The Australian Poetry Library (APL) aims to promote a greater appreciation and understanding of Australian poetry by providing access to a wide range of poetic texts as well as to critical and contextual material relating to them, including interviews, photographs and audio/visual recordings.
Australian Poetry exists as a national poetry body to interconnect and support a flourishing community of Australian poets, to enhance and promote their poetry, here and internationally, and to reach and engage directly with readers, lovers and potential admirers of Australian poetry, as well as to the promoters of it.
Modern Australian poetry seeks to tell Australian stories and truths with a poetic significance, so that, 'they sear into the soul and can never be untold' (Dorothy Porter). The aim for clarity is central. Following early intense debate about the meaning of modern poetry for Australia – its essence, innovation and international context – today, it is seen as cosmopolitan as well as laconic but still lucid.