Background
The Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award is Waverley Council’s annual celebration of the best in Australian research-based literature. Submitted works are judged against the specific award criteria of excellence in research, high level of literary merit, readability and value to the community. Entries are open to all Australian writers regardless of their experience, chosen subject matter or genre.
Winners are decided by an independent panel of three judges, each bringing a different spectrum of experience from across the literary sector.
Established in 2002 as The Waverley Library Award for Literature, this prestigious prize has so far distributed more than $500,000 directly to deserving Australian authors. The Nib Award is well-loved and respected by both Waverley residents and the wider literary community and remains the only award program of its kind presented by an Australian local government authority. In 2025, the Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award offers a total $53,000 prize money, including a $40,000 major prize.
Other prizes include:
- Alex Buzo Nib Shortlist Prize (6 x $1,500 prizes)
- The Nib People’s Choice Prize ($4,000 prize)
The Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award is made possible through the generous support of principal sponsors Mark & Evette Moran, and community partner Gertrude & Alice Bookstore Café Bondi.
Role
Council seeks a new judge to join the Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award Judging Panel.
Term
This position is offered for a three-year tenure covering the 2025, 2026, 2027 award programs. The judging cycle typically spans from mid-April until October each year. A new judge is appointed to annually, replacing the third year judge from the previous year, to complete the panel of three.
Responsibilities
The incoming judge will join the established judging panel to determine which nominations best meet the Nib Award-specific criteria; identifying a longlist, shortlist, and eventual major prize winner in the timeframe allocated.
Nib Award Judges also participate in the Nib Advisory Group (NAG), a consultative panel of representatives from across the publishing and literary industry, community representatives and other key program stakeholders including Waverley Council.
Commitment
Throughout the tenure period, the incoming Nib Literary Award Judge is required to commit to:
- Remaining impartial and objective and adhering to the Nib Award Conflict of Interest disclosure process.
- Adhering to Waverley Council’s Code of Conduct, Social Media Policy, and the Nib Award Conflict of Interest Policy.
- Attending and contributing to Nib Advisory Group (NAG) and Judges’ meetings, remotely or in person. NAG meetings are held quarterly. Judges may gather 3-4 times between June and October.
- Attending the Award ceremony annually for the term of engagement.
- Promoting and supporting the Nib Literary Award program.
- Maintaining confidentiality.
Guidelines
Established Nib Award Judging Process Guidelines direct the role of Nib Award Judges. As special term temporary staff, Nib Award Judges are also guided by Waverley Council’s Staff Code of Conduct, Staff Social Media Policy, and the Nib Award Conflict of Interest Policy.
Pay An honorarium of $3,000 (+GST if applicable)/year is offered for this role. Paid annually.
Diversity and inclusion
Waverley Council encourages and promotes an open, tolerant, and inclusive community.
Waverley Council is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and we encourage applications from people from diverse groups, including, but not limited to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people; people from culturally diverse backgrounds; young people; older workers; people with disabilities; LGBTIQ people; and other under-represented groups.
Submissions
Interested applicants are asked to supply a short statement (limited at 350 words), or to complete the optional action as listed, in response to each of the following:
- A short biography detailing background and experience as an author, academic, literary critic, or book industry professional.
- Upload a CV to support the supplied response above.
- A description of advocacy, or willingness to become an advocate, for research, literature, and Australian publishing.
- Interest in joining the judging panel.
- Judging criteria for the Nib Award includes high literary merit, quality of research, readability and value to the community. Please supply the title of a recent (last 5 years) literary work, which you feel best fulfils this criterion. You may wish to add brief comments.
- Values in relation to diversity and inclusion.
Application process
Submit your expressions of interest via the online form at:
https://www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/recreation/arts_and_culture/nib
The successful applicant will be contacted no later than 30 April 2025.
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