Vikki Conley is an award‑winning Australian children’s book author whose stories celebrate nature, wonder, freedom and adventure. Growing up on a farm in South Gippsland, Victoria—surrounded by mountains, forest and coastline—she developed an early fascination with the natural world and language. Today she lives in Eltham, Victoria, near rivers and gumtrees, and often searches for platypus near her home.
For more than twenty years Vikki has worked in professional writing, marketing, journalism and photography, working with communities in Australia, Asia and Africa. During a decade with World Vision, she traveled extensively, collecting stories from children in remote and challenging contexts. These experiences inform her gentle, thoughtful storytelling.
Vikki’s picture books frequently go beyond simple tales: they explore themes such as habitat conservation, resilience, mindfulness, cultural diversity and refugee experiences. Her titles include Little Puggle’s Song, Amira’s Suitcase, On the Way to School, and the most recent, Where the Lyrebird Lives. That last title earned her the prestigious 2023 Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Award for Early Childhood. Amira’s Suitcase received a CBCA Honour Book distinction and Little Puggle’s Song was a CBCA Notable Book. Another title, On the Way to School, was shortlisted for the 2023 Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year.
Vikki’s work has been adapted into immersive multimedia experiences. In 2022–2023 she toured with Orchestra Victoria, narrating a musical performance of Little Puggle’s Song at sold‑out venues across metro and regional Victoria. A second tour involving the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra is scheduled for 2024. Her community collaborations include inclusive story art sessions focused on children with disabilities, created in partnership with libraries, vision support groups and local arts grants.
Writing about characters who discover their own voice, explore unfamiliar places or navigate life’s unexpected journeys, Vikki creates stories full of curiosity and emotional resonance. She is a gifted communicator both on the page and in live events such as school visits, where she brings her adventurous life and writing insights to inspire young readers and budding storytellers.
In every book she seeks to inspire children to wonder, connect with nature, and build empathy for others—encouraging a lifelong love of reading and learning.
