photo courtesy of author
Yvette Holt (60 works by)
Born: Established: 31 Jan 1971 Brisbane Queensland ;
Gender: Female
Heritage: Aboriginal; Aboriginal Bidjara Nation

BiographyHistory

Yvette Holt is a member of the Bidjara and Wakaman Nations of central and far north Queensland (Atherton Tablelands). She grew up in the Brisbane community of Inala, where her family have lived for more than forty years.

A graduate from the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), Yvette has a degree in Adult Education & Community Management (Business). In 2003 Yvette received the UTS Human Rights Award in the category of Reconciliation for 'her outstanding contribution towards the elevation of social justice for Indigenous Australians.' She currently researches Indigenous Australian literature (Black Words subset) at AustLit: The Resource for Australian Literature and also lectures in Aboriginal Women's Studies at the University of Queensland.

Yvette holds a keen interest in social justice and leadership and development for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, she speaks nationally and internationally on family and domestic violence, mentors youth and homelessness and facilitates community workshops on writing and Indigenous Australian literature.

In 2005 Yvette won the David Unaipon Award (Queensland Premier's Literary Award) for an Unpublished Indigenous Australian Author. Her collection of poetry titled Anonymous Premonition was published by the University of Queensland Press in 2008.

Currently (2011) Yvette is a regular columnist for the National Indigenous Times, with her column Holt...who goes there?

Awards

2003 UTS Human Rights Awards Reconciliation Award For outstanding contribution to reconciliation and to the advancement of social justice and human rights for Indigenous Australians.

Awards for Works

Anonymous Premonition , 2008 poetry selected work 'Winner of the 2005 David Unaipon Award, Anonymous Premonition gives the low-down on what it is to be an Indigenous woman today. Her collection of startling and fresh poems treats us to an energetic and unconventional journey from love, sex, empowerment and travel to motherhood and family, activism and grief.' (Source: Publisher's blurb)
2010 winner The Kate Challis RAKA Award
2008 winner Victorian Premier's Literary Awards Prize for Indigenous Writing
2008 nominated Deadly Sounds Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music, Sport, Entertainment and Community Awards Outstanding Achievement in Literature
2008 winner Scanlon Prize for Poetry
2005 winner David Unaipon Award