History
In 2005, John Marsden became the principal patron of Express Media, supporting an annual prize encouraging creative literary work by young people. The patronage of an internationally recognised author was invaluable in assisting Express Media to encourage and develop the creative skills of young writers, by significantly extending the reach and impact of our programs. The John Marsden Prize for Young Australian Writers was open to poets, short fiction writers and novelists under twenty-five, and judged by John Marsden. All prize winners were published in Voiceworks or on the Express Media website and shared in a $5500 prize pool.
In 2006 the prize evolved to acknowledge the variety of forms young people were writing in, as well as their diverse ages. This led to the creation of four new categories; Poetry Under 18s, Poetry 18-24, Short Story/First Chapter of a Novel Under 18s, Short Story/First Chapter of a Novel 18-24. Winning entries were announced in December and published in the summer issue of Voiceworks.
After many successful years championing and rewarding young writers and poets, in 2014 the John Marsden Prize for Young Australian Writers was renamed the John Marsden and Hachette Australia Prize. Hachette Australia came on as prize sponsors, allowing for the prize to broaden and continue its work igniting passion for creative writing and poetry in the minds of Australia’s young writers.
Ten years after its inception, the John Marsden and Hachette Australia Prize became only open to secondary school aged students, which made it one of the biggest and most exciting prizes for young Australian writers. With the addition of a Creative Nonfiction category in 2016, alongside Poetry and Fiction, writers aged 12 to 18 were invited to participate in a workshop and a ‘Meet and Greet’ lunch with John Marsden during the Melbourne Writers Festival, the winners being announced in a special public event.
In 2020, the prize was renamed the Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers, and will be announced at the 2020 National Young Writers Festival. It now works on a rolling model of mentors to increase the developmental opportunities for so many more writers. In 2020 the Mentor is Will Kostakis.
Present
The Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers is a prize for secondary school-aged people across Australia. The Prize recognises writing excellence in three categories: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction and Poetry. Entries can include writing for readers of any age.
The Prize is sponsored by Hachette Australia and administered by Express Media, Australia’s peak youth literary organisation. Shortlisted writers get the opportunity to receive mentorship from an established author. The 2020 Mentor is Will Kostakis.
For details of the current prizes and application process, see this page.
Winners
2019
Fiction – Hanqing Li
Nonfiction – Preethika Mathan
Poetry – Quang Mai
2018
Fiction – Matilda Bolt
Nonfiction – Octavia Chandler
Poetry – Niamh Brazil
2017
Fiction – Rose Forrest
Nonfiction – Angela Chen
Poetry – Maz Howard
2016
Fiction – Abigail Strangward
Nonfiction – Darrelyn Nguyen
Poetry – Charlotte Head
2015
Short Story Prize: 18 – 24 years old – Madeleine Streater
Short Story Prize: Under 18 – Zhi Wei Wang
Poetry Prize: 18 – 24 years old – Phoebe Chen
Poetry Prize: Under 18 – Zoe McDonald
2014
Short Story Prize: 18 – 24 years old – Laura Elizabeth Woollett
Short Story Prize: Under 18 – Sky Moore
Poetry Prize: 18 – 24 years old – Jeremy Teow
Poetry Prize: Under 18 – Eunice Andrada
2013
Short Story Prize: 18 – 24 years old – Rhea Bhagat
Short Story Prize: Under 18 – Alessandra Solomon
Poetry Prize: 18 – 24 years old – Jeremy Poxon
Poetry Prize: Under 18 – Jinjin Tang
2012
Short Story Prize: 18 – 24 years old – Ekaterina Tretiakova
Short Story Prize: Under 18 – Eliza Janssen
Poetry Prize: 18 – 24 years old – Anders Villani
Poetry Prize: Under 18 – Maille Halloran Mackay
2011
Short Story Prize: 18 – 24 years old – Madeleine Griffeth
Short Story Prize: Under 18 – Eliza Claire Baker
Poetry Prize: 18 – 24 years old – Ainslee Meredith
Poetry Prize: Under 18 – Matthew Norman
2010
Short Story Prize: 18 – 24 years old – Kirilee Barker
Short Story Prize: Under 18 – Raeden Richardson
Poetry Prize: 18 – 24 years old – Anders Villani
Poetry Prize: Under 18 – Rory Burg
2009
Short Story Prize: 18 – 24 years old – Amelia Schmidt
Short Story Prize: Under 18 – Danny Nicholls
Poetry Prize: 18 – 24 years old – Caitlin M Maling
Poetry Prize: Under 18 – Scarlett McLean
2008
Short Story Prize: 18 – 24 years old – Bryce Woldgang Joiner
Short Story Prize: Under 18 – Jess Baikie
Poetry Prize: 18 – 24 years old – Owen Kirkby
Poetry Prize: Under 18 – Dana Morrison
2007
Short Story Prize: 18 – 24 years old – Erin Kelly
Short Story Prize: Under 18 – Marley Berry-Pearce
Poetry Prize: 18 – 24 years old – Deborah Mischlewski
Poetry Prize: Under 18 – Georgia Walters
2006
Short Story Prize: 18 – 24 years old – Bryce Woldgang Joiner
Short Story Prize: Under 18 – Thomas Croger
Poetry Prize: 18 – 24 years old – Chloe Wilson
Poetry Prize: Under 18 – Aksell Dadswell
2005
Short Story Prize – Ruby Joy Murray
Poetry Prize – Ella Holocombe