Calling all writers and artists!
Here is a list of competitions for writing and illustrating open to children aged 12 and under. The list will be updated as often as we can. (Note: most of these competitions will be open to Australian residents only.)
Some tips when it comes to entering competitions:
- Writing comps are a good way to hone your writing skills and to work to a deadline.
- If you don’t win, it doesn’t mean your work is bad—don’t lose heart, just keep at it!
- Many writing/art competitions have free entry for kids. If there IS an entry fee, check with your parent/guardian about whether it’s a reputable competition. (Some competitions ask you to pay large amounts of money to enter, or say it is free to enter but then want you to buy a book with all the ‘winners’ writing published. It’s usually a good idea to avoid those sorts of competitions.)
- Read all the entry conditions. And read them again! You don’t want to be disqualified for going over the word limit or missing the closing date.
- We list competitions here but we are not usually affiliated with those competitions and do not necessarily endorse them. You will need to check with a parent/guardian before entering.
Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival (Entries close 26 April 2024)
Open to students from Years 3 to 12 from the Mackay region.
Write a short story for the competition. See competition website for word limits in various age categories and details of prizes.
Check out the entry requirements
Laura Literary Awards (Entries Close 10 May 2024)
UPPER PRIMARY (11-12 yrs) Write a short story up to 800 words, Prize $25
JUNIOR (9-10 yrs) Write a short story up to 800 words, Prize $25
JUNIOR PRIMARY (5-8 yrs) Write a short story up to 500 words, Prize $15
ENTRY: FREE in the under 18s categories and entry form needs to be signed by parent/guardian/teacher to verify that the entry is the author’s own original work.
CJ Dennis Poetry Awards (Entries close 10 May 2024)
Write a poem with solid rhythm and rhyme, up to 60 lines maximum.
JUNIOR POETRY (9-12 yrs), Prize $25
JUNIOR PRIMARY POETRY (5-8 yrs), Prize $15
ENTRY: FREE in the under 18s categories and entry form needs to be signed by parent/guardian/teacher to verify that the entry is the author’s own original work.
What Matters? Writing Competition (Entries close 17 May 2024)
Open to students from Year 5 to Year 12 in Primary School or Highschool in Australia. Write a piece of fiction, non-fiction, poetry or prose on an issue of significance to you. (Word limit: 600 words maximum.)
ENTRY: FREE
PRIZES: Various. See competition website for details.
Check out the entry requirements
Shaun Tan Award for Young Artists 2024 (Entries open 29 April and close 20 May 2024)
This visual art award will open to Western Australian school students in years one to twelve and encourages imagination, innovation and creativity.
Check out the entry requirements when available
Dymocks Beyond Words Writing Competition (Entries close 31 May 2024)
Open to primary and highschool students across Australia.
Write a story between 500 and 1500 words on any subject you like.
ENTRY: FREE
PRIZES: Cash prizes in a number of different categories.
Check out the entry requirements
South Perth Young Writers Award (Entries close 2 June 2024)
Open to students of school age who live or go to school in the City of South Perth.
Entries must be prose (stories up to 1500 words). Poetry will not be accepted.
ENTRY: FREE
PRIZES:
- Shortlisted entrants are invited to attend a one-on-one workshop with award-winning local author Shirley Marr, who will provide tailored feedback on their stories.
- All finalists are awarded prizes up to the value of $150.
- All finalist entries will be published in the 2024 SPYWA Anthology. A copy of the Anthology will be gifted to each finalist and to their school library, and another copy is held in the City of South Perth Libraries collection.
Check out the entry requirements
CBCA WA Make Your Own Storybook Competition (Entries close 7 June 2024)
This competition is open to all WA students from Pre Primary to Year 8. Individual and school based entries accepted. See entry form for full details.
ENTRY: FREE
PRIZES: unspecified
Check out the entry requirements
Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards (Entries close 30 June 2024)
Open to students enrolled in an Australian education facility, including homeschooling. (Kindergarten to Year 12). Poems must be no more than 80 lines with no illustrations, graphics or decorations included. Poets are encouraged to take inspiration from wherever they may find it, however if they are looking for some direction, they are invited to use this year’s optional theme to inspire their entries: “Listen, I have an Idea”.
ENTRY: fees apply. See the Dorothea Mackellar entry requirements link below.
PRIZES: unspecified.
Check out the entry requirements
Better Read Kids ‘Bite Size’ Short Story Competition (closes 1 July 2024)
Write a short story on the theme of food, no longer than 300 words.
Entry: FREE
Prizes: All entries will be published in an anthology, with prizes for the winning entry in each age category. The winning entry in each category (6-9, 10-12 and 13-17) will receive a $100 ‘Better Read Than Dead’ voucher and two runners-up in each category will receive a $50 voucher.
Check out the entry requirements
Farrells Bookshop Kids’ Story Writing Competition (Entries close 21 July 2024)
Open to Mornington Peninsula residents only.
Entries may be in picture story, poetry or short story formats and must incorporate this year’s sentence prompt: “I closed my eyes and made a wish…”
Word limits apply to short stories and only entries within the limits will be read, so practice your editing skills!
ENTRY: FREE
PRIZES: Book vouchers plus publication on the Farrells Bookshop website.
Check out the entry requirements
Craig Silvey Award for Young Writers (usually closes in August)
[Formerly the Tim Winton Award for Young Writers]
Open to Western Australian students.
Keep an eye on the City of Subiaco website for more information.
The Golden Pen Storytelling competition (Entries close 26 August 2024)
Open to students in Western Australia in:
JUNIOR CATEGORY: Years 4-6
• MIDDLE CATEGORY: Years 7-8
• SENIOR CATEGORY: Years 9-12
Write fiction, poetry, memoir, comics, graphic novels, picture books or song lyrics for the theme ‘Rebels & Dreamers’. Whatever Rebels & Dreamers means for you, this is a challenge to be courageous and imagine something new.
ENTRY: FREE
PRIZES: book vouchers, cash, workshops, and a VIP trip to the Scribblers Family Festival
Check out the entry requirements
Beatrice Clarke Award for Young Poets (Entries close 31 August 2024)
Open theme, up to 40 lines.
ENTRY: $5
PRIZES: First Prize $100, Second Prize $50, Two Encouragement Prizes of $25 each
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