KSP Poetry Competition
The KSP Writers’ Centre is proud to present its annual Poetry Competition for Australian writers. Entry is free for youth categories, thanks to generous sponsorship from the Shire of Mundaring. All entries must be original and unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere. All poetry styles and themes are welcome.​
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Results will be announced at an awards ceremony in December and published on social media and the KSP website thereafter.
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You will need a Submittable account to enter this competition. Don't worry! It is free and easy to set up.​
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Categories
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Youth Poetry Award (10–17 years)
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Open Poetry Award (18+ years)
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Annette Cameron Encouragement Award (WA residents, 18+, unpublished poets only)
Note: Poems submitted to the Annette Cameron category cannot be entered in the Open Poetry category.
Competition Dates
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Opening: Friday 5 September 2025 (2:00pm AWST)
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Closing: Sunday 26 October 2025 (11:59pm AWST)
Note: Late entries will not be accepted; All entrants will be required to complete an AI declaration.
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Prizes (subject to judge’s discretion)
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Open First Prize: $300 + weekend residency at the KSP Writers’ Centre (non-transferable, $300 value)
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Youth First Prize: $100
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Annette Cameron Award: $150
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Second Prize: $150 (Open), $50 (Youth)
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Up to five Commended Certificates in each category
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Mundaring National Young Writers Encouragement Award (for under 14s): $25
Note: Select entrants will be invited to read their work at the KSP End-of-Year Awards Ceremony in December.
Entry Limits and Fees:
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Youth: Free to enter | No limit on entries
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Open: $10 per poem | No limit on entries
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Annette Cameron: $10 | Limit: one poem per entrant
Line Count:
Maximum: 50 lines per poem (all categories); please carefully read specific formatting rules available on the Submittable form.
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Eligibility:
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You must be an Australian resident to enter the Youth and Open Poetry categories.
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You must be a Western Australian resident to enter the Annette Cameron Encouragement Award.
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Entries must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere.
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Entrants for the Annette Cameron Award must not have previously published a full collection of poetry in any form (print or online) and must not have won the award previously.
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The Annette Cameron Award was founded by longtime KSP member Flora Smith in memory of her cousin Annette Cameron, a lifelong friend of Katharine Susannah Prichard. We acknowledge Flora’s passing in 2023 and thank her family for continuing sponsorship of this award.
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How to Enter:
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Create or log into your Submittable account
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Click the Submit button below
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Select the correct poetry category
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Read and follow the formatting and entry instructions
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Submit before the deadline*
*Note: You may request to edit your entry via Submittable up to one week before the deadline.
Queries:
📧 office@kspwriterscentre.com
📞 08 9294 1872
🕘 Office hours: Monday–Friday, 10am–2pm AWST
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Ready to submit your entry? ​
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Frequently Asked Questions:
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I am a teacher. Can I submit multiple entries on behalf of my students?
Yes. However, each student is only allowed to submit one entry per category. Please ensure that all entries follow the correct formatting guidelines and that each entry clearly identifies the student’s name in the Submittable form (not in the document).
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Can I use the school’s contact details when submitting entries for students?
Yes. You may use the school’s address, email, and phone number. Please note: The email and phone number must be regularly monitored, as we may need to contact you with questions or important updates; Any certificates or prizes won will be posted to the address provided in the submission form. Please ensure this is accurate.
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Can students use a nom de plume (pen name)?
Yes. For youth entries, students may use a nom de plume for publication and public announcements. To protect privacy, if no pen name is provided, we will use the author’s initials for any public announcements.
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Can I enter more than one category?
Yes, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements for each category. For example, an eligible WA resident may submit to both the Open Poetry and Short Fiction categories, but a poem submitted to the Annette Cameron Award cannot also be submitted to the Open Poetry category.​
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Can I make changes to my entry after submitting it?
You can request to edit your submission up to one week before the deadline. Please send a message via your Submittable account.
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What if I don't have a Submittable account?
You’ll need to create a free Submittable account to enter. It’s quick and easy to set up. Simply follow the prompts on the submission page.
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Do I need to pay to enter?
Youth categories: Free; Open categories and Annette Cameron Award: $10 per entry
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What are the formatting requirements?
Formatting requirements are listed on the Submittable entry form for each category. Entries that do not meet formatting guidelines may be disqualified. Please read the instructions carefully before submitting.
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When will the results be announced?
Winners will be announced at the KSP End-of-Year Awards Ceremony in December, and results will be published on the KSP website and social media after the event. Shortlisted entrants may be contacted prior to the ceremony.