The Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards seek to capture the imaginations of school students across Australia, inspiring them to express their thoughts and feelings through the medium of poetry in their pursuit of literary excellence.
Key dates
Submissions close Monday 30 June 2025.
Winners announced at 10am on Friday 5 September 2025.
Our 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.
The optional theme for 2025 is “All the Beautiful Things”. Students are encouraged to write about topics and experiences that spark their poetic genius (in whatever form they choose.)
