Magabala titles Big, Big Love by Lisa Fuller, illustrated by Samantha Campbell, and Compassion by Julie Janson have won 2025 ACT Literary Awards. 

Big, Big Love won the Children's Literature Award, with judges Will Kostakis and Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern commenting:

"There is such a warmth to Big, Big Love. Fuller's text captures a mother's unconditional love, and is made to be read aloud to a child. The words pair beautifully with Campbell's illustrations that bring early motherhood and Aboriginal traditions to life."

Compassion won the Fiction Award, with judges Adrian Caesar and Ayesha Inoon commenting:

"Compassion is a powerful novel that delves into the enduring trauma and resilience of First Nations people. Through vivid storytelling and deeply human characters, Janson conveys the immense sorrow and injustice experienced by Aboriginal communities. This is a moving and necessary book - one that confronts historical and ongoing wounds with honesty, grace, and a fierce sense of truth."

Refugia by Elfie Shiosaki was also highly commended in the Poetry category, with judges Paul Hetherington and Maya Hodge commenting:

"At times lyrical, at other times making inventive use of archival material, this volume addresses eddying historical issues. It is an extraordinary exploration and reimagination of Nyoongar culture and the beeliar waters in Perth, and a resonant and powerful recuperation of memory as a means of addressing twenty-first-century colonial legacies."

Read more about the 2025 ACT Literary Awards winners here.