Recognition
Winner - The Ford Memorial Prize, 2021
Poem - "They Cannot Say Their Thoughts" (or, If Cohen sang Oodgeroo)
The Ford Memorial Prize was founded in 1916 by a gift of $200 from the Queensland United Licensed Victuallers' Association in memory of Lieutenant S.K. Ford and Corporal T.W. Ford, brothers, both of whom lost their lives in the defence of the Empire.
The award is open to undergraduate students who have not been twice awarded the prize. The best poem in English (published or unpublished) will be selected as the winner. The value of the prize varies each year and is designated as books. Read More
Winner - The Next Chapter, 2020
Sponsored by the Wheeler Centre, Sharlene was one of ten recipients of the 2020 Next Chapter. Each year, they pick ten outstanding writers and give them $15,000 each to develop their work. They match them with a mentor, bringing their writing to life, connecting recipients with other writers, publishers, booksellers and readers – providing guidance and training through that experience. Read More
Winner - EWF At Home Residencies, 2020
From over 650 applications, Sharlene was one of six recipients of the EWF At Home Residencies, a program that supports emerging writers by offering time and financial assistance to work on their craft. Read More
Long Listed - Mascara Varuna Writers’ and Editors’ Residency, 2023
The inaugural Mascara Varuna Writers’ and Editors’ Residency was an exciting opportunity for four emerging or established writers who identify as First Nations or CaLD with a manuscript they are wanting to develop. The Mascara Literary Review in partnership with the Varuna, The Writer’s House, the Copyright Agency and the Adès Family Foundation, announced Sharlene as one of ten long listed writers. Read More
Highly Commended - Varuna First Nations Fellowship, 2022
This prestigious program started in 2017, established with the support of The Copyright Agency Cultural Fund. Each year, six fellowships are awarded to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers from anywhere in Australia.
This fellowship program is open to writers of all genres of fiction, narrative non-fiction, poetry, children's books, graphic novels, dramatic/screen writing, writing for radio, translation, young adult, essays or short fiction. Read More
Highly Commended - Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship, 2020
The mentorship is awarded to an unpublished Indigenous writer who has made substantial progress on a fiction or non-fiction writing project. The purpose of the program is to support the writer as they develop their manuscript and seek publication, pairing them with a senior Indigenous writer for a structured year-long mentorship. Read More
Shortlisted - Overland Writing Residency, 2019
Generously supported by the Malcolm Robertson Foundation, the Overland writing residencies aim to address a lack of opportunities for underrepresented writers. The 2019 program had two categories: women writers who are the sole primary carers of one or more children, and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander writers at any stage of their writing careers.