https://www.whitlam.org/the_program/what_matters_writing_competition/what_matters_2017What Matters? 2017 NSW/ACT
The What Matters? competition is run annually by the Whitlam Institute within Western Sydney University. What Matters? is a writing competition that gives year 5 – 12 students in NSW, the ACT and Tasmania a chance to speak out about what matters to them in society today.
What actions do you think should be taken to build a better society?
What would you change if you could?
What do you want other people to care about?
How to enter
Write a 400-600 word opinion piece on what matters to you and why. Entries must be typed on A4 paper. Strictly one entry per student. All entries must be accompanied by a signed entry form. Entry forms are available from your teacher or can be downloaded below.
Closing date
Friday 5 May 2017.
What Matters? 2017 NSW/ACT competition poster
NSW/ACT What Matters? 2017 Entry Form
NSW/ACT What Matters? 2017 Judging Criteria
Student Prizes
Prizes are awarded in 4 categories: Years 5/6, 7/8, 9/10 and 11/12.
$350 for each category winner and $200 for each category runner-up. Winners and runners-up will receive their prize at an awards ceremony, following their participation in a Young Writers Forum run by The Writing Workshop, at the Whitlam Institute.
The Years 5/6 and 7/8 category winners and runners up will each receive a full-day creative writing workshop donated by The Writing Workshop, conducted by award-winning author Bernard Cohen.
The Year 9/10 category winner will be invited to spend a day at ReachOut.com, meeting the team and receiving professional training. They will also be offered the opportunity to be paid $200 to produce a feature article for the ReachOut.com website.
The Year 11/12 category winner will receive a 1 Year Membership to The NSW Writers' Centre and the opportunity to participate in a one-day writing workshop* donated by The NSW Writers' Centre.
As a new prize in 2017, WestWords (Western Sydney's Literature Development Organisation for Young People) will offer one lucky school the chance to host an author at their school**. The school prize will be randomly drawn from the shortlisted entries from NSW/ACT, which will be announced in June. The winning school will be invited to liaise with WestWords to determine which author would suit their students best.
Overall Competition Winner
The overall competition winner, announced at the awards ceremony, will receive an iPad and a trophy. In 2017, for the first time, the overall winner will also be invited to spend a day*** at the Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD) at Old Parliament House in Canberra – meeting a curator, getting behind the scenes and contributing their voice to MoAD's programs.
The overall competition winner will be selected from finalists in NSW, ACT and What Matters? Tasmania.
All entrants will receive a certificate of participation.
Australian Competitions Club
