Nadia Wheatley author page

Nadia Wheatley biography

Nadia Wheatley is an Australian writer known for her work in children’s and young adult literature, as well as for her contributions to biography and history. She began her writing career in the late 1970s and has published across a range of genres, including picture books, novels, and non-fiction.

Wheatley’s first novel, Five Times Dizzy, was published in 1982. The book is recognised for its depiction of multicultural life in Australia and has been used widely in schools. She followed this with a sequel, Dancing in the Anzac Deli, in 1984. Her picture book My Place, illustrated by Donna Rawlins and published in 1987, explores Australian history through the stories of children living in the same place over a period of 200 years. My Place has been included in educational curricula and has received several awards.

In addition to fiction, Wheatley has written biographies and historical works. Her biography The Life and Myth of Charmian Clift was published in 2001. She has also collaborated with artist Ken Searle on projects such as Going Bush (2007), which documents a cross-cultural environmental education programme.

Wheatley’s work has been recognised with numerous awards and honours. In 2014, she received the Australia Council Award for Lifetime Achievement in Literature.