Emily Bitto’s Reasons to Leave is a multi-protagonist novel about a wave of Czechoslovakian migrants to the western suburbs of Melbourne. The writing is assured and touching, engaging with themes to do with belonging and labour. Bitto’s work will explore storytelling’s power to enrich both personal and national identity. 

Kate Mildenhall’s We Bought a Town is a contemporary thriller set over three days and told from the perspective of nine characters. The novel engages with ideas concerning society’s fracturing values about how to deal with family and the land. The scope of this work is ambitious and exciting, and the judges were immediately impressed with the synopsis and writing. 

Kirli Saunders’ novel Yaraman is a First Nations queer romance, and is centred around youth incarceration and caring for land. The writing is both lyrical and engaging, demonstrating a vivid response to people and place. This is a well-developed, striking project that incorporates writing, research and mentorship opportunities.

Michael Winkler‘s work with men’s mental health is a powerful backdrop to Griefdogg, a “sort of sequel” to his Miles Franklin-shortlisted Grimmish. Touching on issues of masculinity and vulnerability, alongside climate change and globalisation, the writing leaps from the page to gut-punch its reader, before folding them back in with its tremendous heart. A compelling project with vital currency and relevance.