| Year | Awards |
| 1989 | Australian Young Readers' Award – Highest Ranked Australian Author |
| 1990 | AWGIE - Australian Writers Guild Children’s Adaptation (TV) Round the Twist. |
| 1993 | AWGIE - Australian Writers’ Guild - Best Children's Adaption (TV) Round the Twist Episode 5 |
| 1993 | ABPA Joyce Nicholson Award - Spooner or Later - winner best designed children’s book of the year |
| 1993 | Angus & Robertson Bookworld Award - Children's Literary Medal - 'Best Selling Author' and 'Most Valued Author' |
| 1994 | Prix Jeunesse Award - Winner Round the Twist, Television Series |
| 1994 | Wilderness Society Environment Award for Children's Literature Picture Book - The Fisherman and the Theefyspray (shared with Jane Tanner) |
| 1995 | Order of Australia (AM) – Appointed Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours List for service to children's literature. |
| 1996 | Australian Publishers Association – APA People’s Choice Award |
| 1998 | Dymocks – Children’s Choice Award |
| 1998 | Christian Schools' Book Award |
| 1999 | Queensland Premier's Literary Award – Best Children's Book - Unseen! |
| 2000 | Dymocks - Favourite Australian Children’s Author |
| 2005 | Children's Language and Literature - Speech Pathology Australia |
| 2010 | Fellow of Monash University |
| 2019 | Lifetime Achievement Award – Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) |