Entry guide · Australia

What Matters? Writing Competition

A chance to develop a position, make a personal connection and write for a public audience.

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Competition & entry information

Writing: Essays & Real Stories, Creative Writing, Poetry
Location: National
Preparation level: Developing
Opportunity: Competition

Who can enter?

Australian students in Years 5–12, including equivalent home-school ages.

What do you write?

Up to 600 words on something that matters to the writer.

How to enter

Read the annual prompt and conditions and upload an original entry using the Whitlam Institute form.

Dates and planning notes

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 ↗Rules / entry document ↗

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.