Entry guide · Australia

VATE Writing Competition

A short-story challenge with separate junior, middle and senior secondary categories.

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Competition & entry information

Writing: Creative Writing
Location: VIC
Preparation level: Developing
Opportunity: Competition

Who can enter?

Years 7–12 at schools with current VATE membership; school submission caps apply.

What do you write?

2026: tiny tales up to 500 words.

How to enter

Coordinate with your school and use the official entry form and email instructions.

Dates and planning notes

2026: 2026 round closed
Past edition
2026 theme: A Story in Miniature; closed 4pm. Up to five entries per school per category.
2027: 2027 dates to be announced
Awaiting announcement
Planning placement only. The next edition, entry window and rules must be confirmed by the organiser.

Official sources

Official website / entry information ↗

Checked 4 October 2026. Preparation levels are editorial guidance, not a prediction of winning. Recheck the live rules, fees and eligibility before entering.

Turn your target into stronger writing

Prepare with purpose.

Creative Writing · Poetry · Real Stories

Australian Writing
Competition Coaching

For secondary students building their voice and craft through Australian national and local writing competitions.

Preparation focusVoice, structure and expression

Working towardsA suitable target each term

Understand the brief and choose a suitable competition.
Develop stories, poems and personal writing through regular practice.
Learn to revise with purpose and make stronger writing choices.
Build a body of original work over successive competition goals.

What students build: A stronger writing process, purposeful drafts and an original piece prepared for a suitable submission.

Discuss the Australian course →

What preparation can develop

Beyond the final submission.

A clearer sense of voice, audience and purpose.
More deliberate choices in structure and language.
The ability to use feedback and revise independently.
A growing portfolio and a next writing goal.

How our coaching works →

Students complete their own work. Coaching respects the organiser’s rules on feedback, editing and AI; where entry editing is restricted, teaching uses separate practice tasks.