About us

UQP is one of Australia’s leading publishing houses. Established in 1948 as a wholly owned subsidiary of The University of Queensland, UQP has consistently produced culturally significant works across genres such as fiction, non-fiction and poetry, as well as children's and young adult books.

UQP is known for publishing literary works, poetry and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories. We create books that enrich and inspire readers and make a major contribution to the fabric of arts and literature in Australia and the world. We proudly connect artists, readers, writers and arts organisations and passionately advocate for the value of books to the human experience. UQP is also Queensland’s only major publishing house with domestic and international distribution.

UQP has launched the careers of some of Australia’s most highly respected authors, from Peter Carey, winner of the Booker Prize; David Malouf; Kate Grenville and Janette Turner Hospital to more recently established and award-winning authors such as Melissa Lucashenko, Tony Birch, Julie Koh and Mirandi Riwoe. We have long had the reputation of identifying new and emerging writers and shaping their careers, while investing in their stories and works. Creativity defines UQP and our commitment to the best storytelling extends to groundbreaking works of narrative and literary non-fiction such as those by Charles Massy, Matthew Condon, Megan Daley and Gabrielle Carey. These books are finely researched and written, and stimulate public debate about important issues such as literacy, the environment, mental health and justice.

UQP established the David Unaipon Award in the late 1980s and it remains the most prestigious national award for unpublished Indigenous authors. This award has established the careers of Doris Pilkington Garimara, Samuel Wagan Watson, Larissa Behrendt, Tara June Winch and Ellen van Neerven. We continue to significantly support First Nations authors in their present and future work.

Since the late 1960s, we have also been a premier publisher of the finest, award-winning Australian poetry, including Sarah Holland-Batt, winner of the Prime Minister’s Literary Award, Ali Alizadeh, John Tranter, David Brooks and dynamic, emerging poets such as Rae White, Shastra Deo and Omar Sakr. Through this list we aim to represent diverse voices and styles and showcase the work of debut poets through to venerable names such as David Malouf, who are studied on Australian English curriculums.

In 2021, 2022, and 2023, UQP was named Small Publisher of the Year by the Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs).

Literature is an integral component of Australia’s cultural landscape and legacy. Books connect Australians from diverse backgrounds, promoting tolerance, understanding, learning and respect.

Stories are fundamental to being human. Words inspire creativity, imagination and help construct national, community and individual identities. History is understood, the present is shared and our future is shaped by stories.

1. Transform Australians through literature
2. Connect readers with diverse Australian stories
3. Champion First Nations authors
4. Deliver artistic and creative excellence
5. Provide strong organisational leadership

UQP works with organisations that share our values and operate to the highest ethical and environmental standards. UQP is fully committed to sustainable environmental practices.

UQP is a proud signatory to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Publishers Compact. Through signing the compact, we pledge to champion the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals that were adopted by world leaders at the Sustainable Development Summit in 2015. These goals align with UQP’s commitment to publish books that reflect the SDG themes, such as equality, sustainability, justice and safeguarding and strengthening the environment, to inform, develop and inspire action. Joining the compact also connects UQP with a coalition of publishing houses across the globe that explicitly acknowledge their responsibilities to promote change and create a better world.

In 2023, UQP made operational changes to reduce and offset its emissions and become Australia’s first ‘climate positive’ publisher. With financial assistance from Creative Australia and independent verification under Climate Active standards, we measured and reduced our direct emissions and purchased more than the required offsets to be carbon positive. The 2023 offsetting schemes UQP used are accredited under the Gold Standard Schemes and Verra Schemes and are all linked to UN SDGs.

UQP also implements sustainable practices within our workplace, including using 100 per cent recycled paper for in-office printing and recyclable packaging for all book orders, and actively reducing paper and energy usage.

UQP is a wholly owned by The University of Queensland (UQ) and is subsequently part of a broad community commitment to embed sustainability across all aspects of our engagement and operations. UQP has staff representatives for the UQ Green Office Program at UQ, and UQP participates in UQ’s sustainability initiatives for renewable energy, energy efficiency, recycling and waste minimisation, reducing water use, and reducing transport-related emissions. You can find out more about UQ’s sustainability initiatives here.

UQP has launched an on-campus bookshop at the main UQ St Lucia campus that will give the university’s 50,000 students and 7,000 staff the opportunity to purchase some of Australia’s greatest books and course-assigned UQP titles.

Staff and students can sign up to become UQP members and receive 20% off their first purchase. All staff and students also receive 10% off UQP titles.

UQP Bookshop
Biological Sciences Library
Phone: +61 7 336 52407
Opening hours: 9am-5pm Monday-Friday