Creative Australia announced the winners of the 2024 Prime Minister's Literary Awards at the National Library of Australia in Canberra on Thursday evening.

The Awards are the richest literary prize in the nation, with a prize pool of $600,000 in recognition of the outstanding literary talents of established and emerging Australian writers, illustrators, poets, and historians.

The winning works, chosen by an independent panel of judges, span genre and form, illuminating the complexities of our nation's past, present and paving the way for future Australian stories.

Across six categories, the Prime Minister's Literary Awards celebrate debut authors and seasoned professionals. From cultural journeys through Gurindji Country, to post-World War II history, a reappraisal of the goddess of love and discussions with some of Australia's most accomplished media personalities – themes of culture, country, belonging and resilience cut through.

This year, Creative Australia received 533 entries across six literary categories: fiction, non-fiction, young adult literature, children's literature, poetry, and Australian history.

Among the winners were Bundjalung and Kullilli journalist, radio broadcaster, documentary maker, sound artist and writer Daniel Browning; Jutamaliny Traditional Owner Violet Wadrill; Topsy Dodd Ngarnjal; Gurindji/Malngin artist Leah Leaman; Warlpiri and Gurindji artist Cecelia Edwards; and Gurindji/Mudburra artist Cassandra Algy.

Mr Browning won the non-fiction category 'Close to the Subject: Selected Works', published by Magabala Books.

Creative Australia said: "With thoughtfully chosen essays and interviews braided together with poetry and memoir, Browning demonstrates clear talent as an observer of cultural and political life, as well as within the hybrid literary form. The effect of the book is cumulative, threading the personal with the political through the lens of art."

Mr Browning is Editor: Indigenous Radio with the ABC and produces and presents The Art Show for ABC RN, the ABC's specialist arts and journalism network.

Ms Wadrill, Ms Ngarnjal, Ms Leaman, Ms Edwards, and Ms Algy - alongside colleagues Briony Barr, Felicity Meakins and Gregory Crocetti - won the children's literature category for 'Tamarra: A Story of Termites on Gurindji Country', published by Hardie Grant Explore.

Creative Australia said the work is a fascinating, illustrated science book that takes kids inside the life of termites through storytelling from the Gurindji People.

"Written in traditional Gurindji, Gurindji Kriol and English (with a QR code to an audio version spoken in language), Tamarra is a truly original story with beautiful artwork that takes readers on an educational and cultural journey through Gurindji Country."

Ms Ngarnjal is a senior ceremony woman and paints her Dreaming. Both Ms Wadrill and Ms Ngarnjal worked extensively with linguists on the documentation of Gurindji language and culture, including a dictionary, ethnobiology, song books and volumes of collected texts.

Other winners were André Dao for Anam (fiction), Will Kostakis for We Could be Something (young adult literature), Amy Crutchfield for The Cyprian (poetry), Ryan Cropp for Donald Horne: A Life in the Lucky Country (Australian history).

The winner of each category receives $80,000.

The Prime Minister's Literary Awards acknowledge the importance of Australian literature and history. As set out in the National Cultural Policy — Revive, this is the second year that the Awards have been managed by Creative Australia.

Creative Australia chief executive Adrian Collette AM said the Awards were established in 2008 to recognise individual excellence, and the contribution Australian authors make to the nation's cultural and intellectual life.

"Initially with two categories of non-fiction and fiction, in 2010 the young adult and children's literature categories were introduced, with the addition of the Poetry category in 2012 and the incorporation of the pre-existing Prime Minister's Prize for Australian History," he said.

The Award shortlistees, previously announced on 15 August, will each receive a prize of $5,000.