Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards
Your definitive guide to Australia’s best writing.
In 2025, Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards (VPLAs) celebrates 40 years. Recognising the best in Australian writing across nine categories, this year's shortlist suite also includes the inaugural John Clarke Prize for Humour Writing, named in honour of the late, great satirist and actor.
Learn more about the shortlisted and highly commended works below.
Entries were sought for the following categories for 2025, within the eligible publishing period indicated:
- Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, writing for young adults, children’s literature, Indigenous writing – Books published between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024 are eligible for these awards.
- Humour writing – Books published between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2024 are eligible for this award.
- Drama – Theatre and musical theatre scripts first produced in Australia by a professional theatre company for an audience between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024 are eligible for this award.
The winners of each Prize receive $25,000, and will go on to contest the major prize, the $100,000 Victorian Prize for Literature. This is the single most valuable literary award in the country.
No work can enter more than one 2025 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards category, except works entered in the Prize for Indigenous Writing and the John Clarke Prize for Humour Writing. These works can also enter the other Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards category for which they are eligible.
The Award for an Unpublished Manuscript is offered to a Victorian resident for an unpublished fiction manuscript, which may take the form of either a collection of stories or a novel. The winner of the Award for Unpublished Manuscript will receive $15,000 in prize money. They will also receive a two-week residency at McCraith House on the Mornington Peninsula, thanks to RMIT Culture.
Key dates for all 2025 awards
Entries open: Thursday 12 September 2024
Close of entries: 5pm AEST Friday 27 September 2024
Shortlist announcement: January 2025
Winner announcement: 19 March 2025
People's Choice Awards
Voting for the People’s Choice Award is now closed.
Victorian Premier's Literary Awards: Judge Expression of Interest
If you would like to express your interest in being considered for the judging panel for future Victorian Premier's Literary Awards, please fill out the form below.
Information and enquiries
For further information, please contact:
Xanthea O’Connor
Program and Special Projects Producer
Email: vpla@wheelercentre.com
The 2025 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards are proudly supported by the Victorian Government through the Community Support Fund and Creative Victoria.
