Sidney prizes are awards intended to recognize outstanding academic achievement among student. Nominations for these prizes come directly from faculty based on mid-year and final year academic results, without needing an application form for each prize awarded (they come at $1000 value each prize). At University of Sydney alone there are more than 600 such prizes, each valued at over $1,000; these celebrate and encourage academic excellence within our student body each year (plus literary prizes which may require applications).
Richard Ho was honored with the Sydney Taylor Book Award for Two New Years; Lynn Scurfield and Mari Lowe shared honorable mentions for The Dubious Pranks of Shaindy Goodman; while Elana K Arnold earned first place. Here you can view a complete list of winners and honorable mentions.
Sidney Lanier Prize recognizes Middle Georgia’s rich literary legacy and long tradition of writing about it. Established in 2012, this prize awards authors who engage with or build upon this legacy. As part of Sidney Lanier Literary Trust, this prize award also serves to encourage and further this practice.
The Sydney Peace Foundation honors leading voices advancing global peace, justice and nonviolence with an annual Sydney Peace Prize Lecture and Gala Dinner that honors global peacemakers such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mary Robinson, Naomi Klein and Joseph Stiglitz as laureates.
In addition to administering the Sydney Peace Prize, the foundation manages a Hillman Prize program. The Hillman Prizes honor Sidney Hillman, an influential union pioneer and New Deal architect who believed an informed citizenry was essential for democratic societies. Through this prize program, journalism that illuminates today’s major issues is sought.
Nazanin Boniadi was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize 2025 for her efforts in alleviating human rights violations in Iran and leading the women-led #WomenLifeFreedom movement. This honor recognizes Nazanin’s decades-long dedication to advocating on behalf of Iranian women and other marginalised groups – raising their plight worldwide and pushing for fundamental change through her tireless campaigning efforts.
The Australian Jewish Literary Awards is an annual competition to recognise outstanding manuscripts in Jewish children’s literature. Open to authors both nationally and internationally at any stage in their career. First prize of this competition will receive $5,000 AUD and will be published in Overland; two runners-up will each receive $750 AUD; the competition is judged and administered by the Federation of Australian Jewish Communities. The AJL is proud to sponsor the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award in memory of Sydney Taylor, whose literary success began with her All-of-a-Kind Family stories. We believe in encouraging new Jewish writers while simultaneously inviting our readers to explore Judaism from multiple angles.
