Best Australian Yarn: In Conversation with Sharleigh Crittenden

In Conversation: First Nations Storytelling with Sharleigh Crittenden

Join Sharleigh Crittenden, winner of the inaugural First Nations Storytelling Prize, as she discusses the excitement of being in the Best Australian Yarn Top 50 nationally, winning the First Nations Storytelling prize, her experience and the publishing opportunity which has arisen as a result of her short story River Fish. 

Poised to graduate from her Bachelors of Arts and Law, Crittenden has been plummeted into the world of Indigenous storytelling and publishing, this discussion explores the importance of Indigenous storytelling and the journey of a budding Indigenous author.

Join her for a conversation on the personal and professional perspectives of winning the award, and what it means for her and the future of Indigenous storytelling through her eyes.

The Speaker

Sharleigh Crittenden is a Wiradjuri woman and the inaugural winner of the First Nations Storytelling Prize in the Best Australian Yarn competition. Following her win, she was awarded a creative grant from Indigenous publisher Magabala Books to draft her debut novel manuscript. She has completed her final year of law at the University of New South Wales and won the 2023 John Koowarta Reconciliation Law Scholarship. 

The Host

Emma Garlett is a Nyungar-Yamatji-Nyiyaparli woman who applies an Indigenous lens to current issues and seeks to educate others to bring them on a journey of reconciliation to make a better Australia for all. Emma is passionate about justice, law reform and ensuring First Nations people are involved in decisions which affect them. She is an Adjunct Professor, director, lawyer and columnist.

More Information

The Best Australian Yarn, is Australia's most popular short story competition. Entries are now open and close August 12.

AN ESTEEMED PANEL OF INDIGENOUS WRITERS WILL JUDGE THE FIRST NATIONS STORYTELLING PRIZE, PROFESSOR KIM SCOTT, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR ELFIE SHIOSAKI, LAST YEAR’S INAUGURAL FIRST NATIONS STORYTELLING PRIZE WINNER, SHARLEIGH CRITTENDEN AND INDIGENOUS ADVOCATE AND COLUMNIST ADJUNCT PROFESSOR EMMA GARLETT.