Where to submit a middle grade or young adult manuscript for publication in Australia (August 2026 edition)
First, congratulations on finishing your manuscript. That’s a huge achievement in itself. If you are going down the path of aspiring trad published author, and you don’t have an agent, here are your unsolicited submission options as of 2026.
Wondering if you need to find a literary agent?
Before submitting, you must ensure your manuscript and supporting material meet strict criteria, which may be different for each publishing house. You must also be confident that your manuscript is in its best possible shape – you might only get one shot at getting this publisher to lay eyes on it.
Notes:
This list will be updated as new info comes to hand. Have I missed any?
I haven’t included publishers like Scholastic because as far as I know they never open up to unsolicited submissions.
All of these publishing houses specify that you are an Australian resident.
Multinationals
Hachette Australia
Head office: Sydney
What they want:
Junior, middle grade, YA and children’s non-fiction
How to submit:
Submissions are open year-round via the Hachette Australia Submissions portal. You need to send a cover letter, a 300-word synopsis and your full manuscript.
When will you hear back?
If we are interested in pursuing the project, we will contact you within six weeks of receipt of submission. If you have not heard from us within this timeframe then we have decided not to take your manuscript further.
Harper Collins Australia
Does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. You will need to get an agent to submit on your behalf.
Pan Macmillan Australia
Head office: Sydney
What they want:
Children’s/YA fiction and non-fiction
How to submit:
2026 Winter and Spring submission windows are open in the months of July and October. Submissions must be directed to a specific publisher by name, so you need to research the individual publishers and what they are looking for.
Direct submissions are handled through the Pan Macmillan Australia Submissions portal. You must include a 50-page writing sample, an elevator pitch, and a 250-word synopsis.
When will you hear back?
Our submission will be read within six weeks, and you will be contacted if you are successful. If you do not hear from us, unfortunately it means we do not wish to take your pitch further.
Penguin Random House Children’s Division
Head office: Melbourne
Submissions currently closed with no info on when they will open.
Text Publishing
Office: Melbourne (now owned by Penguin Random House)
“Text Publishing is a Melbourne-based publisher of literary and commercial fiction and non-fiction.”
What they want:
Junior-fiction and middle-grade manuscripts should be between 10,000 and 80,000 words. Adult and young-adult manuscripts should be between 40,000 and 120,000 words. There is no word count requirement for graphic novels.
How to submit:
Check the Text Publishing Submissions Guidelines to upload your work including a cover letter, synopsis and first three chapters.
When will you hear back?
It takes approximately three months for submissions to be considered, and it may be longer depending on the volume of submissions. You will be advised by email when your submission has been considered.
Affirm Press
Office: Melbourne (now owned by Simon & Schuster)
“Affirm Press is dedicated to publishing great Australian stories, big ideas, and the most engaging local and international authors.”
Not currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts.
Walker Books
Office: Sydney
“For more than thirty years, Walker Books Australia has been the home of beautiful, high-quality and award-winning picture books, fiction and non-fiction.”
We are not currently accepting submissions from un-agented writers.
Australian independent publishers
Allen & Unwin
Head office: Sydney
What they want:
For beginner readers, aged 5–7, word length 5,000–10,000
For confident readers, aged 7–9, word length 10,000-25,000
For middle-grade readers, aged 10–13, word length 25,000–50,000
For young adult readers, aged 14+, word length 50,000–100,000
How to submit:
Despite its name, The Friday Pitch is open all week! Use their ongoing Allen & Unwin Children's Submissions program. You must email a completed title information sheet, a 300-word synopsis, and your first chapter.
When will you hear back?
Should Allen & Unwin wish to pursue your project, we will be in contact with you via email within the month. Note that we do not send individual acceptance or rejection letters. If you do not hear from us, please assume that we do not wish to pursue your manuscript for our lists.
Black Inc Books
Office: Melbourne
“Founded in 2000, Black Inc. is an independent Australian publisher of quality non-fiction and fiction books, based in Melbourne.”
Not currently accepting middle grade or YA submissions.
Ford St Publishing
Office: Melbourne
“Publishing high quality books for children and young adults.”
What they want:
Submissions open for manuscripts children’s and YA. YA novels should be around the 50,000+ word length, with graphic novels the only exception.
How to submit:
Please post a hardcopy manuscript to address on submissions page.
When will you hear back?
Allow up to six months for a response. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience with this timeframe. Please note that we do not discuss manuscript submissions over the phone, nor will we enter into correspondence if a manuscript is declined.
Fremantle Press
Office: Fremantle
“Fremantle Press welcomes unsolicited manuscripts from authors of Western Australian origin or whose main place of residence is Western Australia.”
What they want:
Stories must have a strong connection to Western Australia.
How to submit:
Electronically via Submittable – access through their submissions page.
Note: Unsolicited manuscripts for fiction, narrative non-fiction and short stories are now closed. They will reopen 1 October 2026 to 12 December 2026.
When will you hear back?
We will acknowledge receipt of your manuscript and will endeavour to review all submissions within ten weeks. Please check your junk mail folder during this time. If there is interest in your submission, you will be contacted within this period.
Hardie Grant
Office: Melbourne
“Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing is the young readers’ division of one of Australia’s largest independent publishers. We are the home of bestselling, award-winning and ground-breaking stories for young people, and people young at heart.”
Hardie Grant Children's Publishing is currently closed for unsolicited submissions. Follow us on social media to be the first to hear about any future submission opportunities.
Hawkeye Publishing
Office: Brisbane
“Hawkeye Publishing is a Brisbane-based independent publisher elevating Australia’s culture, writers, and stories. We provide high-quality editorial support, national writing competitions, and a publishing pathway for stories that deserve to be read.”
