Credit Nic Duncan
Kim Scott
Born in Perth in 1957, Kim Scott has established himself as a major figure in contemporary Australian literature.
A multiple award-winning novelist, Kim proudly identifies as Noongar — the Aboriginal people of south-western Australia. He is also a co-founder of Wirlomin Noongar Language and Stories (www.wirlomin.com.au), a community organisation behind several bilingual illustrated books (in Noongar and English), as well as regional performances combining storytelling and song, presented in schools and at community events.
His body of work, vast and deeply sensitive, explores themes of assimilation policy, memory, and resilience in depth. His major works have reached French-speaking audiences, notably That Deadman Dance, published in French as Bobby et le chant des baleines (Synchronique Éditions, 2026), an epic masterpiece recounting the cultural clash between the Noongar people and European settlers. This title followed Benang: From the Heart, published in French as Benang (Actes Sud, 2002); both works testify to his exceptional talent for bringing the voices of his ancestors back to life. Both books received numerous literary honours, including, on each occasion, the prestigious Miles Franklin Literary Award.
Kim is Emeritus Professor at the School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry at Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia.