Search for Social Justice Picture Book Competition - Terms & Conditions

1. Eligibility

1.1 The competition is open to Australian residents currently enrolled in Year 7 through to Year 12 at the time of entry.

1.2 Entrants may be home-schooled or enrolled in a recognised educational institution within Australia.

1.3 Entries may be created by:

A single author-illustrator, or

A team of two students (one writer and one illustrator).

1.4 Only one entry per person/team is permitted.

2. Entry Requirements

2.1 Entries must be original picture books created by the entrant(s) and must not have been previously published or awarded in another competition.

2.2 Entries must:

Include both written text and illustrations.

Be suitable for a teenage audience and have a happy ending.

Be no longer than 32 pages (including cover pages).

Be submitted digitally in PDF format (unless otherwise specified).

2.3 Content must be appropriate for young audiences and not contain offensive, discriminatory, or violent themes.

2.4 Entries must be in English.

3. Submission Process

3.1 All entries must be submitted through the official entry platform by the advertised closing date.

3.2 Late, incomplete, or incorrectly formatted entries may be disqualified.

3.3 Entrants under 18 years of age must have parent/guardian consent to participate.

4. Judging

4.1 Entries will be judged by a panel appointed by the competition organisers.

4.2 Judging criteria include:

Originality and creativity

Writing quality

Artistic style and visual storytelling

Overall impact and suitability as a picture book

4.3 Judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.

5. Awards & Prizes

5.1 Prize categories may include but are not limited to:

Overall Winner

Highly Commended

Best Writing

Best Illustration

5.2 Prizes are not transferable or exchangeable.

5.3 The organisers reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if required.

6. Copyright & Permissions

6.1 Entrants retain full copyright to their work.

6.2 By entering, entrants grant the organisers a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to:

Display submissions for judging.

Promote the competition, including showcasing excerpts online, in print, or at events.

6.3 Any public display of work will credit the creator(s).

7. Publication

7.1 Winners may be offered the opportunity for publication.

7.2 Participation in such opportunities is voluntary and subject to separate agreement.

8. Privacy

8.1 Personal information collected will be used solely for the administration of the competition and will not be shared with third parties except as required for prize fulfilment.

8.2 Entrant names, school (optional), and entry titles may be used for promotional purposes.

9. Disqualification

9.1 Organisers reserve the right to disqualify entries that:

Breach these Terms & Conditions

Contain plagiarised material

Are deemed inappropriate or offensive

9.2 Any suspected plagiarism or breach of copyright will result in immediate disqualification.

10. General

10.1 By entering, entrants acknowledge and agree to these Terms & Conditions.

10.2 Organisers reserve the right to amend competition details, dates, or rules if necessary.

10.3 No entry fee refunds will be issued in the event of cancellation beyond the organisers’ control.

11. Parent/Guardian Consent

11.1 Entrants under 18 years of age must have the consent of a parent or legal guardian to participate.

11.2 Parents/guardians acknowledge and agree that:

They have read and understood the Terms & Conditions.

They permit the entrant to submit their original work.

They understand that excerpts of the entrant's work may be used for promotional purposes as outlined in Section 6.

11.3 Proof of consent must be provided at entry submission via the official consent form or checkbox where applicable.