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| Barbara Jefferis Award | |
|---|---|
| Name | Barbara Jefferis Award |
| Awarded for | Australian novel that depicts women and girls in a positive way or empowers the status of women and girls |
| Presenter | Australian Society of Authors |
| Country | Australia |
| Year | 2008 |
Barbara Jefferis Award is an Australian literary prize established in 2007 and first awarded in 2008 to recognize novels that portray women and girls positively, created through funds bequeathed by novelist Barbara Jefferis. The award connects the legacies of Barbara Jefferis with institutions such as the Australian Society of Authors, reflects concerns raised by authors like Miles Franklin and Patrick White, and forms part of a network of prizes including the Miles Franklin Award, the Stella Prize, and the Prime Minister's Literary Awards.
The award traces to the will of Barbara Jefferis, a novelist and member of the Australian Society of Authors, and was publicized by figures such as David Malouf, Germaine Greer, and Helen Garner when the bequest prompted discussion among organisations like the Australian Publishers Association, the National Library of Australia, and the Australian Copyright Council. Its establishment in 2007 followed debates involving entities including the State Library of New South Wales, the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards, and commentators from publications such as The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, and The Age. Early governance involved trustees drawn from bodies like the Copyright Agency and advisers connected to authors such as Randolph Stow and Judith Wright.
The award's stated purpose is to reward a novel by an Australian author that empowers the status of women and girls, a remit articulated alongside other prizes like the Women's Prize for Fiction and the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction. Eligibility criteria refer to citizenship and residency rules similar to those of the Miles Franklin Award, requiring entrants to be Australian citizens or residents and to have works published by registered publishers such as Allen & Unwin, Penguin Books Australia, and HarperCollins Australia. The scope intersects with works considered for the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards, the W.A. Premier's Book Awards, and the New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards, and excludes self-published titles except where publishers like Text Publishing or Giramondo Publishing have distributed them.
The monetary endowment was notable among Australian literary prizes alongside the Miles Franklin Award and the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards, with prize sums that have been administered by the Australian Society of Authors in partnership with trustees and sponsors including representatives from the Copyright Agency and firms like Allens Linklaters. Administrative processes mirror those used by bodies such as the Australian Council for the Arts and the Australia Council for the Arts, with announcements typically coordinated with media outlets like ABC News, The Guardian Australia, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The award has influenced publishing decisions at imprints including Scribe Publications and Little, Brown and Company (Australia).
Winners and shortlisted authors form a roll call similar to lists for the Miles Franklin Award, the Stella Prize, and the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards; names associated with the award include novelists represented by publishers such as Picador Australia, Allen & Unwin, and Text Publishing. Shortlists have featured writers who also appear in other major lists like the Man Booker Prize longlists or the Commonwealth Writers Prize shortlists, creating overlaps with authors connected to Scribner, Bloomsbury, and regional institutions such as the Melbourne Writers Festival and the Sydney Writers' Festival.
Judging follows protocols similar to panels convened for the Miles Franklin Award and the Prime Minister's Literary Awards, relying on independent judges drawn from networks linked to universities like the University of Melbourne, the Australian National University, and the University of Sydney as well as critics from outlets including The Australian Financial Review, The Weekend Australian, and The Monthly. The process involves publisher submissions from houses such as Penguin Random House Australia and assessment criteria that echo debates in forums like the Australian Book Review and seminars at institutions like the State Library of Victoria.
The award has been discussed in relation to feminist interventions in literary culture alongside commentators such as Germaine Greer, Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, and journalists from The Age and Sydney Morning Herald. Its influence extends to recognition patterns observed in the Miles Franklin Award and the Stella Prize, shaping publicity for winners through festivals including the Melbourne Writers Festival and media appearances on ABC Radio National and panels at the Sydney Writers' Festival. Reactions from publishing houses like Allen & Unwin and advocacy organisations such as Women’s Electoral Lobby have contributed to debates about representation in Australian letters, paralleling discussions around prizes like the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction and international comparisons with awards including the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award.
Category:Australian literary awards