TJ, TORI RUNAR JOSEPHSSON JOHNS

TJ is a 21 year old queer trans man living in the southern suburbs of Adelaide, on unceded Kaurna land.

His poetry is a conversational expression of thoughts about the world, queer identity, his Icelandic-Australian background and the human body. His Afi (grandfather), who encouraged every word, every sentence, every writing attempt, who joined the family in supplying TJ with every book he could, is there for every performance, watching from the sunbeams and TJ's left forearm tattoo. TJ is a medical student by day, night, and in the early hours, with words finding their way onto notes app entries, scrap pieces of paper and on the side of his anatomy diagrams.

– See the APS National Finalists compete for the crown of Australian Poetry Slam Champion 2025 at the 2025 APS National Final on 26 October at Sydney Opera House.


UPDATE: The 2025 APS National Final is now sold out! There are still tickets available for the NSW APS State Final.