UWA Publishing has announced the six entries shortlisted for the 2026 Dorothy Hewett Award for an unpublished manuscript.
The shortlist includes: Shedding Skin by Faiza Bokhari (WA), Snow by Chris Brophy (VIC); A Bird is a Small God by Alisha Brown (NSW); Another Sky by Christy Collins (VIC); being made of stone by Kimberley Starr (VIC); and Milk Fever by Coby Sullivan (QLD).
The judges for the 2026 award are Tony Hughes-d’Aeth, UWA Chair of Australian Literature; Linda Martin, co-publisher of Night Parrot Press; Samuel Bernard, literary agent at Zeitgeist Agency; and Kate Pickard, publisher of UWA Publishing.
This year’s shortlist was chosen from 280 entries, with the judges commenting that the titles exhibited a remarkable variety and depth of talent.
Ms Bokhari, a Pakistani-Australian writer who spent her childhood constantly trying to create miniature worlds on pieces of paper, said being shortlisted for the Dorothy Hewett Award felt surreal.
“I'm thrilled that the characters and stories in Shedding Skin have resonated with the judges, and it's an honour to see the collection recognised in this way,” Ms Bokhari said.
Ms Brophy, a teacher, librarian, arts administrator and cultural heritage researcher, said being shortlisted for the award was both a surprise and an honour.
“Even if my manuscript does not win, this shortlisting has given me an invaluable confidence boost that will keep me at my desk, keep me writing,” Ms Brophy said.
Ms Brown, a poet living on unceded Gadigal Country, said she was thrilled beyond belief that the judges were touched by her manuscript.
“I wrote so many of these poems when I was extremely ill and isolated, lying in bed and watching the birds from my window, so it feels intimate and precious that they've been received so warmly,” Ms Brown said.
Ms Collins, who has a PhD in Creative Writing, said she was surprised and excited to be shortlisted for the award, which has a track record of discovering ambitious works across Australian fiction, creative non-fiction and poetry.
Ms Starr, a Melbourne writer and teacher, said her manuscript told the story of an Australian artist in Florence and asked what remains when memory and language begin to fail.
“Hewett’s work examined the lives of Australian women with courage and clarity, and it means a great deal to have being made of stone considered for an award that carries her name,” Ms Starr said.
Ms Sullivan, who has a degree in journalism, said her manuscript was drawn from her own experience and shone a light on the lesser-talked-about realities of early motherhood.
“Postnatal depression affects one in seven mothers and one in ten fathers in Australia, yet it still so often goes unspoken – it arrives quietly, insidiously, in the middle of what the world tells you should be the happiest time of your life,” Ms Sullivan said.
Dorothy Hewett (1923-2002) is considered one of Australia’s most important writers, producing work that challenged the norms of 20th century Australian culture.
The winner of the award, which is open to Australian writers of fiction, narrative non-fiction and poetry, will receive $10,000 and a publishing contract with UWA Publishing. The winner will be announced in August 2026.
Image top: Alisha Brown, Chris Brophy, Christy Collins, Kimberley Starr, Coby Sullivan and Faiza Bokhari.