SCBWI Australian Picture Book Illustrator Awards 2025
The SCBWI Australian Picture Book Illustrator Awards recognise the talent of Australian children’s illustrators in visual narrative for picture books and graphic novels from early childhood to young adult. The Award is managed by SCBWI Australia East and is funded by the Copyright Agency.
There are two categories – Established and Emerging Illustrator Awards for Australian illustrators with prize money to assist an illustrator with the creation of a new visual narrative picture book or graphic novel:
Established Illustrator Award for Australian Illustrators
Established illustrators, defined as those with four or more picture books or graphic novels that are already published by any publisher that meets SCBWI’s best practices criteria as a PAL publisher. The successful applicant will win an award of $8,000 to assist with the creation of a new picture book or graphic novel. Second prize is $4,000 and third $2,000. In addition, there can be up to four Highly Commended prizes of $600 each.
Emerging Illustrator Award for Australian Illustrators
Emerging illustrators, defined as those with between one and three picture books or graphic novels that are already published by any publisher that meets SCBWI’s best practices criteria as a PAL publisher. The successful applicant will win an award of $1,000 to assist with the creation of a new picture book or graphic novel. In addition, there can be up to one Highly Commended prizes of $600 each.
The awards can be used to help cover living expenses, travel and research costs, art materials, costs associated with training in a traditional technique, new technology, writing, design or layout, or costs associated with working with experts in identified areas of need including writing, editing or art methods.
All award winners will be asked to present at an online session for 10-12mins about an aspect of their process and give tips and advice for other creators keen to enter the awards.
PAL stands for ‘Published and Listed’. When a publisher of books for children and young adults meets SCBWI's best practices criteria, it is considered a PAL publisher. To find SCBWI’s PAL Publisher guidelines CLICK HERE.
Key dates
Applications open: 1 May 2025
Applications close: 1 July 2025
Notification of results: by 1 September 2025
How to Apply for the Award
If you wish to apply for this Award, please read the Guidelines and the FAQs before preparing your application. The links for the online applications are in the Guidelines.
IMPORTANT: Only one application will be considered from each eligible illustrator. Please do not submit multiple times or attempt to update your submission.
Guidelines
Who can apply?
To be eligible to apply under one of the two sub-categories, you must:
be a current financial member of SCBWI. Please check your membership status and expiry date before applying: Main SCBWI website >Member Home>My Profile>Membership Details
be published by any publisher that meets SCBWI’s best practices criteria as a PAL publisher.
be aged 18 or over on 1 May 2025
be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
must not have received a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place financial award from the SCBWI Picture Book Illustrator Awards that immediately preceded this one
satisfy one of the following publication requirements (see FAQs for definitions):
Established illustrators may apply if they have four or more children’s picture books or graphic novels published by any publisher that meets SCBWI’s best practices criteria as a PAL publisher by one week after the close of the application date 1 July 2025.
Emerging illustrators may apply if they have between one and three children’s picture books or graphic novels published by any publisher that meets SCBWI’s best practices criteria as a PAL publisher by one week after the close of the application date 1 July 2025.
What types of projects can be applied for?
1. This award is designed to support illustrators in the creation of new picture books. For the purposes of this award, the definition of a picture book is a sequential visual narrative which is told through either illustrations and words, or through illustrations alone. This definition includes graphic novels. In terms of this definition, educational readers, chapter books or any other narratives for younger or older readers which are primarily text with some accompanying illustrations are not considered to be picture books.
2. Illustrators may apply for assistance to work on:
a specific phase or phases of the creation of a new picture book
a work of fiction or non-fiction
a wordless picture book.
3. In cases where projects contain written and illustrative material, the illustrator applicant may also be the writer or may be illustrating the work of a separate writer.
4. The book project you want to propose for the award should be an idea that you want to develop to submit to publishers. The project should not be contracted with a publisher at the time of the closing date for submissions, but it is acceptable if the book is contracted during the time that judges are deliberating and before the announcement of winners.
5. Illustrators may submit only one application. Please choose what you consider to be your best or most promising project when you apply. Multiple submissions from illustrators will not be accepted. Please do not submit the same application multiple times or attempt to update your submission.
What types of projects cannot be applied for?
Applications to illustrate the translation of a literary work are not eligible.
Applications to illustrate works solely written in languages other than English are not eligible.
What should I submit?
1. A completed application
Complete the online application for the suitable sub-category (see FAQs for definitions). Ensure that you have answered all questions and uploaded all supporting material before submitting the application. Illustrators may submit only one application and to only one category. Please do not attempt to update your application by submitting it again. Multiple submissions will not be accepted.
