The University of Sydney People’s Choice Award

Last updated:  05 April 2024
Applications closed

The University of Sydney People’s Choice Award ($5,000) is voted for from the shortlists for the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction and the Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-fiction. 

2024

Applications closed

About the award

The University of Sydney People’s Choice Award is not open to entry, but voted for from the shortlists for the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction and the Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-fiction. 

The People’s Choice Award was introduced in 2009 to mark the 30th anniversary of the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards.

In 2024, The University of Sydney have sponsored the People's Choice Award for the second time. The winning writer will receive $5,000.  

Past winners

2023

Book cover image of Every Version of You
    Winner
Every Version of You
Grace Chan
Affirm Press

2022

The Shut Ins
    Winner
The Shut Ins
Katherine Brabon
Allen & Unwin

2021

The Dictionary of Lost Words
    Winner
The Dictionary of Lost Words
Pip Williams
Affirm Press

2020

Cover image of the book The Yield.
    Winner
The Yield
Tara June Winch
Penguin Random House

2019

Boy Swallows Universe cover
    Winner
Boy Swallows Universe
Trent Dalton
HarperCollins Publishers

2018

Book of Dirt cover
    Winner
The Book of Dirt
Bram Presser
Text Publishing

2017

Book cover image for Vancouver 3 in the series Wisdom Tree by Nick Earls
    Winner
Vancouver
Nick Earls
Inkerman & Blunt

Award Information

Annual

The University of Sydney People's Choice Award is presented as part of the NSW Premier's Literary Awards.

Learn more

$5,000

For more information, please contact the Awards team.

awards@sl.nsw.gov.au

Phone: (02) 9273 1767, or alternatively (02) 9273 1770.