Johnson wins 2025 Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship
Writing NSW and Text Publishing have announced Yasmin Johnson as the 2025 winner of the Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship for her nonfiction manuscript exploring intergenerational storytelling set in Palm Island.
A writer and creative producer from Wulgurukaba Country in North Queensland, Johnson is currently based in Naarm (Melbourne). Her creative practice began in poetry.
According to organisers, she is currently exploring longer form narrative nonfiction, finding inspiration in her family’s past. Writing NSW added, ‘Her writing explores the layered intersections of culture, identity and memory, examining how these threads weave together, forming deep connections between individuals, families and Country.’
Johnson said of her win, ‘It means a great deal to have the story I’m developing recognised in this way. I’m hoping this mentorship will provide space to sharpen the manuscript and help me build greater clarity around my voice and where the story sits in the broader literary landscape.’
Wiradjuri writer, poet, critic and essayist Jeanine Leane (Dark Secrets: After Dreaming (AD) 1887–1961; Gawimarra, Gathering) was this year’s judge and will also mentor Johnson.
Discussing the manuscript, Leane said, ‘The author establishes their positionality as the teller with great sensitivity for the difficult story that they wish to tell. This piece has the potential to develop as a strong and poignant episodic, nonlinear book-length work of life-writing that focuses on continuance and resilience.’
Writing NSW and Text Publishing launched the annual mentorship in 2018, which is now awarded each year to a First Nations writer who has made significant progress on a fiction or nonfiction manuscript. The structured mentorship for the winner runs for one year, with further support and feedback provided by Text Publishing and Writing NSW.
Writing NSW CEO Sophie Groom said, ‘Writing NSW is thrilled to be presenting the Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship again in 2025 in partnership with Text Publishing and with the support of First Nations Australia Writers Network. Some brilliant writers have taken part in the mentorship in the past few years, and we can’t wait to read more of Yasmin’s fascinating family memoir and see how it develops over the course of the program.’
Text publisher Michael Heyward said, ‘Text is proud of its partnership with Writing NSW in support of the Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship. It has already helped create exciting career opportunities for emerging Indigenous Australian writers, and we hope it will continue to do so for years to come. We congratulate Yasmin, and all the writers, and look forward to seeing the outcome of this mentorship.’
Previous winners include Lenora Thaker for The Pearl of Tagai Town, John Morrissey for Firelight and Allanah Hunt, the first recipient of the mentorship in 2018, for Forever and Ever, her debut YA novel, which Text plans to release in early 2026.
More information about the mentorship is available on the Writing NSW website.
Category: Awards Local news
