Categories, Prizes and Guidelines

The 2024 Western Australian Premier's Book Awards are now titled after the year the awards are presented instead of the year the books were published.  The Premier's Prize Book Awards are for books published between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023. 

The Premier’s Prize for an Emerging Writer ($15,000)

For the first ever published work of prose, poetry or narrative nonfiction, in any genre, by an author or authors residing in Western Australia.

The Premier’s Prize for Children's Book of the Year ($15,000)

For a work of prose, poetry or narrative nonfiction written for children (0 to 12 years of age), in any genre, by an author or authors residing in Western Australia.

The Premier’s Prize for Book of the Year, sponsored by Writing WA ($15,000)

Awarded to an outstanding fiction or narrative nonfiction book by an author residing in Western Australia. This category is open to prose, poetry, fiction or narrative nonfiction in any style or genre.

The Western Australian Writer’s Fellowship ($60,000)

The Fellowship is designed to assist a Western Australian writer, of any style or ​genre, to develop their writing practice and give them the time to create new work in a one year time period.

The Daisy Utemorrah Award for Unpublished Indigenous Junior and YA Fiction ($15,000 and a publishing contract with Magabala Books)

For a new unpublished manuscript for a work of junior and young adult fiction, including graphic novels, by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander writer – Australia wide. The winner will receive a cash prize of $15,000 and their manuscript will be published by Magabala Books, under the guidance of an Indigenous editor. 

The Daisy Utemorrah Award is administered and funded by Broome-based Indigenous publisher Magabala Books with support from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, State Government of Western Australia and the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund through their Cultural Fund.