First presented in 2014, The Readings Prize continues to support new and outstanding Australian voices across three separate categories of fiction: Children’s, Young Adult and New Australian Fiction. The Readings Prize is unique in the Australian literary landscape being the only prize currently run by an independent Melbourne bookshop and supporting emerging local voices.
Each year, three prizes are awarded to reflect our judgement of the works that have attained the highest literary merit in their category (and they’re always great reads too!). We look for books that can contribute richness and variety to Australian readers. The Readings Prize offers $16,000 in prize money, which is distributed evenly to the winners of each category ($5,000 per category winner), plus $1,000 to the winner of The Gab Williams Prize.
The Readings Prize is now closed for 2025. A shortlist of six books in each category will be announced in August 2025, with the winners to be announced at a celebration event in November.
We are proud to announce the 2024 winners of The Readings Prize!
Winner of The Readings New Australian Fiction Prize 2024
Thanks for Having Me by Emma Darragh
Winner of The Readings Children's Prize 2024
Wurrtoo by Tylissa Elisara, illustrated by Dylan Finney
Winner of The Readings Young Adult Prize 2024
We Didn’t Think It Through by Gary Lonesborough
Winner of The Gab Williams Prize 2024
A Way Home by Emily Brewin
Discover the 2024 shortlists for The Readings Children's Prize, the Young Adult Prize and the New Australian Fiction Prize.
Eligibility guidelines for entering a book into The Readings Prize (all categories)
Please read the eligibility criteria for each specific category before entering a book into The Readings Prize. There is a $50 entry fee per book, and four copies of each published work must be submitted for the consideration of the judging panel. Once you’re sure the title is eligible, simply nominate the chosen book here. Please put the title of the book and the author’s name in the comments field at checkout, then contact Angela Crocombe at [email protected] to arrange submission of the reading copies.
Learn more about The Readings New Australian Fiction Prize.
Learn more about The Readings Young Adult Prize.
Learn more about The Readings Children's Prize.
Enquiries
If you are a publisher or an author with an eligible book you’d like to enter, please contact Angela Crocombe.
