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Dr Anita Heiss

Professor of Communications

Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement)
a.heiss@uq.edu.au
+61 7 336 56712

Overview

Dr Anita Heiss AM is a proud member of the Wiradyuri nation of central New South Wales and one of Australia’s most prolific and well-known authors publishing across genres including non-fiction, historical fiction, commercial fiction and children’s fiction. Anita’s children’s literature includes Who Am I? the diary of Mary Talence, Our Race for Reconciliation, Harry’s Secret, Matty’s Comeback, and Kicking Goals with Goodesy and Magic, co-written with Adam Goodes and Micheal O’Loughlin. She also wrote two kid's novels with students from La Perouse Public School - Yirra and Her Deadly Dog Demon and Demon Guards the School Yard.

Anita’s non-fiction works include Am I Black Enough for You?, Dhuuluu-Yala (To Talk Straight) – Publishing Aboriginal Literature, and as editor, Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia and The Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature which she co-edited with Peter Minter. Her adult fiction includes Not Meeting Mr Right, Avoiding Mr Right, Manhattan Dreaming, Paris Dreaming and Tiddas. Her novel Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms was shortlisted for the QLD Literary Awards, longlisted for the Dublin International Literary Prize and was the University of Canberra 2020 Book of the Year. Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray won the 2022 NSW Premier’s Literary Prize for Indigenous Writing, was shortlisted for the 2021 HNSA ARA Historical Novel (Adult Category) and the 2022 ABIA Awards, and longlisted for the 2022 Stella Prize. In 2004 Anita was listed in The Bulletin magazine’s “Smart 100”. Her memoir Am I Black Enough for You? was a finalist in the 2012 Human Rights Awards and she was a finalist in the 2013 Australian of the Year Awards (Local Hero). As an advocate for Indigenous literacy, Anita has worked in remote communities as a role model and encouraging young Indigenous Australians to write their own stories. On an international level she has performed her own work and lectured on Aboriginal literature across the globe at universities and conferences, consulates and embassies in the USA, Canada, the UK, Tahiti, Fiji, New Caledonia, Spain, Japan, Austria, Germany, China, India and New Zealand. Anita is a Lifetime Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, and a proud Ambassador of Worawa Aboriginal College, the GO Foundation and the Sydney Swans. Anita is a Professor of Communications at the University of QLD and is on the board of the National Justice Project, Aboriginal Art Co and Circa Contemporary Theatre.

Anita’s first play Tiddas, produced by La Boite Theatre had its world premiere at the 2022 Brisbane Festival.

Anita loves chocolate, running and being a creative disruptor.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Western Sydney

Publications

  • Other Outputs: Red dust running

    Heiss, Anita (Researcher, writer) (2023). Red dust running. Sydney, NSW, Australia: Audible Australia.

  • Other Outputs: Bidhi Galing (Big Rain)

    Heiss, Anita and Campbell, Samantha (2023). Bidhi Galing (Big Rain). Cammeray, NSW, Australia: Simon & Schuster.

  • Other Outputs: Avoiding Mr Right

    Heiss, Anita (2023). Avoiding Mr Right. Cammeray, NSW, Australia: Simon & Schuster.

View all Publications

Publications

Book

Book Chapter

  • Introduction to Charmaine Papertalk Green’s Nganajungu Yagu

    Heiss, Anita (2019). Introduction to Charmaine Papertalk Green’s Nganajungu Yagu. Nganajungu Yagu. (pp. 1-2) Melbourne, VIC Australia: Cordite.

  • Not all writers began as readers

    Heiss, Anita (2015). Not all writers began as readers. The simple act of reading. (pp. 99-109) edited by Debra Adelaide. North Sydney, NSW Australia: Random House.

  • Am I Black Enough for You? (excerpt)

    Heiss, Anita (2013). Am I Black Enough for You? (excerpt). Ora Nui: A collection of Maori and Aboriginal Literature. (pp. 61-67) edited by Anton Blank and Kerry Reed-Gilbert. Auckland, New Zealand: Anton\Blank#Limited.

  • Aboriginal Children's Literature: More than pretty pictures

    Heiss, Anita (2008). Aboriginal Children's Literature: More than pretty pictures. Just Words? Australian authors writing for justice. (pp. 102-117) edited by Bernadette Brennan. St Lucia, QLD Australia: UQP.

  • Indigenous book publishing

    Heiss, Anita (2007). Indigenous book publishing. Making Books: Contemporary Australian Publishing. (pp. 255-265) edited by David Carter and Anne Galligan. St Lucia, QLD Australia: UQP.

  • O is for o-literature

    Heiss, Anita (2005). O is for o-literature. The Ideas Book. (pp. 170-178) edited by Dale Spender and Phillip Adams. Brisbane, QLD Australia: UQP.

