Below is a list of non-fiction, essay, memoir and life writing contests based in Australia and New Zealand — although some may be open to writers elsewhere.
We aim to avoid listing competitions which make unreasonable demands on entrants, such as copyright claims on all entries. Please check terms and conditions before entering, in case some slip through.
For a list of UK, Ireland, and European competitions, click here, and for US / Canada, click here. Some competitions in both listings will be open to writers worldwide.
JANUARY DEADLINES
22nd January
ABR Calibre Essay Prize
$10,000 prize fund. “We seek essays of between 2,000 and 5,000 words on any subject. We welcome essays of all kinds: personal or political, literary or speculative, traditional or experimental.”
27th January
The Local Word Writers’ Prize
For an “entry of up to 3,000 words from emerging and established writers in creative nonfiction”. (Fiction also accepted.) Open to over 16s in Australia. Winner AU$2,000 plus commended prizes of AU$250.
FEBRUARY DEADLINES
28th February
St Gallen Symposium Global Essay Competition
Topic question: Striving for more or thriving with less – What pressing scarcity do you see, and how do you suggest to tackle it? 2,100 words max. CHF20,000 prize fund (three winners). Open to university graduates or postgraduates.
MARCH DEADLINES
8th March
Ada Cambridge Biographical Prose Prize
Open to Victorian writers. 1,000–3,000 words. A$15 entry fee. A$500 top prize.
31st March
Landfall Young Writers’ Essay Competition
Open to NZers aged 16–25. 1,500 words max. NZ$500.
APRIL DEADLINES
5th April
Wakefield Press Essay Prize
“The prize is open to anyone who during the year 2023 has written or published an essay dealing substantially with some aspect of South Australian history. The word length should be between 2,000 and 10,000 words (including footnotes/endnotes).” AU$500 voucher prize.
JUNE DEADLINES
1st June
Questions Writing Prize
Open to young (18–30) Australian writers. For a piece (NF or fiction) between 1,500 and 2,000 words. A$3,000 prize fund.
FUTURE DEADLINES
Furphy Story Prize (April 2024)
Nature Writing Prize (April 2024)
The John Mclaren Emmerson QC Essay Prize (May 2024)
The Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award 2024 (May 2024)
AAWP / Westerly Magazine Life Writing Prize (June 2024)
Growlife Medical Essay Competition (June 2024)
Landfall Essay Competition (July 2024)
The Australian Orchid Foundation Essay Prize (July 2024)
Growlife Medical Essay Competition (September 2024)
The New England Thunderbolt Prize for Crime Non-fiction (September 2024)
Campbelltown Writers Competition (September 2024)
Nillumbik Prize For Contemporary Writing 2024 (October 2024)
Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development Prize 2025 (November 2024)
The Fogarty Literary Award (January 2025)
The Writers College Free Writing Competition (January 2025)