Talented writers from across Australia have been celebrated through this year’s Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, which mark 40 years in 2025.
The Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards present eight category awards valued at $25,000 including: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Drama, Poetry, Award for Indigenous Writing, Children’s Literature, Writing for Young Adults and Humour Writing.
These winners then go in the running for the Victorian Prize for Literature, which includes a further $100,000 in prize money.
This year the coveted Victorian Prize for Literature has been awarded to Nukgal Wurra author-artist, Wanda Gibson for her picture book Three Dresses. This is the first time a children’s book has taken out the overall prize.
Along with Wanda Gibson’s top prize win, First Peoples writers were recognised across multiple categories, including Jeanine Leane’s win for the Prize for Poetry with her collection, Gawimarra: Gathering, and Nathan Maynard’s win in the Prize for Drama for 37, which was staged at Melbourne Theatre Company earlier this year. The Prize for Indigenous Writing went to Black Witness by Amy McGuire, a collection of essays and journalism that aims to centre Black witnesses.
The Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards are administered by The Wheeler Centre on behalf of the Premier of Victoria. To read more about this year’s winners visit https://www.wheelercentre.com/