  • Aboriginal Identity and Its Effects on Writing

    Heiss, Anita (2001). Aboriginal Identity and Its Effects on Writing. (Ad)ressing Our Words: Aboriginal Perspectives on Aboriginal Literatures. (pp. 205-232) edited by Armand Garnet Ruffi. Penticton, BC Canada: Theytus Books.

Journal Article

Other Outputs

  • Red dust running

    Heiss, Anita (Researcher, writer) (2023). Red dust running. Sydney, NSW, Australia: Audible Australia.

  • Bidhi Galing (Big Rain)

    Heiss, Anita and Campbell, Samantha (2023). Bidhi Galing (Big Rain). Cammeray, NSW, Australia: Simon & Schuster.

  • Avoiding Mr Right

    Heiss, Anita (2023). Avoiding Mr Right. Cammeray, NSW, Australia: Simon & Schuster.

  • Not meeting Mr Right

    Heiss, Anita (2023). Not meeting Mr Right. Cammeray, NSW, Australia: Simon & Schuster.

  • Koori Princess

    Heiss, Anita (2022). Koori Princess. Broome, WA, Australia: Magabala Books.

  • Tiddas

    Heiss, Anita (2022). Tiddas. 2nd edn. ed. Cammeray, NSW, Australia: Simon & Schuster.

  • Tiddas

    Heiss, Anita (2022). Tiddas. Fortitude Valley, QLD, Australia: PlayLab.

  • Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (River of Dreams)

    Heiss, Anita (2022). Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (River of Dreams). Cammeray, NSW, Australia: Simon & Schuster.

  • I watched Cathy Freeman win gold at the Sydney Olympics. That moment still inspires me today

    Heiss, Anita (2020, 01 01). I watched Cathy Freeman win gold at the Sydney Olympics. That moment still inspires me today The Guardian

  • The surge in sales of Indigenous books Is heartening but education takes many forms

    Heiss, Anita (2020, 01 01). The surge in sales of Indigenous books Is heartening but education takes many forms The Guardian

  • Barbed wire and cherry blossoms

    Heiss, Anita (2017). Barbed wire and cherry blossoms. Cammeray, NSW, Australia: Simon & Schuster.

  • Kicking Goals with Goodesy and Magic

    Heiss, Anita (2016). Kicking Goals with Goodesy and Magic. Melbourne, Australia: Black Ink.

  • Matty's Comeback

    Heiss, Anita (2016). Matty's Comeback. Sydney, NSW: Scholastic.

  • Tiddas

    Heiss, Anita (2015). Tiddas. Cammeray, NSW, Australia: Simon & Schuster.

  • Deadly sins

    Heiss, Anita (2015). Deadly sins. South Melbourne, Australia: Affirm Press.

  • Harry's Secret

    Heiss, Anita (2015). Harry's Secret. Lindfield, NSW, Australia: Scholastic.

  • In the Arms of Another

    Heiss, Anita (2014). In the Arms of Another. Only connect: short fiction about technology and us from Australia and the Indian subcontinent. (pp. 207-217) edited by Meenakshi Bharat and Sharon Rundle. Sandy Bay: Brass Monkey Books.

  • Demon Guards the School Yard

    Heiss, Anita and Students of La Perouse Public School (2011). Demon Guards the School Yard. Melbourne, Australia: Oxford University Press.

  • Paris Dreaming

    Heiss, Anita (2011). Paris Dreaming. North Sydney, NSW, Australia: Random House.

  • Manhattan Dreaming

    Heiss, Anita (2010). Manhattan Dreaming. North Sydney, NSW, Australia: Random House.

  • Avoiding Mr Right

    Anita Heiss (2008). Avoiding Mr Right. North Sydney, NSW, Australia: Random House.

  • I'm Not Racist, But

    Heiss, Anita (2007). I'm Not Racist, But. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Salt Publishing.

  • Not Meeting Mr Right

    Anita Heiss (2007). Not Meeting Mr Right. Milsons Point, NSW, Australia: Bantam Australia.

  • Yirra and her deadly dog, Demon

    Heiss, Anita and Students at La Perouse Public School (2007). Yirra and her deadly dog, Demon. Sydney, Australia: ABC Books.

  • Me and My Mum

    Heiss, Anita (2003). Me and My Mum. North Sydney, NSW, Australia: Indij Readers.

  • Who Am I? The diary of Mary Talence: Sydney, 1937

    Heiss, Anita (2001). Who Am I? The diary of Mary Talence: Sydney, 1937. Sydney, NSW, Australia: Scholastic Press.

  • Token Koori

    Heiss, Anita (1998). Token Koori. Sydney, NSW, Australia: Curringa Communications.

  • Sacred Cows

    Heiss, Anita (1996). Sacred Cows. Broome, WA, Australia: Magabala Books.

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ORCID: 0000-0002-7145-331X

Scopus ID: 57203697165

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