Sponsored by Trinity College at the University of Melbourne, the Nakata Brophy Prize for Young Indigenous Writers, established in 2014 and now in its eleventh year, recognises the talent of young Indigenous writers across Australia.

First prize includes $5000, an optional writing residency at Trinity College, and publication of the successful piece in Overland. The prize alternates between poetry and short fiction each year.

In 2025, first prize has been awarded to the best short story by an Indigenous writer who is 35 years or younger at the closing date of the competition. Two runner-up prizes have also been awarded.

After careful consideration, judges Mykaela Saunders and Evelyn Araluen have selected first place and two runners-up to form the final results of this year’s Nakata Brophy Prize! Congratulations to Susie Anderson, Kyrah Honner, and Isabella Eichler-Onus.    

FIRST PLACE

Susie Anderson, ‘the claimant‘

Susie Anderson is Wergaia/Wemba Wemba writer of prose and poetry from regional Victoria. Her writing uncovers layers of place and culture and has been published as curatorial text, exhibition reviews, artist interviews, essays and poetry. Susie’s collection the body country was shortlisted for the 2023 Victorian and New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards. She is a 2025 Sydney Review of Books Emerging Critic and is currently working on her first novel.  

Our judges say: “In this powerful work, Anderson weaves together multiple perspectives and points of vision: parabolic in shape, the story begins with an elder readying herself for an important meeting, then cuts to a white real estate developer reminiscing on his settler-colonial family history, then to the musings of a tree once chosen to give its skin for a canoe. The story holds so much history expertly and challenges expectations of resolution or closure. This piece feels like it’s brimming with potential for each thread to be followed and explored in great depth. The writing is so sharp, fresh and spectral – and fills us with excitement for Anderson’s future in prose.”      

RUNNERS-UP

Kyrah Honner, ‘Country Keeps You’

Kyrah Honner is a proud Birri Gubba and Luritja writer based in Meanjin on Yuggera and Turrbal Country. She enjoys exploration of the uncanny in her writing and loves to understand the psyche of characters and why they do what they do. Above all, Kyrah values the amplification of Indigenous voices. She has been newly minted into the world of editing and has been lucky enough to work with black&write!, UQP, and Griffith Review.  

Our judges say: “In ‘Country Keeps You’, two cousins come together after their Nan’s funeral to camp out on Country while navigating challenges of youth, grief, family, connection and how to read a map. A thrilling story that moves between tenderness, humour and bush horror.”

Isabella Eichler-Onus, ‘PYROPHYTE’

Isabella Eichler-Onus is a proud Gunditjmara writer living in Naarm. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Creative Writing at the University of Melbourne. She has published poetry with Red Room Poetry and Voiceworks, and has been involved in events with the Melbourne Writers Festival, YIRRAMBOI, and the Wheeler Centre. Her work explores themes of identity, cultural connection and the intricate relationship between land and body. You can find her @bellieeichler on Instagram.

Our judges say: “‘Pyrophyte’ is a bittersweet journey through memory and culture. On a dark and lonely night in the bush, Jarra discovers an extra shadow joining him. This moving piece is full of beautiful language and imagery that captures the spirits that refuse to leave us or the land.”  

Congratulations again to the above writers! The winning short story will be published in Overland soon.