CREATIVE MIGRANT STORIES WINS MULTICULTURAL NSW AWARD

Minister for Multiculturalism Ray Williams presented Roanna Gonsalves with the Multicultural NSW Award at the 2018 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards.

Roanna Gonsalves was gifted with $20,000 prize money for her published collection of 21^st century immigrant stories titledThe Permanent Resident.

Mr Williams congratulated Ms Gonsalves for her dedication to telling stories that educate and challenge us to understand each other better.

“Literature can be a powerful means to highlight and express societal shifts,” Mr Williams said.

“And it can be a compelling way to translate what is felt by those on the fringe to support greater change at the grassroots.”

Ms Gonsalves said it was an honour to be recognised by the NSW Government for her contribution to Australian literature.

“I look forward to continuing to reimagining what it means to be Australian in the 21st century, and to help ensure our literary landscape portrays stories of our multicultural reality,” Ms Gonsalves said.

This year, 30 judges considered almost 600 entries across the awards program.

The judges noted Ms Gonsalves stories represented “an important facet of what is not just a migrant experience, but what is really an Australian experience.”

The award honours a creative work that deals with issues of multiculturalism, cultural diversity, or aspects of the Australian migration experience.

To find a list of the 2018 finalists and judges’ comments for the 2018 Premier’s Literary Awards, please go to:http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/about-library-awards/nsw-premiers-literary-awards