About Us

We’re the Victorian Branch of the Children’s Book Council of Australia. We support the charter of the CBCA Ltd and provide a Victorian-centric resource for children’s book information.

You can find all the latest news about CBCA VIC Branch, event information, interesting articles, book reviews, and important milestones here on our website, and via our monthly newsletter.

If your school or library has any programs coming up, or you’ve had a recent success, perhaps you would like to contribute a post. Just get in touch!

Our purpose is to enrich young lives through Australian stories.

Our vision is to see a thriving creative world embracing the transformational power of stories, across generations.

Our mission is to connect, communicate, celebrate, and advocate for the value of stories.

2024–2025 CBCA Vic Branch Committee

Management Committee

President – Jo Panckridge
Secretary – vacant
Treasurer – Geraldine Woolnough (also Public Officer)

General Committee

Ngaire Brown
Robyn Burke
Michael Earp
Karys McEwen
Marissa Kyriakopoulos
Kate O’Donnell
Anne-Louise O’Donoghue, representing The Geelong College

Jo Pentony
Julia Petricevic
Leanne Rands
Ruth Thatcher
Erin Wamala, representing The Kids’ Bookshop
Annette Wright

Membership

The CBCA and the VIC Branch welcomes memberships. Your participation helps to support and promote the Australian children’s literature industry and our key national programs, such as the Book of the Year Awards and Shadow Judging.

Membership is open to all! We offer rates for individuals, familes, schools and educational institutions.

There are many great benefits of a VIC Branch membership. They include:

Regular curated updates on children’s literature events and news
Discounted or free entry to CBCA VIC Branch events including CBCA Judge’s Talks and author talks
Opportunities to participate in Shadow Judging
Access to member-only information and resources via CBCA National website
Free members-only events, e.g. Night of the Notables
The Leila St John Award, awarded annually to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to children’s literature in Victoria
Information from Victorian regional groups, who organise local activities
Discounts at participating bookshops

Download a CBCA membership form today, then forward your application to us by email: [email protected].

2023/2024 Membership rates:

Individual $65 (Adults, teachers and librarians)
Concession $40 (Health care card holders, students and seniors’ card holders, authors & illustrators)
Institutional $93 (Schools, public libraries, booksellers, publishers and other interested institutions)
Family Membership $74 (1–2 adults plus children under 18)

If you have any enquiries, please contact us!

Life Membership

Honorary Life Membership is an honour coveyed on members for exceptional service to the Victorian Branch of CBCA over many years in the areas of:

Leadership
Innovation
Length of service

Current life members:

Ann Haddon
Margot Hillel
Ann James
Virginia Lowe
Christine Oughtred
Kay Sagar
Geraldine Woolnough

Awards Foundation Benefactors

Major Donors

Australia Post · Jill B Bruce · Sandy Campbell · CBCA ACT Branch · CBCA SA Branch · CBCA VIC Branch · CBCA WA Branch · Era Publications · Five Mile Press · Libby Gleeson AM · Bob Graham · Hachette Children’s Books Australia · Hardie Grant Egmont · HarperCollins Publishers Australia · Ipswich District Teacher-Librarians' Network · The James N Kirby Foundation · Kinross-Wolaroi School · Koala Books · The Library Board of Queensland · Robin Moncrieff Morrow AM · Angela Namoi · Northern Territory Government · Parents & Boys at Sydney Grammar Edgecliff Prep School · Penguin Books Australia · Random House Australia · Emily Rodda (Jennifer Rowe AC) · Gillian Rubinstein · SA Dept of the Arts & Cultural Development · Gail Spiers · Myrtle Spiers · Cathie Tasker · University of Queensland Press · Julie Vivas · Walker Books Australia · Margaret Wild · Sue Williams