Established Illustrators—CLICK HERE for online application — Applications open 1 May 2025
Emerging Illustrators—CLICK HERE for online application — Applications open 1 May 2025
2. Your publication history
Upload an attachment of one A4 page pdf that demonstrates your eligibility to apply for a particular sub-category by listing your previously published works, including the following details:
Titles of works published
Authors of works published, i.e. whether you are both the illustrator and the writer of the work. [Co-created works where an applicant has contributed at least 50 per cent of the work and where that work can be precisely identified will be accepted as evidence of eligibility.]
Publisher, date and place of publication.The publisher must meet SCBWI’s best practices criteria as a PAL publisher.
Extent (length) of book(s), i.e. the number of pages each book has.
Document should be a maximum of one A4 page using 12-point Times or similar font, single line spacing. Please note there will be a maximum file size as indicated on the application form. The PDF should be titled with your name and “Publication History” eg YourName_PublicationHistory.pdf
3. Description of your project
Upload an attachment of no more than two A4 pages in a pdf format, including the following details:
a synopsis or draft storyline of your project. This may be submitted in the form of a storyboard if you wish. Storylines/storyboards do not need to be complete, however they do need to sufficiently explain your project.
an explanation of why you are applying for this grant and how you would use the funding, e.g. to support exploring new directions, for particular research, to develop new skills and techniques etc. You do not need to submit a budget but you do need to state what you want to do, how you propose to do it and why a grant would help you.
Please refer to the FAQ ‘What costs can the grant be used for?’ for more information.any other information you feel would assist us in understanding your project. This may include a description of ideas, themes, feelings or concepts, as we recognise that visual stories don’t necessarily begin with a finished manuscript.
For more information, see the selection criteria listed under the heading ‘How will my application be assessed?’
Document should be a maximum of two A4 pages using 12-point Times or similar font, single line spacing. Please note there will be a maximum file size as indicated on the application form. The PDF should be titled with your name and “Project Description” eg YourName_ProjectDescription.pdf
4. Portfolio
A portfolio of up to ten different examples of your illustrations. Where possible, colour examples should be submitted. These examples do not need to relate to your project directly, but should demonstrate your skills as an illustrator.
Images should be compiled into one pdf document consisting of 10 pages plus one cover page with your name and contact details. Please note there will be a maximum file size as indicated on the application form. The PDF file should be titled with your name and “Portfolio” eg YourName_Portfolio.pdf
5. Previously published book
You must submit one published work that complies with the PAL guidelines on which you wish to be assessed. This must be submitted as a PDF as we cannot accept hard copies of books. Your previously published work will be used to determine how well you can create a visual narrative, therefore you should submit a complete picture book (need not include the cover or endpapers) or at least 20 pages of graphic novel. The PDF should be titled with your name and some part of the name of the book eg YourName_BookName.pdf
6. Support Material
You should submit a range of support material which best demonstrates your project and illustrative style. Support material may include:
visual or written text related to the project
character and setting sketches
images as samples of content, medium and style
reference/inspirational material
storyboard and/or dummy
Supporting material should be a compiled into a pdf document consisting of up to10 A4 or A3 pages. Please note there will be a maximum file size as indicated on the application form. Title with your name and appropriate descriptive title(s). eg YourName_DescriptiveTitle.pdf
Notes:
You must be a current financial member of SCBWI but there is no additional application fee. Please check your membership status and expiry date before applying: Main SCBWI website >Member Home>My Profile>Membership Details
Please ensure that all supporting materials include your name within the material and include your surname as part of your file name.
Please note that each pdf will have a maximum file size that is indicated on the application form.
Please be mindful that all applications, portfolios and supporting material will be viewed digitally.
All care will be taken but SCBWI Australia East cannot take any responsibility for loss, damage or non-arrival of applications.
The Judges and SCBWI Australia East reserve the right not to issue an award in any given year.
How will my application be assessed?
Applications will be assessed against the following selection criteria:
originality of the intended project
creativity of the intended project
artistic and literary merit of the applicant’s body of work (assessed on grounds of stylistic and thematic achievement as demonstrated by portfolio and support material)
ability of applicant to create an excellent narrative with a significant visual component (as demonstrated by portfolio and support material) which may be textual and visual, or visual alone (wordless)
Assessors will not be available to provide comments or feedback on individual applications. A report will be prepared by the assessment panel and made available on the SCBWI website once successful applicants have been notified.
Application checklist
Before you prepare your application:
Read the guidelines carefully
Check your eligibility
Read the FAQs
Check your SCBWI membership status and expiry date: Main SCBWI website >Member Home>My Profile>Membership Details
Before you submit your application, check that you’ve included:
A document listing your publication history in pdf format
A document with a description of your project in pdf format
Support material, including a previously published work in pdf format
Portfolio of images in pdf format
Ensure that you have answered all questions and uploaded all supporting material before submitting the application.
