The AustLit Essay Prize
In 2026, we announced the inaugural AustLit Essay Prize — an award for the best use of AustLit data in a published scholarly essay.
The AustLit Essay Prize
Awarded annually at the ASAL conference for the best use of AustLit data to generate a new argument or insight about the Australian literary, publishing or cultural landscape in a scholarly essay published in English in the previous calendar year. (For the first year that this prize will be awarded — 2027 — the essay can have been published in the previous two years.)
Essays can be on any topic or theme in Australian literature, publishing or cultural studies, broadly conceived. The essays can have been published in any peer-reviewed academic journal, regardless of length or referencing style.
The award comprises an AU$1000 cash prize.
The judging panel will comprise the AustLit Director, who will chair the panel, and two other invited academics.
Entries may be submitted EITHER via the AustLit email account in the form of a pdf attachment of the publication accompanied by a nomination form (available here) OR by completing the google form here
Full Terms and Conditions for the Prize are available for download here.
Nomination forms for the prize are available for download here.
Criteria
- The prize will be awarded to the scholarly essay of highest academic merit that uses AustLit to generate a new argument or insight about the Australian literary, publishing or cultural landscape, as determined by the judging panel.
- In addition to incorporating AustLit data in the body of their argument, essays must cite AustLit in their notes or works cited/reference list.
- Entries for the inaugural prize will be accepted until 31 January 2027 (and that same date each subsequent year).
- Eligible essays must have been published in the previous twelve calendar months (January-December), barring the first year of the prize, when they may have been published in the preceding two years.
- The author must confirm that the work submitted and nominated for the Prize is original, all their own, and that no part of the work has been produced by or with the assistance of AI.
- Entries are welcome from scholars writing in English anywhere in the world.
- Multiple entries are permitted, but each must be entered separately.
- Entries will not be accepted from members of the judging panel or from the ASAL Prize Coordinator.
- Members of the AustLit team are not eligible to apply, but researchers who collaborate with AustLit on research projects are, on the condition that they are not involved in the management of the Prize in any way.
- Entries will be accepted from members of ASAL, including members of the executive committee, likewise on the condition that they are not involved in the management of the Prize in any way.
- In addition to the $1000 prize money, winning essays will be promoted by both ASAL and AustLit via ASAL and AustLit’s social media and communications channels.
- The judges’ decision is final.
- For more information, contact AustLit at [email protected], or the ASAL Prizes Coordinator, at [email protected]