Prizes John has won or been shortlisted for include:
- John Tierney Literary Prizes (NSW Education system)
- Blake Poetry Prize
- David Campbell Poetry Prize
- Newcastle Poetry Prize
- The Rosemary Dobson Prize (ACT)
- Woorilla Prize for Poetry.
- ACT Writing and Publishing Awards 2015 - Best Poetry Book of the Year - Fire in the Afternoon.
- Longlisted for The University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor's International Poetry Prize 2014
- Longlisted for the Montreal International Poetry Prize 2015
- Won one prize and was shortlisted for another for the Redroom Country and Rochford Street Review 2016
http://www.blakeprize.com/galleries/the-blake-poetry-prize?yr=2009
- Blake Poetry Prize
- David Campbell Poetry Prize
- Newcastle Poetry Prize
- The Rosemary Dobson Prize (ACT)
- Woorilla Prize for Poetry.
- ACT Writing and Publishing Awards 2015 - Best Poetry Book of the Year - Fire in the Afternoon.
- Longlisted for The University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor's International Poetry Prize 2014
- Longlisted for the Montreal International Poetry Prize 2015
- Won one prize and was shortlisted for another for the Redroom Country and Rochford Street Review 2016
http://www.blakeprize.com/galleries/the-blake-poetry-prize?yr=2009