margins. She collaborated with Elle Murphy and Mitch Ribly to write the accompanying song to the book, A land faraway.

Monika also led the research team uncovering the history, personalities and science of the State Research Farm in Werribee where a small community once lived and worked. The site is of state heritage significance for scientific research and advancement of agricultural practices in Australia and illustrates a change from European agricultural practices to practices specific to Australia's climate and conditions. The short film, Out on the Farm, and collection of memoirs in the book of the same name, Out on the Farm, were produced as part of that research.