Awards

As Queensland’s major publishing house, one of Australia’s leading literary publishers and a key supporter of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writing, UQP is proud to publish the award-winning manuscripts of the Queensland Literary Awards (QLA) Unpublished Indigenous Writer – David Unaipon Award.

UQP devised and launched the David Unaipon Award in 1988 and the award is recognised as the most coveted Indigenous writing prize in the country. For over 30 years, UQP has been committed to publishing the winning manuscripts and has since developed Australia’s most extensive Black Australian Writing list. Our focus is on growing this program and building the profile of, and access to, Indigenous writing in Australia and internationally.

Many QLA David Unaipon Award winners have gone on to achieve notable writing careers as a result of this important collaboration.

‘I have always viewed the David Unaipon Award as one of the landmark literary awards in Australia, a place to read exciting, urgent and beautiful new writers. The power of this award to launch significant literary careers is evidenced by the past winners, easily some of Australia’s most important. The honour of joining this company of writers still astounds and humbles me.’ Jazz Money, Unaipon Award winner, 2020

'The David Unaipon Award is the most important development program for First Nations writers in Australia. It has launched the careers of some of the most talented First Nations writers in the country. The prize money, editorial support and publication that form the basis of the David Unaipon prize have made it an effective platform to promote Indigenous storytelling in Australia.’ Larissa Behrendt, Unaipon Award winner 2002

How to enter

Entries open Wednesday 1 March and close at 5pm AEST on Friday 14 April 2023.

To enter an unpublished manuscript or submit an application for a development award:

1. Download and read the 2023 Guidelines for Development Awards, which include the Terms and Conditions of Entry.
2. Check that you meet the author requirements for all award categories and the additional author requirements for your chosen category.
3. Complete the online nomination form and upload your manuscript or application and support material.

Enter the David Unaipon Award for an Emerging Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Writer

Winners of the David Unaipon Award

2023 To Give Them a Voice by Maria van Neerven

2022 Always Will Be - stories of Goori sovereignty, from the future(s) of the Tweed by Mykaela Saunders

2021 Mekauwe = Tears Volume #1 (Notes For Song) 1970-2020 by Ngankiburka-mekauwe (Senior Woman-of Water) Georgina Williams

2020 The Space Between the Paperbark by Jazz Money (published as how to make a basket)

2018 The Making of Ruby Champion by Kirstie Parker

2017 Mirrored Pieces by Lisa Fuller (published as Ghost Bird)

2016 Dancing Home by Paul Collis

2015 The First Octoroon or Report of an Experimental Child by Andrew Booth

2014 Not Just Black and White by Lesley and Tammy Williams

2013 Heat and Light by Ellen van Neerven

2012 Story by Siv Parker

2011 Mazin Grace by Dylan Coleman

2010 Purple Threadsby Jeanine Leane

2009 The Boundary by Nicole Watson

2008 Every Secret Thing by Marie Munkara

2007 Skin Painting by Elizabeth Eileen Hodgson

2006 Me, Antman and Fleabag by Gayle Kennedy

2005 Anonymous Premonition by Yvette Holt

2004 Dust on Waterglass by Tara June Winch (published as Swallow the Air)

2003 Whispers of This Wik Woman by Fiona Doyle

2002 Home by Larissa Behrendt

2001The Mish by Robert Lowe

2000 Bitin’ Back by Vivienne Cleven

1999 Of Muse, Meandering and Midnight by Samuel Wagan Watson

1998Is That You, Ruthie?by Ruth Hegarty

1997 When Darkness Falls by John Bodey

1996 Black Angels Red Blood by Steven McCarthy

1995 Warrigal’s Way by Warrigal Anderson

1994 The Sausage Tree by Valda Gee and Rosalie Medcraft

1993 Bridge of Triangles by John Muk Muk Burke

1992 Sweet Water, Stolen Land by Philip McLaren

1991 Broken Dreams by Bill Dodd

1990Caprice: A Stockman’s Daughter by Doris Pilkington Garimara

1989 Holocaust Island by Graeme Dixon

As Queensland’s major publishing house, one of Australia’s leading literary publishers and a key supporter of new Australian authors, UQP is proud to publish the award-winning manuscripts of the Queensland Literary Awards (QLA) Glendower Award for an Emerging Queensland Writer.

UQP has partnered with the Queensland Government to open up career pathways and exciting opportunities for emerging writers and celebrate their work. For over 20 years, UQP has been committed to publishing the winning manuscripts and mentoring Queensland writers in the early stages of their careers. Our focus is on growing this program and building the profile of emerging Australian writers nationally and internationally.

UQP is proud of the fact that many winners of the QLA Glendower Award have gone on to achieve notable writing careers as a result of this important collaboration.

