Awards
David Unaipon Award
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Strait Islander writing, UQP is proud to publish the award-winning manuscripts of the Queensland Literary Awards (QLA) Unpublished Indigenous Writer – David Unaipon Award.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 almost 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.
‘The support given to me after winning the Unaipon Award through UQP assisted in ensuring the development and publication of my first novel and I have been encouraged to keep writing.’ Larissa Behrendt, Unaipon Award winner 2002
‘The Black Australian Writing list in particular has been essential to me and my personal journey towards being a writer.’ Ellen van Neerven, Unaipon Award winner 2013
How to enter
Nominations close 30 April 2020, 5pm
To enter an unpublished manuscript or submit an application for a development award:
- Download and read the 2020 Guidelines for Development Awards, which include the Terms and Conditions of Entry.
- Check that you meet the author requirements for all award categories and the additional author requirements for your chosen category.
- Complete the online nomination form and upload your manuscript or application and support material.
- Alternatively, you can post or hand-deliver five copies of your printed manuscript or application to the State Library of Queensland.
Enter the David Unaipon Award for an Emerging Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Writer
Winners of the David Unaipon Award
2020 The Space Between the Paperbark by Jazz Money
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 Threads by 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
2001 The Mish by Robert Lowe
2000 Bitin’ Back by Vivienne Cleven
1999 Of Muse, Meandering and Midnight by Samuel Wagan Watson
1998 Is 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
1990 Caprice: A Stockman’s Daughter by Doris Pilkington Garimara
1989 Holocaust Island by Graeme Dixon
Glendower Award for an Emerging Queensland Writer
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 almost 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.
‘It was a huge benefit to work with a local publisher, and I have valued establishing a relationship with the team at UQP beyond the publication of my book.’ Rebecca Jessen, Emerging Queensland Writer Award winner 2013
‘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
Nominations close 30 April 2020, 5pm
To enter an unpublished manuscript or submit an application for a development award:
- Download and read the 2020 Guidelines for Development Awards, which include the Terms and Conditions of Entry.
- Check that you meet the author requirements for all award categories and the additional author requirements for your chosen category.
- Complete the online nomination form and upload your manuscript or application and support material.
- Alternatively, you can post or hand-deliver five copies of your printed manuscript or application to the State Library of Queensland.
Winners of the Emerging Queensland Writers Award
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 Wings by 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 Nicole Bourke
1999 Shoelaces by Jillian Watkinson (published as The Architect)
Thomas Shapcott Poetry Prize
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 18th year, this prestigious prize for an unpublished poetry manuscript comes with total prize money of $2,000 and a publishing contract with UQP.
For more information on how to enter, visit the Queensland Poetry Festival website.
Winners of the Thomas Shapcott Poetry Prize
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 Quentin Bryce Award
UQP has established 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.
UQ will provide $10,000 towards the award, of which $5000 will be used as prize money for the winning author, with the remaining $5000 to be spent on additional marketing and publicity.
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.’
The inaugural recipient of the Quentin Bryce Award was Ellen van Neerven for their poetry collection Throat. Watch Ellen van Neerven in conversation with Quentin Bryce and Sandra Phillips on Facebook.