What they want:
Young adult fiction
How to submit:
Trade contract submissions are currently closed.
Author-assisted contract submissions (where Hawkeye Publishing and the author share publishing costs 50-50. The author receives 50% royalties of net profit. )
We accept unsolicited submissions for author-assisted contracts from January 19 to February 15 and June 1 to June 30 each year.
Follow the instructions on the submission page to email a one-page synopsis, one-page marketing plan, plus the first three chapters.
When will you hear back?
You may only hear from us if you are shortlisted for publication. Shortlisted authors usually hear from us within three months.
Larrikin House
Office: Melbourne
“Larrikin House has been publishing books that kids love since 2019. We have an unwavering commitment to creating quirky, edgy, original, funny kid-focused books that push boundaries. We believe in the importance of engaging readers at an early age, and we believe in fun!”
What they want:
Middle grade fiction (ages 9–13) no more than 1000 words (sample)
Young adult fiction (ages 13+) no more than 1000 words (sample)
We are not accepting graphic novels or junior fiction at this time.
How to submit:
Submissions will be open for 24 hours on 1 June 2027. Follow the instructions on their submission page.
Other ways you can submit a manuscript:
Join one of our Pitch Parties or Larrikin House events.
Invest in a manuscript assessment or mentorship program, where you get the chance to submit anytime.
Via an agent.
If you book a pitch or assessment with us at a conference.
When will you hear back?
If you haven’t heard from us after three months, please understand that we won’t be moving forward with your manuscript.
Magabala Books
Office: Broome
“Magabala Books is Australia’s leading First Nations publishing house. Aboriginal owned and led, we celebrate and nurture the talent and diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices.”
What they want:
Magabala Books is an Indigenous publishing house. If you are a non-Indigenous author your submission to Magabala Books will not be considered.
How to submit:
Currently closed for submissions.
Midnight Sun
Office: Adelaide
“MidnightSun Publishing is a new and exciting publishing company based in Adelaide, Australia. We believe that books matter.”
What they want:
Middle grade and young adult
How to submit:
Open from 1st – 7th of each month.
Please follow instructions on their submissions page to email the first 20 pages only plus synopsis and cover letter.
When will you hear back?
If we love what we read, we will be in touch by email to request a hard copy of the full manuscript to be sent to our office. Please be aware it may take 3–6 months for us to get back to you about your submission.
New Frontier Publishing
Office: Sydney
New Frontier was established in Australia in 2002 with the motto ‘to inspire, educate and uplift children’.
What they want:
Our expertise is in primary school age books.
For beginner readers, aged 5-8, word length 5,000-10,000
For confident readers, aged 7-10, word length 10,000-30,000
For middle readers, aged 11-14, word length 30,000-55,000
How to submit:
Send your cover letter, summary and full manuscript as per submission guidelines.
When will you hear back:
If you have not heard from us after four months then unfortunately your submission has been unsuccessful.
Perentie Press
“Visual stories that unleash imagination.”
Submissions open for graphic novels only.
Rhiza Press
What they want:
Rhiza Press publishes children's fiction up to the end of primary school through the Wombat Books imprint.
Wombat Books (junior & middle grade for ages 6–12):
Junior fiction word lengths 7000–25,000 words
Middle fiction word lengths 20,000–55,000 words
Rhiza Edge (YA imprint):
YA length: 45,000 to 85,000 words
A full 2-page synopsis.
A maximum of 1000 words of your first two chapters. A full manuscript is not required for your pitch letter. Our aim is to save authors time by giving feedback immediately on whether your manuscript idea is one Rhiza Edge is looking for (before you even complete the story).
Please note: We will not accept submissions with explicit violence, sex scenes, horror or excessive swearing.
How to submit:
Submissions will open during certain windows – follow their social media for updates.
Submit online following the Wombat Books Children's Fiction Guidelines.
Riveted Press
(previously known as Yellow Brick Books)
“From picture books to middle grade fiction and beyond, Riveted Press publishes unforgettable stories by Australian authors and illustrators.”
Note: soon to be acquired by Rhiza Press as of 1 Oct 2026
Office: Brisbane
Acquires most books via assessments and pitching events.
UQP
Office: Brisbane
“The University of Queensland Press is an Australian publishing house based in Brisbane, Queensland. Founded in 1948 as a traditional university press, UQP now publishes books for general readers across fiction, non-fiction, poetry, children's and young adult.”
Not currently accepting submissions.
Wakefield Press
Office: Adelaide
“We love good stories and produce beautiful books.”
What they want:
Currently not accepting books for readers under 12.
How to submit:
Send cover letter, 200-word synopsis and full manuscript via email (details on submissions page).
When will you hear back:
If you do not receive a response from us within three months of submitting your work, please assume that we have decided not to pursue publication of your manuscripts.
Three fatal errors that will get your manuscript binned
Imagine you are a publisher with an overflowing inbox and never enough time. You are looking for reasons to say no to a manuscript and move on to the next. Don’t give the publisher an easy out – avoid these simple mistakes:
The submissions package doesn’t include what has been asked for. Follow each individual publisher’s directions to the letter, including formatting and strict word-count instructions.
The manuscript is littered with typos and grammar errors. This shows it is at an early stage, hasn’t been self-edited and hasn’t been shown to any friends/beta readers/critique groups or professional editors. The manuscript needs to be as polished as you can make it to give it its best shot.
The beginning of the story is flat. The publisher isn’t going to read on to find the good bit. It needs to grab the reader from the very first line.
I’m here to help. Check out my services and let’s chat about how we can lift your manuscript up to the next level before you press submit.