NSW Premier’s Literary Awards
The NSW Premier’s Literary Awards are the richest and longest running state-based literary awards in Australia and cover all genres of writing.
2024
Shortlist announced
The shortlists for the 2024 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards — the longest-running and richest state-funded Awards in the country — have been announced, with 54 outstanding works by 60 authors and illustrators selected by 32 judges across 12 prize categories from 834 entries.
NSW Minister for Arts John Graham said: “Through the power of words, writers ignite our imagination, inspire deep reflection, and transport us to both real and fantastical worlds. This Government has a long and proud history of supporting excellence in literature and history. The NSW Premier’s Literary Awards highlight the Government’s ongoing commitment to celebrating the outstanding achievements of Australian writers.”
According to State Librarian Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon: “These prestigious Awards bring to the forefront the power of storytelling to inspire, challenge, and connect us all. We hope as many readers as possible take the opportunity to explore this impressive list of shortlisted works.”
2024 Senior Judge, Dr Bernadette Brennan, commented: “Unsurprisingly a considerable number of this year’s shortlisted texts address the complexities of grief, trauma and the multitudinous effects of an ever-present past. The quality of writing, the range of voices, forms and stories, and often the sheer daring of these narratives, attest to the breadth and depth of Australia’s literary talent.”
The judges' comments can be read in full below.
Voting is now open for this year's University of Sydney People's Choice Award. Cast your vote to go in the draw to win one of two packs of all 12 shortlisted books.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the State Library of NSW at the start of the Sydney Writers’ Festival on Monday 20 May 2024.
The NSW Premier’s Literary Awards are presented by the NSW Government and administered by the State Library in association with Create NSW. We are pleased to acknowledge the support of Multicultural NSW, the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Sydney.
Award categories
Christina Stead Prize for Fiction
The Christina Stead Prize ($40,000) is offered for a book of fiction.
Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction
The Douglas Stewart Prize ($40,000) is for a prose work other than a work of fiction.
Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry
The Kenneth Slessor Prize ($30,000) is offered to a poet for a book of collected poems or for a single poem of substantial length published in book form.
Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children's Literature
The Patricia Wrightson Prize ($30,000) is offered for a work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry written for children up to secondary school level.
Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature
The Ethel Turner Prize ($30,000) is offered for a work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry written for young people of secondary school level.
Nick Enright Prize for Playwriting
The Nick Enright Prize ($30,000) is offered for a play or a work of music drama.
Betty Roland Prize for Scriptwriting
The Betty Roland Prize ($30,000) is offered for the screenplay or script of broadcast programs or films.
Indigenous Writers' Prize
The Indigenous Writers' Prize ($30,000) acknowledges the contribution made to Australian literary culture by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers.
Multicultural NSW Award
The Multicultural NSW Award ($30,000) is offered for a work that considers aspects of cultural diversity and multiculturalism in Australian society.
UTS Glenda Adams Award for New Writing
The winner of the UTS Glenda Adams Award for New Writing ($10,000) is chosen from debut entries submitted for all the award categories.
The University of Sydney People’s Choice Award
The University of Sydney People’s Choice Award ($5,000) is voted for from the shortlists for the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction and the Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-fiction.
Book of the Year
The 'Book of the Year' is selected from among the winners of the each of the awards.
NSW Premier’s Translation Prize
The NSW Premier’s Translation Prize ($30,000) acknowledges the contribution made to literary culture by Australian translators.
Special Award
In exceptional circumstances, a Special Award ($10,000) is offered to an Australian literary work that is not readily covered by the existing Awards categories.
- 2024 Senior Judge
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Dr Bernadette Brennan
Bernadette Brennan is a critic and researcher of contemporary Australian writing. She is the author of a number of publications, including a monograph on Brian Castro and two edited collections: Just Words?: Australian Authors Writing for Justice (UQP), and Ethical Investigations: Essays on Australian Literature and Poetics (Vagabond). In 2017 she published her award-winning literary biography A Writing Life: Helen Garner and Her Work (Text). Her most recent book, Leaping Into Waterfalls: The Enigmatic Gillian Mears (A&U), was shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Douglas Stewart award and won the Magarey Medal for Biography and the National Biography Award.
About the Awards
The NSW Premier’s Literary Awards are held annually. They are the richest and longest running state-based literary awards in Australia and cover all genres of writing.
The Awards provide an opportunity to highlight the importance of literacy and to encourage everyone to enjoy and learn from the work of our writers. These annual awards honour distinguished achievement by Australian writers, contribute to Australia’s artistic reputation, and draw international attention to some of our best writers and to the cultural environment that nurtures them.
Past winners have included such notable writers as Peter Carey, David Malouf AO, Elizabeth Jolley, Thomas Keneally AO, Tony Birch, Helen Garner, Ellen Van Neerven and Michelle de Kretzer.
Writers, translators and illustrators whose works are nominated must be living Australian citizens or persons holding permanent resident status.
Past events
2023 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards winner announcement
Announcement of the 2023 NSW Premier's Literary Awards winners.
Award Information
The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the State Library of NSW on Monday 20 May 2024.
The total prize money in 2024 is $315,000.
For more information, please contact the Awards team.
Phone: (02) 9273 1767, or alternatively (02) 9273 1770.