https://www.whitlam.org/what-mattersThe Whitlam Institute’s national writing competition is now open for students in Years 5-12!
This is an opportunity for young writers to express what truly matters to them—whether through fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or prose. In 600 words or less, students can share their perspectives and be in the running to win fantastic prizes, including books, cash awards, and unique, money-can’t-buy experiences.
Allen & Unwin is offering a special prize of $1,000 to the finalist in Years 5-8 who best showcases their passion for storytelling. This prize will be awarded to an entry that demonstrates strong narrative skills, originality, and takes the reader on a compelling journey.
Entries close 16 May 2025.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
Entrants must be undertaking Primary or Secondary education in Australia (or an Australian International School) in any year from Year 5 to Year 12 at the time of submitting their entry;
Entries should comprise of one original written work of up to 600 words in prose or poetry, either fiction or non-fiction; and
Student name and identifying details must not appear in the body of the essay or essay title as entries are anonymously marked.
COMPETITION PERIOD
· Commences: Tuesday, 11 February 2025 – 12.00pm AEST.
· Closes: Friday, 16 May 2025 - 11.59pm AEST.
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ENTRIES
One entry per person per year.
HOW TO ENTER
During the Competition Period, entrants must go online and follow the directions to complete the online entry form;
Entrants must register their details, including (but not limited to) name, year group, school and parental/teacher contact details. By providing this information, entrants agree to being contacted by the Whitlam Institute and to the Whitlam Institute contacting the parents and/or teachers named in the online entry form; and
Entrants must submit an original written work of up to 600 words.
WHAT ARE THE PRIZES?
Prizes are awarded for each category: Year 5/6, Year 7/8, Year 9/10, and Year 11/12.
Sponsored Awards are dependent on the agreement between the organizer and Sponsor.
For more information about the prizes, please visit What Matters? Prize Pool Page.
PRIZE WINNER NOTIFICATIONS
The shortlist will be published on
https://www.whitlam.org/what-matters in July each year.
The award finalists will be notified by email and/or telephone by the beginning of September each year.
HOW ARE THE ENTRIES JUDGED?
All entries are grouped into categories for judging. The categories are Year 5/6, Year 7/8, Year 9/10, and Year 11/12; and
Sponsored Awards have their own judging categories – according to the sponsor’s discretion.
MARKING
Marking is conducted by qualified Primary and Secondary School Teachers. There are two preliminary rounds of marking before the shortlist is established:
Preliminary Round 1 – Each marker reads entries allocated to them and nominate entries to go to the second round and
Preliminary Round 2 – Markers create a shortlist from the entries selected.
JUDGING
The judging process for the shortlisted entries is conducted in two stages by Industry Professionals and those who excel in their field of work.
Stage 1 – Judges select winners and runners up for each respective category; and
Stage 2– Judges are provided with the entry of each category winner from which they select the overall winner.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Entry into the What Matters? Writing Competition is deemed acceptance of these terms and conditions. Information relating to the What Matters? Writing Competition, including the above Schedule, form part of the Terms and Conditions for the What Matters? Writing Competition.
The Whitlam Institute may vary these Terms and Conditions from time to time at its sole discretion.
Eligibility to enter the What Matters? Writing Competition is subject to the Entry Requirements.
To enter the What Matters? Writing Competition, entrants must complete the process outlined in the online entry form at
http://www.whitlam.org/what-matters. Any entry received outside of the Competition Period will be deemed invalid.
Incomprehensible and incomplete entries will be deemed invalid. No responsibility is accepted for late, lost, delayed, or misdirected entries.
Shortlisted entries will be reviewed for plagiarism using Turnitin (or a similar software). Plagiarised entries will be disqualified from the competition.
The Whitlam Institute’s decisions are final and there will be no further correspondence with students or their representatives about the results of the What Matters? Writing Competition.
Winners will be notified in accordance with the Prize Winner Notification details.
All Prizes are as depicted or described on What Matters? Prize Pool Page and are not transferable.
The Whitlam Institute does not accept responsibility for any loss, damages, or injury incurred as a consequence of entering the What Matters? Writing Competition or in connection with taking up the Prizes.
Once Prizes have left the Prize Supplier’s premises, no responsibility is taken for Prizes damaged, delayed, or lost in transit.
All entries must be the original independent creation of the entrant and must not infringe any third-party rights. Entries must not have been published previously and/or have been used to win prizes in any other competitions.
Except for any liability that cannot be excluded by law, the Whitlam Institute (including its officers, employees, and agents) excludes all liability (including negligence), for any personal or permanent injury or loss of life; or any loss or damage (including loss of opportunity); whether direct, indirect, special or consequential, arising in any way out of the promotion.
The Whitlam Institute wants to understand ‘what matters’ for young Australians so that they can amplify the voices of young people and to advocate for their needs. To help increase understanding of issues that are important to young people, the Whitlam Institute engages in research study, from time to time, on the submissions to the What Matters? Writing Competition. By entering the What Matters? Writing Competition, entrants consent to their submissions being used for potential research purposes including the anonymous reproduction of parts of their submissions.
Entrants, their parents or carers, teachers, or other representatives who prefer not to have an entry included in the Whitlam Institute's research can choose to opt out at any time. To do so, they need to send an email to the What Matters? Writing Competition at
whatmatters@whitlam.org, with their request. They do not need to provide a reason for choosing not to participate in any current or future research study. Choosing not to participate in the study will not affect an entrant’s chances of winning the competition. Being part of any research study is completely voluntary and in no way connected to the outcome of the competition.
By entering this competition, entrants agree that they may be contacted by Whitlam Institute staff or researchers for interviews. Participating in any interview is entirely voluntary.
Entrants consent to their full name, year group, and school being used on
https://www.whitlam.org/what-matters should they proceed to the shortlist.
The Whitlam Institute may use entries submitted to this competition in part or in full and the names and details of entrants for promotional, marketing, research and publicity purposes related to the competition on the Whitlam Institute’s online and social media platforms.
By entering this competition, entrants acknowledge that personal information provided in connection with this competition may be used by the Whitlam Institute in accordance with the Western Sydney University Privacy Policy.
By entering this competition, the entrant provides the Whitlam Institute within Western Sydney University (ACN 100 342 309) and Western Sydney University (ABN 53 014 069 881) a licence to reproduce, publish, and communicate the whole or part of their entry for the purpose of administration, promotion, and research related to the What Matters? Writing Competition.
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