Jorja Bentley
Actor / Writer / Youth Worker / Community & Arts Facilitator
Jorja Bentley (she/her) is an actor, writer, youth worker, and community and arts facilitator, based in Naarm (Melbourne). Having initially completed her Psychology Honours Degree, she then moved into the artistic space where she graduated the Howard Fine Acting Studio’s Full-Time Program and her Master of Theatre (Writing) at the Victorian College of the Arts. Her debut play, Blood in the Water was shortlisted for best new play at the 2022 Australian Theatre Festival in NYC, USA, and she debuted Norm Things (actor/writer/producer) at the 2022 Adelaide Fringe, which was also a finalist for the Gasworks 2025 Queer Playwriting Award. 2024 saw Blood in the Water open to critical acclaim at La Mama Theatre, a development showing of a new work ‘Sunni Sunday’ at La Mama Theatre, and Jorja’s participation in the La Mama and Australian Plays Transform Pathways Writing Intensive Program. Alongside arts, Jorja holds 8 years of experience in the community sector, working in Out of Home Care, Homelessness, Management at a not-for-profit phone line, and her most recent role was State Community of Practice Coordinator in the Victorian Better Futures program, where she worked alongside young people with care experience to convene trainings, panels, and facilitation sessions across the state. She also led interstate trainings and participated in a Leaving Care Knowledge Exchange in London, England. In 2025 and focussing on her next stage play ‘Case Notes’, Jorja will complete developments at Darebin Arts and La Mama Theatre, and be an Artist in Residence at Union House Theatre (Melbourne University) and Mothership Arts Collective (NYC, USA), as well as continuing with freelance facilitation. Jorja is passionate about the advocacy, equity, and rights of young people in care, and through her art, authentic, social justice orientated storytelling. She hopes to create lasting pieces that assist in moving our world to a place of empathy. She is represented by Gina Stoj Management.
