Our Story

YABBA is a not-for-profit volunteer-run incorporated organisation working to bring Australian books alive for children.

Our ultimate goal is to have children Recommend, Read, Rate and Reward their favourite Australian books.

The Young Australians Best Book Awards (YABBA) were established in 1985 by a group of Victorians keen to see children engage in reading Australian books. Run by a volunteer committee, our goal after all these years is still the same.
We seek to give children a voice within the Australian children’s book industry.
The YABBA Awards encourages children to recommend recently published Australian books, read all the recommendations for their peers, rate them against all others, and finally reward the book they feel is best.
Our final goal is that whilst engaging children in this process, the wider children’s book industry hears the voice of the very people they are writing for – the children! We facilitate this message delivery through the connection of authors and illustrators to the children via shortlist announcements and the annual awards ceremony.

Meet the YABBA Council

Matthew Zbaracki

PRESIDENT | YABBA ONLINE CO-HOST
Matthew is the State Head of Victoria in the National School of Education with Australian Catholic University. He loves being a part of YABBA—seeing what books children choose and working with different authors and illustrators. He also loves reading humorous children’s literature.
Michelle Nye

YABBA ONLINE HOST
Michelle has been a member of the YABBA Council for 8 years and president for 4 years. Michelle is a believer in the power of student voice and YABBA gives our young readers exactly that! As a passionate educator, she has spent twenty-four years helping her students to develop an awareness of Australian authors and illustrators.
Michelle Bentley

TREASURER | MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR | CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER
Michelle is an IT consultant specialising in change, she lives for finding the best ways to make technology work for everyone. Science fiction is her favourite reading and she tries her best every day to put science fiction references in to meetings and PowerPoint presentations.
Maria Carnovale

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Maria is a communications professional with a passion for storytelling. Her love of children’s books began when she had her son and realised the importance of reading to children from a young age, and with them as they develop. Her goal is to see as much of the world as possible and to one day write her own children’s book.
Abigail Cini

SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
Abigail Cini is a Publishing Assistant and Editor in children’s book publishing. As a part of YABBA, she delights in seeing what books children are reading and their favourite picks. In her free time, Abigail likes to bake, go to the cinemas and explore walking trails.
Liv Lorkin

WEBSITE DIRECTOR
Liv Lorkin is a heart-led children's book author and illustrator. Since packing books underneath her bed as a child, she’s loved reading, writing and colouring outside the lines. When not creating, you can find her looking for magical clovers, bird spotting, or enjoying a sweet treat or two.

Join or Donate to show your support.

As a membership-based not-for-profit organisation, we seek the support of schools and libraries across Victoria in providing the financial resources necessary for this vital work.
Join or donate today to show your support!

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From the Authors

“I love the YABBA Awards! They're the thing I look forward to the most."

Andy Griffiths
“It's a huge,huge reward to be acknowledged by the actual readers you are writing for!"

Felice Arena

YABBA Past Presidents

Being the YABBA President is both an honour and an enormous workload. We acknowledge these people's incredible contributions and dedication as past YABBA Presidents.

BEATRICE FINCHER
President: 1985 – 1992

GRAHAM DAVEY
President: 1993 – 2013

DAVID LINKE
President: 2013 – 2020