Writing Australia has revealed the winners of the 2025 Prime Minister's Literary Awards, the richest literary prize in the nation. The awards celebrate the exceptional talents of emerging and established Australian writers, illustrators, poets, and historians.
The winners were celebrated at a ceremony at the National Library of Australia, Canberra hosted by Australian comedian, writer, actor, and television presenter, Alex Lee.
2025 Prime Minister's Literary Awards – Winners
Australian History
Critical Care: Nurses on the frontline of Australia's AIDS crisis by Geraldine Fela (Published by New South Publishing)
Children's Literature
Leo and Ralph by Peter Carnavas (University of Queensland Press)
Fiction
Theory & Practice by Michelle de Kretser (Text Publishing)
Non-fiction
Mean Streak by Rick Morton (HarperCollins Publishing)
Young adult literature
The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland (Penguin Random House Australia)
Poetry
The Other Side of Daylight: New and Selected Poems by David Brooks (University of Queensland Press)
Minister for the Arts, The Hon Tony Burke MP, said:
"This year's Prime Minister's Literary Awards highlight the remarkable breadth of talent in Australian writing. From deeply researched histories to works of poetry and fiction that challenge and inspire.
"These works remind us of the power of literature to shape how we see ourselves as a nation."
Director, Writing Australia Wenona Byrne, said:
"The 2025 winners reflect the richness and diversity of Australian storytelling. Each of these works brings a unique perspective, whether it is giving voice to critical moments in our history, sparking imagination in young readers, or offering new ways to think about the world around us.
"Writing Australia is proud to support these writers and to celebrate their outstanding achievements."
Both the winners and the shortlisted authors will share in a tax-free prize pool of $600,000, making it the richest literary prize in Australia. Each shortlisted entry will receive $5,000 with the winner of each category receiving $80,000.
