Previous winners and runners up
- Shastra Deo, ALS Gold Medallist and author of the poetry collection The Agonist (UQP).
- Rebecca Jessen, the multi-award winning poet and author of Ask Me About the Future (UQP) and Gap (UQP).
- Chris Somerville, author of the short story collection We Are Not the Same Anymore (UQP).
- Tara June Winch, author of two short story collections Swallow the Air (UQP) and After the Carnage (UQP), and the novel The Yield (Penguin Random House).
- Christopher Currie, author of the YA novel Clancy of the Undertow (Text) and Commonwealth Book Prize finalist The Ottoman Motel (Text).
- Benjamin Law, multi-disciplinary author, screenwriter and journalist. Ben’s books include The Family Law (Black Inc.), Gaysia (Black Inc.) and Law School (Brow Books).
- Megan McGrath, author of the short story collection All Hands (Spineless Wonders).
- Romy Ash, author of Floundering (Text).
Past winners
2020
Unit K13 by Ellen Vickerman, published by Griffith Review
Dogs by Thomas Alan
Bunya Pine by Callum Brockett
This is not a happy story by Emily Humphreys
2019
Paper Lands by Winner Tristan Hurree, published by Griffith Review
Teacups by Runner up Zarin Nuzhat
From 2001 to 2011 the Maureen Donahoe Encouragement Award was given in memory of the late Maureen Donahoe, a promising young writer who was the first runner up in the Young Writers Award 1998.