The Young Territory Author Awards is an annual writing competition where entrants write and produce their own book.
It is organised in association with other public libraries and schools throughout the Northern Territory.
The competition is in its 33rd year of production and showcases the incredible imagination and creativity of young people in the community, providing them with an opportunity to develop their writing skills and have their work nationally recognised.
- Young Territory Author Awards Winners 2023
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2023 Overall Winner
Liora Devlin-Aylott
Book: ROOTS TO THE HEART
“A cleverly constructed story that manages to be both an empathetic insight into personal relationships and introduce a satisfying element of the fantastical. The writer skilfully uses language to leave a lasting impression on the reader”.
School Winners
Palmerston College, Special Education Centre
Book: STORIES: A Children’s Anthology
“From sci-fi to historical fiction Stories. A Children’s Anthology is a collection of stories that show how creative our young writers are. The judges appreciated the diversity of the stories, and the sense of teamwork and peer support that came through in this anthology.”
Children's Book Council of Australia NT Wow Award
Dela Jones
Book: PROTEST
“The judges enjoyed the narrative of Protest and the beautiful accompanying illustrations. They felt this was a moving contemporary story about Lee Point and the Gouldian Finches told with lots of nice detail”.
8 and under
Winner: Maya Searl
Book: THE BIRD AND THE CATERPILLAR
“The Bird and the Caterpillar was a beautifully illustrated story of an unlikely friendship between the bird and the caterpillar. One day caterpillar disappears, but fortunately the friendship doesn't end there. When butterfly emerges, the friendship continues. This story was nicely written, engaging and heartfelt”.
Highly Commended: Banjo Beynon
Book: THE HEDGEHOG AND THE FOX
Encouragement Award: Harry Rowlands
Book: AT THE QUARRY
9 to 12
Winner: Demilade Kuteyi
Book: THE NARRATOR AND THE INTERRUPTING PRINCESS
“The judges appreciated the playfulness and joy of this book, both in the story telling and the illustrations. A take on a well-known fairy tale we ask ourselves the question …Have we ever really known what the princess is thinking and what she gets up to everyday?”
Highly Commended: Leo Brown
Book: THE MAGIC CAST NETS
Encouragement Award: Adele Brennan
Book: SUBJECT 001
13 to 15
Winner: Coriel Stay
Book: HEART OF THE BIRCHWOOD
“Heart of the Birchwood asks us to view nature and the world around us through magical eyes. A dialogue rich story, the judges appreciated the sense of adventure and friendship that run deep within the book”.
Highly Commended: Maya Purdon
Book: A HAND IN THE NIGHT
Encouragement Award: Ramneet Gill & Kim Nguyen
Book: THE MYSTERY OF MY MISSING SISTER
16 to 18
Winner: Pryha Allen-Bell
Book: STUPIDLY DYSFUNCTIONAL
“This is a well-written dystopian story that manages to pack an interesting plot and good characterisation into a relatively short story. This writer clearly cares about language and the effects it produces”.
Highly Commended: Gabriella Francis
Book: COASTAL STRAWBERRIES, JUICY ORANGES & SHOREBIRDS: THE GHOSTS OF MY CHILDHOOD
Regional Winners
Alice Springs: Coriel Stay
Book: HEART OF THE BIRCHWOOD
Katherine: Mia Taylor
Book: BALUNG
Litchfield: Pryha Allen-Bell
Book: STUPIDLY DYSFUNCTIONAL
Palmerston: Leo Brown
Book: THE MAGIC CAST NETS
East Arnhem: Banjo Beynon
Book: THE HEDGEHOG AND THE FOX
- Past Winners
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Megan Jacobson - 1992 Young Territory Author winner
Sasha Beekman - Young Territory Author Awards -16 to 18 Age Category winner 2012 & 2013
Previous Young Territory Authors of the Year
2022 Freya Galati
2021 Rowan McGrath
2020 Rachel De Kock
2019 Jethro Pollock
2018 Tiger-Lily Clements
2017 Jessica Phelan
2016 Alice Cotter
2015 Sascha Duffy
2014 Irini Melas
2013 Yasna Delo
2012 Shayla Moses
2011 Ella Hardiman & Tjina Stoll
2010 Isabella Hope Tester
2009 Timothy Hansen
2008 Rosanna Cameron
2007 Sophie Philip
2006 Dean Holzwart
2005 Karina Brabham
2004 Lauren Crabbe
2003 Erin Pearce
2002 Amanda Deacon and Penny Cameron
2001 Penny Cameron
2000 Guy Spielman
1999 Jessica Rose
1998 Melanie Robinson
1997 Karen Bryce
1996 David Palmer
1995 Yvonne Medel
1994 Aaron Tucker
1993 Aaron Tucker
1992 Megan Jacobson
1991 Arvin Roach - How to enter
- Prizes
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There are lots of prizes up for grabs.
Young Territory Author of the year - $500
School Entry Winner - $500 (for the school)
CBCA NT Wow Award - $200
Regional Area Winners - $50
Age Category Winners - $50 voucher to the Bookshop Darwin
Highly Commended - $30 voucher to the Bookshop Darwin
Encouragement Awards - $20 voucher to the Bookshop DarwinEntries are considered in all categories they are eligible for. The categories include:
- 8 years and under - all individual entries in this age bracket are eligible
- 9-12 years - all individual entries in this age bracket are eligible
- 13-15 years - all individual entries in this age bracket are eligible
- 16-18 years - all individual entries in this age bracket are eligible
- Regional areas - all entries received (school and individual) in each NT region are eligible
- School Entries - all entries received from schools are eligible
- Young Territory Author of the year - all individual entries are eligible
- Writer's Toolbox
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Have a look through the Writer Toolbox - a page filled with resources to help you write your story.
- Information for Teachers
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If you are preparing a class entry, please use this permission template to notify your student's parents, and gain the necessary permissions.
- Information for Public Libraries
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Find marketing resources here.
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