Debra Dank

{{Short description|Australian writer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}{{Use Australian English|date=June 2023}}

{{Infobox writer

| name = Debra Dank

| alma_mater = Deakin University

| notable_works = We Come With This Place

| awards = New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards

{{Plainlist|

• Book of the Year
• Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction
• UTS Glenda Adams Award for New Writing
• Indigenous Writers' Prize

}}

| image = Debra Dank.jpg

| caption = Dank at the 2023 NSW Premier's Literary Awards

| occupation = Memoirist

| citizenship = Australia

}}

Debra Dank is an Australian writer who won an unprecedented four prizes at the 2023 New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards.

Dank is a Gudanji woman who completed a Master of Education{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-02-07 |title=Our graduates – 2015 |url=https://www.deakin.edu.au/students/student-life-and-services/indigenous-students/nikeri/graduates |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=Deakin University |language=en}} and graduated with a PhD in narrative theory and semiotics at Deakin University in 2021.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-01 |title=Debra Dank for The Stella Shortlist |url=https://thegarretpodcast.com/debra-dank-for-stella-shortlist/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=The Garret |language=en-AU}}

Dank adapted her award-winning book, We Come With This Place, from work towards her PhD thesis.{{Cite news |last=Dow |first=Steve |date=2023-05-22 |title=Debut author Debra Dank breaks records at NSW premier's literary awards |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/may/22/significantly-shocking-debut-author-debra-dank-breaks-records-at-nsw-premiers-literary-awards |access-date=2023-06-03 |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |date=2023-04-05 |title=We Come With This Place: Debra Dank on her debut and what comes next |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2023/04/05/229006/we-come-with-this-place-debra-dank-on-her-debut-and-what-comes-next/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |publisher=Books+Publishing}} She was encouraged by her supervisor to shape the book without chapters to allow what she described as "nonlinear storying as it exists in my community".

At the New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards, Dank won an unprecedented four awards, the Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction, UTS Glenda Adams Award for New Writing, the Indigenous Writers' prize and capped it off by winning the overall Book of the Year.{{Cite news |last=Jefferson |first=Dee |date=2023-05-22 |title=One book just won a record four out of 14 prizes at $350,000 NSW literary awards |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-22/nsw-premiers-literary-award-winners-debra-dank-indigenous-memoir/102375926 |access-date=2023-06-03}}{{Cite web |last=Knowles |first=Rachael |date=2023-05-23 |title=Debra Dank uses history-making literary win to call out fracking on her Country |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/gudanji-wakaja-made-history-at-nsw-premie/i6d2x3dqo |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=NITV |language=en}} She also won the ALS Gold Medal in 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-05 |title=Dank's 'We Come with This Place' wins ALS Gold Medal |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2023/07/05/233721/danks-we-come-with-this-place-wins-als-gold-medal/ |access-date=2023-07-10 |publisher=Books+Publishing}}

Dank's book was included on the 2022 Prime Minister's Summer Reading List, compiled by the Grattan Institute.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-24 |title=Announcing Grattan Institute's 2022 Prime Minister's Summer Reading List |url=https://grattan.edu.au/news/announcing-grattan-institutes-2022-prime-ministers-summer-reading-list/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=Grattan Institute |language=en-AU}} In 2023 it was shortlisted for the Stella Prize.{{Cite web |last=Lamond |first=Julieanne |date=2023-04-26 |title=Stella Prize shortlist 2023: your guide to 6 gripping, courageous books |url=http://theconversation.com/stella-prize-shortlist-2023-your-guide-to-6-gripping-courageous-books-202958 |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=The Conversation |language=en}} At the Queensland Literary Awards it won the Nonfiction Book Award{{Cite web |date=2023-09-05 |title=Winners of the 2023 Queensland Literary Awards announced |url=https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/98623 |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=Media statements |publisher=Queensland Government}} and was shortlisted for the Queensland Premier's Award for a Work of State Significance and the People's Choice Queensland Book of the Year Award.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-02 |title=Queensland Literary Awards 2023 shortlists |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2023/08/02/234999/queensland-literary-awards-2023-shortlists/ |access-date=2023-08-02 |publisher=Books+Publishing}} It was also shortlisted for the Nonfiction Award at the 2023 Prime Minister's Literary Awards.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-26 |title=Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2023 shortlists announced |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2023/10/26/239949/prime-ministers-literary-awards-2023-shortlists-announced/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |publisher=Books+Publishing}}

An extract from We Come With This Place was included in a 2023 NSW Higher School Certificate examination.{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Christopher |date=2023-10-11 |title=HSC students stumped by apricots in first English exam |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/hsc-students-stumped-by-apricots-in-first-english-exam-20231011-p5ebgw.html |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}

{{As of|2023|May}}, Dank is a lecturer in Indigenous studies at the University of the Sunshine Coast.