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Queensland Premier’s Young Publishers and Writers Award
About the award
This award is part of the Queensland Literary Awards and is awarded to 2 outstanding Queensland writers and/or publishers up to 30 years of age.
Eligibility
- Queensland residents who can provide proof of a current Queensland address.
- Writers born in Queensland who now live elsewhere and can demonstrate strong, continuing ties with the state.
- Writers and publishers up to and including 30 years of age at 30 April 2025 (proof of age must be submitted).
- Individual writers with a steady professional history, and individual publishers with a steady professional history.
- Writers and publishers of all forms, including novels, short stories, poems, works for children, biographies, memoirs, plays, scripts, non-fiction, comics and graphic novels.
- To confirm you're eligible to enter this category, download the full 2025 terms and conditions of entry document.
- Entry is free to this category.
Prize
2 awards of $12,000 plus career development support to the value of $3,000 each. Supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
Career development support
- This component is administered by Queensland Writers Centre (QWC).
- Career development activities are individual to each entrant but could include things like mentoring, travel for research, and residencies.
- At the time you nominate, you're not required to submit a career development plan; QWC will work with winners after the awards are announced.
2025 key dates
- 3 March: entries open
- 22 April: entries close at 5 pm AEST
- 3 March–17 March: early bird entry period
- 18 March–22 April: standard entry period
- 30 April: deadline for books to arrive at State Library
- 5 August: shortlist announced
- 12 September: awards ceremony at State Library of Queensland
Nomination requirements
Your online nomination form must include:
- a one-page cover letter outlining your eligibility for this award
- a detailed CV with full publication history (max. 4 pages)
- writers: a portfolio of writing – this should comprise up to 6 pieces of writing, including at least one item published in the previous 12 months
- publishers: a portfolio of up to 5 publications or documented productions, including at least one item produced in the previous 12 months.
How to enter
- Download and read the full 2025 terms and conditions of entry document.
- Read the nomination FAQs.
- Complete an online nomination form by 5 pm AEST on 22 April 2025.
- Attach all required documents.
- You will receive confirmation of your accepted nomination via email.
More information
Congratulations to the 2024 finalists!
Gavin Yuan Gao - Winner
Judges' comments:
Gavin Yuan Gao is a gifted poet whose achievements already include the Thomas Shapcott Prize, the Prime Minister's Literary Award for poetry, and the Victoria Premier’s Poetry Prize. Their work is intelligent, tender, exquisitely crafted, and they have made valuable contributions to the Queensland literary community, particularly through translation. Gao’s potential appears boundless, including through their current project, a collection of short stories centring the lives of Chinese-Australian immigrants.
Photo: supplied
Myles McGuire - Winner
Judges' comments:
With a breadth and depth of industry experience that includes a strong publication history, editing, copywriting, teaching, interviewing, festival program managing, and independent bookselling, McGuire’s knowledge of and contribution to Australian literary life is already extraordinary. McGuire’s own writing is clear and insightful and he is an outstanding ambassador for Queensland and Australian writing.
Photo by Tim Gatt
Wallea Eaglehawk
Judges' comments:
Eaglehawk’s impressive portfolio to date includes founding a quality micro press and publishing 18 books in 4 years, focusing on emerging writers, regional and overseas writers and those with diverse backgrounds. Eaglehawk is also developing her skills in arts administration, displaying a determined and commendable commitment to social justice.
Photo by Emma Peterson
Alex Philp
Judges' comments:
Philp is a prize-winning author of short fiction and screenplays with an already significant history of publications, festival and residency participation, and industry engagement. Her writing, focusing around bodily autonomy, female relationships and family dynamics, displays high literary merit. A strong and promising voice for Queensland literature.
Photo by Anna Jacobson
Sean West
Judges' comments:
West is an accomplished poet, editor, publisher, producer, MC, and workshop facilitator with a longstanding commitment to poetry and spoken word. With such a strong publication and publishing history, and an impressive level of community engagement – particularly nurturing emerging writers – West’s future is bright, and Queensland literary life all the richer.
Photo: supplied
Past winners
2024
Gavin Yuan Gao
2024
Myles McGuire
2023
Jasmin McGaughey
2023
Jonathan O'Brien
2022
Rebecca Cheers
2022
Marilena Hewitt
Queensland Literary Awards
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