‘Winning the Glendower Award has been an incredible opportunity and journey. From working with such a wonderful publisher in UQP, to getting a close-up look at an industry I've long admired from afar. I'd encourage anyone with a story and a burning desire to tell it, to get involved and submit!’. Siang Lu, Glendower Award winner 2021

‘UQP really took me under their wing as part of the Award. I learned the basics of working with an editor and approaching structural edits and problems in my manuscript – stuff I still use day in and day out today in my writing life.’ Karen Foxlee, Emerging Queensland Writer Award winner 2006

How to enter

Entries open Wednesday 1 March and close at 5pm AEST on Friday 14 April 2023.

To enter an unpublished manuscript or submit an application for a development award:

1. Download and read the 2023 Guidelines for Development Awards, which include the Terms and Conditions of Entry.
2. Check that you meet the author requirements for all award categories and the additional author requirements for your chosen category.
3. Complete the online nomination form and upload your manuscript or application and support material.

Enter the Glendower Award for an Emerging Queensland Writer

Winners of the Emerging Queensland Writers Award

2023First Name Second Name by Steve MinOn

2022 Things Left Unsaidby Yen-Rong Wong (published as Me, Her, Us)

2021The Whitewash by Siang Lu

2020 If You're Happy by Fiona Robertson

2019 Henry Hamlet's Heart by Rhiannon Wilde

2018 Garrison Town by Melanie Myers (published as Meet Me at Lennon's)

2017 The Killing of Louisa by Janet Lee

2015 Aurora by Elizabeth Kasmer

2014 We Come from Saltwater People by Cathy McLennan (published as Saltwater)

2013 Gap by Rebecca Jessen

2012 Island of the Unexpected by Catherine Titasey (published as My Island Homicide)

2011 The Beloved by Annah Lee Faulkner

2010 RPM by Noel Mengel

2008 Omega Park by Amy Barker

2007 Fiveways by Ian Commins

2006 The Anatomy of Wingsby Karen Foxlee

2005 The Long Road of the Junkmailer by Patrick Holland

2004 An Accidental Terrorist by Steven Lang

2003 The Kingdom Where Nobody Dies by Kimberley Starr

2002 The Lambing Flat by Nerida Newton

2001 Mama Kuma: One Woman, Two Cultures by Deborah Carlyon

2000 The Bone Flute by Nike Bourke

1999 Shoelaces by Jillian Watkinson (published as The Architect)

Named in honour of a distinguished Queensland poet, the Arts Queensland Thomas Shapcott Poetry Prize for an Unpublished Manuscript is committed to encouraging emerging Queensland poets. Now in its 21st year, this prestigious prize for an unpublished poetry manuscript comes with total prize money of $2,000 and a publishing contract with UQP.

Winners of the Thomas Shapcott Poetry Prize

2023 Madeleine Dale, The Water-Bearers

2022 Jarad Bruinstroop, Reliefs

2021 Janaka Malwatta,Blackbirds Don't Mate with Starlings

2020 Gavin Yuan Gao, At the Altar of Touch

2019 Luke Best, Cadaver Dog

2018 Anna Jacobson, I know I may not escape unscathed (published as Amnesia Findings)

2017 Rae White, Milk Teeth

2016 Shastra Deo, The Agonist

2015 Stuart Barnes, The Staysails (published as Glasshouses)

2014 Krissy Kneen, Eating My Grandmother

2013 David Stavanger, The Special

2012 Rachel Briggs, Free Logic

2011 Nick Powell, Water Mirrors

2010 Vlanes (Vladislav Nekliaev), Another Babylon

2009 Rosanna Licari, An Absence of Saints

2008 Felicity Plunkett, Vanishing Point

2007 Sarah Holland-Batt, Aria

2006 Angela Gardner, Parts of Speech

2005 Nathan Shepherdson, Sweeping the Light Back Into The Mirror

2004 Jaya Savige, latecomers

2003 Lidija Cvetkovic, War is Not the Season for Figs

UQP created a new award in 2020, named in honour of former Governor General Quentin Bryce, that celebrates women’s lives or promotes gender equality.

Established in association with The University of Queensland (UQ), the annual UQP Quentin Bryce Award will be awarded to one book on UQP’s list that celebrates women’s lives or promotes gender equality, with the winner to be chosen by Bryce.

Recipients win $5000 in prize money and the opportunity to appear at an event with Bryce.

An alumna of UQ, Bryce was the first woman to hold the office of Governor General of Australia, is a former Governor of Queensland and was the first woman appointed as a faculty member of UQ’s law school. She is also an ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and the Stella Prize.

‘I have a long and proud association with the University of Queensland and its publishing house, UQP—over the years I have admired and supported many of UQP’s books, authors and staff,’ says Bryce. ‘I am honoured that an award has been established in my name that will reward one of their outstanding authors each year.’

Winners of the UQP Quentin Bryce Awards

2023The Sitter by Angela O'Keeffe

2022The Burnished Sunby Mirandi Riwoe

2021The First Time I Thought I Was Dyingby Sarah Walker

2020Throat by Ellen van Neerven