Best of Australian Poems 2025

Best of Australian Poems 2025 is an annual anthology that collects both previously published and unpublished poems, creating a poetic snapshot and barometer of the year that was. Capturing the richness and diversity of Australian poetry from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025, the series, now in its fifth year, explores how poetic responses to the contemporary moment develop with each passing year.

The book begins with introductory words and framing by its 2025 editors, Nam Le and Jill Jones, who are multiple award-winning and highly respected poets, authors, and editors. Both Jill and Nam enjoy the highest reputations in their literary vocations. Jill is one of the longest-standing Australian poets renowned for her enduring innovation and prodigiousness, with her New & Selected, Acrobat Music, published in 2023. Nam's 2008 short-story collection, The Boat, was seen to restore the genre to the centrestage, garnering national and international attention. His debut poetry book, 36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem, won Book of the Year (2024) at the NSW Literary Awards, while also gathering a range of other commendations and award listings, including for the ALS Gold Medal.

Previous editors of this prestigious series have included Ellen van Neerven and Toby Fitch (2021); Jeanine Leane and Judith Beveridge (2022); Panda Wong and Gig Ryan (2023); and Kate Lilley and Shastra Deo (2024).

The Best of Australian Poems (BoAP) series is published by Australia's national poetry organisation, Australian Poetry, and features two different guest editors each year to amplify the range of voices selected. It is funded by Creative Australia, Creative Victoria, and individual patrons.