IMPORTANT: Only one application will be considered from each eligible illustrator. Please do not submit multiple times or attempt to update your submission. Multiple submissions will not be accepted.
FAQs
Funding and Budgets
What costs can the grant be used for?
Awards may be used for one or more of the following purposes, if and as they relate directly to the nominated project:
living expenses (including childcare and studio costs)
travel and research costs
art materials or new technology
to train in a traditional technique, new technology, writing, design, layout etc.
to work with experts in identified areas of need including writing, editing, art method etc.
Awards cannot be used for self-publishing costs.
Do I need to submit a budget with my application?
No, but you do need to have a strong understanding of what you would use the award for and why it would help you with your project. See ‘What should I submit?’ in the Guidelines for more information.
Are there conditions attached to acceptance of an award?
Applicants who are published following receipt of an award agree to acknowledge the support of SCBWI Australia East and the Copyright Agency in all work published as a result of the award. If you are a successful applicant, you will be issued with a contract stating the terms which you agree to. You will be required to provide the SCBWI Australia East with an invoice, so payment of your funding can be made. Because of tax requirements, if you are a successful applicant, we recommend Australian winners obtain an ABN. Please note that Awards are GST free. All recipients of the SCBWI Australian Picture Book Illustrator Award are required to submit a report once they have completed their funded project.
Definitions
How do you define ‘book’?
For the purposes of this Award, a book is a print publication with an ISBN (International Standard Book Number). All eligible books must be published by any publisher that meets SCBWI’s best practices criteria as a PAL publisher.
How do you define ‘picture book’?
For the purposes of this Award, the definition of a picture book is a sequential visual narrative which is told through either illustration and words, or through illustrations alone. This definition includes graphic novels. In terms of this definition, educational readers, chapter books or any other narratives for younger or older readers which are primarily text with some accompanying illustrations are not considered to be picture books. See ‘What types of projects can be applied for?’ in the Guidelines.
What is a PAL Book or a PAL Publisher?
PAL stands for ‘Published and Listed’. When a publisher of books for children and young adults meets SCBWI's best practices criteria, it is considered a PAL publisher. To find SCBWI’s PAL Publisher guidelines CLICK HERE.
Eligibility
I’m an illustrator collaborating with an author/writer. Can I apply for the project we’re working on?
Yes. You are eligible if you’re an author/illustrator, or an illustrator. The Award money will only be given to the illustrator.
I’m a writer of children’s picture books, not an illustrator. Am I eligible to apply for this Award?
No. This Award is specifically for illustrators.
I’m an unpublished illustrator. Can I apply for this grant?
No. In order to be eligible, you need to have had at least one children’s picture book or graphic novel published by any publisher that meets SCBWI’s best practices criteria as a PAL publisher.
I’m a published children’s literature author who’s developing my skills as an illustrator. Am I eligible to apply?
Only if you meet the minimum requirement of being the illustrator of at least one PAL published picture book or graphic novel.
Do I need to be a member of SCBWI Australia East or SCBWI Australia West to apply?
Yes. See ‘Who can apply?’ in the Guidelines for more information. To check membership status and expiry date: Main SCBWI website >Member Home>My Profile>Membership Details
Determining whether a book can count towards your publication history
Can self-published or digital-only books count towards my list of published works?
No, eligible books cannot be digital-only and the publisher of any books included on the list must be published by any publisher that meets SCBWI’s best practices criteria as a PAL publisher. Please see ‘What should I submit?’ in the Guidelines for more information.
Can graphic novels count towards my list of published works to support my eligibility?
Yes they can, because they consist of a sequential visual narrative. ‘Sequential visual narrative’ means that the illustrations are fundamental to telling the story.
Can early childhood board books count towards my list of published works to support my eligibility?
Yes, a board book is a subgenre of the picture book that is designed for the youngest of children.
Can educational readers count towards my list of published works to support my eligibility?
No, they can’t. Only books which convey a sequential visual narrative can be used to count towards your publication quota.
Can spot illustrations and cover illustrations count towards my list of published works to support my eligibility?
No, they can’t. You must have contributed to at least 50% of any co-created work, in order for it to count towards your publication quota. Only books which convey a sequential visual narrative can be used to count towards your publication quota.
If a book isn’t published but is under contract to a publisher, can I use it to count towards my publication quota?
No, only PAL books published by one week after the close of submission 1 July 2025 can be used to count towards your publication quota.
Thank you to Liz Anelli for creating the gorgeous artwork for the awards!
