Oodgeroo Noonuccal Prize for Indigenous Poetry

ENTRY FORM

Overview

Annual Prize. Entries open (now closed): Mon 5 Aug – Tues 10 Sept 2024

The Oodgeroo Noonuccal Prize for Indigenous Poetry is a prestigious Australian prize for an unpublished poem by an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander writer. The Prize is named in honour of Oodgeroo Noonuccal, a founding member of QWC and the first Aboriginal Australian to publish a book of verse.

The Prize is administered by QWC and supported by the Roderick Centre for Australian Literature and Creative Writing (James Cook University).

What to Submit

Submit an unpublished poem (or suite of poems) up to 80 lines in length. Poetry in language is welcomed (accompanied by an English translation). Suggested formatting as follows:

• 12pt Times New Roman or Arial font

• 1.5 line spacing

• 1” or 3cm margins on an A4 page

• Start each new poem on a new page

• Include page numbers

Previous winners

Julie Janson / Andrew Booth, Jeanine Leane / Sachem Parkin-Owens, Brenda Saunders, Jeanine Leane, Mykaela Saunders, Dominic Guerrera, Cheryl Leavy, Adam Brannigan.

Submission guidelines

Entries are accepted only via the online Entry Form at queenslandwriters.org.au/poetry-awards. By making a submission Entrants acknowledge to have read and understood the Submission Guidelines.

Entrants should submit their own original work.

Poems may be of any genre or style.

Entries are open to all Indigenous, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander poets, emerging and established.

Entrants should be Australian citizens or currently resident in Australia.

Entrants to the Prize may be published or unpublished poets and writers.

Entrants under 18 years are eligible but should contact QWC prior to entering, and will require permission from a guardian.

Poetry included in the submission should be previously unpublished and not on offer for publication elsewhere.

Multiple submissions are permitted but limited to five total. Each submission requires a separate Entry and fee.

For co-authored Entries, please contact QWC prior to making a submission.

Successful Entrants to the Prize may be asked to provide a copy of a document that confirms Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, or a statutory declaration form.

Entrants grant first right of refusal on the publication of the manuscript to Meanjin for an exclusive period of up to 12 weeks following public announcements if selected as Winner, Runner-Up or Highest Quandamooka Entry. Further contractual arrangements will be made directly with the Publisher. QWC otherwise reserves no rights over works submitted to the Awards; Entrants retain copyright at all times.

Entrants should comply with Creative Australia’s Protocols for using First Nations Intellectual and Cultural Property.

Discounted entry fees are available to all concession card holders (including students, seniors and pensioners) and current members of state writers’ centres in the National Writers’ Centre Network, including QWC.

Entries will be subject to a rigorous assessment process with review by QWC team members, trained Readers and two experienced guest Judges, including a blind read process.

Judges’ feedback is not provided to unsuccessful Entrants. No correspondence with Readers or Judges may be entered into.

Submissions will be disposed of securely up to nine months after QWC completes the selection process. QWC may record and keep other information provided on the Entry Form.

The awarding of a Winner, Runner-Up, Highest Quandamooka Entry and/or Shortlist (of up to three writers) is to be at QWC’s discretion, and may depend on the quality and number of submissions received. In the event a Winner is not awarded, QWC may provide development opportunities (e.g. mentorship) to up to three highly-placed Entrants.

QWC does not guarantee the future publication of work submitted to the Awards.

QWC is committed to providing a relevant online development workshop, delivered by an industry professional, to all Entrants free of charge, regardless of submission outcome. QWC will endeavour to tailor the content of the session to address commonalities found across the cohort of submissions.

All Entrants will be personally notified of the outcome of their Entry prior to public announcements.

For assistance with your Entry, please contact QWC at admin@qldwriters.org.au or (07) 3842 9922.

These Submission Guidelines were developed and updated for the 2024 suite of Queensland’s poetry awards. QWC reserves the right to amend Guidelines for future Awards.