Winners have been announced for the 2021 Bruce Dawe Poetry Prize, congratulations to Paul Hetherington for his entry 'Screen' and all the other shortlisted, highly commended and special mention entries. All entries can be found under winner section below.
As an Australian poet, your contribution shapes our culture. None believed this more so than the late Emeritus Professor Bruce Dawe AO, one of Australia’s most acclaimed contemporary poets. Professor Dawe believed that universities should support the study of literature and promote the Arts in Australian society. His decision to sponsor this prominent Literary Prize is ongoing, living proof of his conviction.
Entries open on Wednesday 10 March at 8.00am AEST. Read the how to enter information below and the terms and conditions before entering to ensure you meet entry requirements. Competition closes on Friday 4 June 2021 at 4.00pm.
Prizes
The 2021 winner of The Bruce Dawe National Poetry Prize will receive $3000, and two highly commended entrants will be awarded $500 each.
Further information
For further information, please email brucedaweprize@usq.edu.au.
The Bruce Dawe National Poetry Prize is open to Australian citizens and permanent residents.
You are able to submit between one (1) and five (5) poems into the competition. A fee of $6.00 is charged for each poem you enter into the competition. This helps us ensure the competition will continue running in future years.
Your poem/s must not exceed 50 lines. However, there are no thematic or style constraints.
Please ensure you read the terms and conditions prior to entering.
You are able to submit between one (1) and five (5) poems into the competition. A fee of $6.00 is charged for each poem you enter into the competition. This helps us ensure the competition will continue running in future years.
Your poem/s must not exceed 50 lines. However, there are no thematic or style constraints.
Please ensure you read the terms and conditions prior to entering.
View our current and most recent previous winners.
Do I have to submit all of the poems I want at once?
Yes. To ensure the registration system and payment function works, you are not able to edit your entries after submission, so you need to submit every poem you want to enter at the same time. The terms and conditions do not allow the editing of entries.
I have published my poem on my blog, social media or in print, does that make it ineligible for entry?
Our definition of publication excludes self-publishing. You are welcome to enter any poem you have written if it has not been published by a third party at the time of submission.
Is there any theme or structure required?
No, let your creativity flow. There is no theme, nor is there a preferred structure. Everything from free verse to formal styles such as bush poetry, sonnets and haikus are welcome.
I would like to edit the poem I have submitted. Can that be done?
No, the terms and conditions do not allow the editing of submitted poems.
I cannot enter the competition as the registration system is telling me that my email address is already used.
If you are a past entrant or have attended other USQ events in the past, you may already have an account with us. When you select enter now on the homepage and it redirects you, enter your email address on the right under ‘Have you registered with us before?’ then click on the ‘I forgot my password’ link in the lower right hand corner. This should automatically send you an email to reset your password.
Once you have reset your password, you should be able to login under the ‘Have you registered with us before?’ and proceed with your submission. If this doesn’t work, please email brucedaweprize@usq.edu.au with an image of the error message you are receiving and we will help you find another way.
I don’t have access to a computer, is there another way to enter the competition?
We encourage all entrants to register online, and if they do not have computer access to seek assistance from family and friends. If this is not possible, please contact brucedaweprize@usq.edu.au to arrange an alternative.
Yes. To ensure the registration system and payment function works, you are not able to edit your entries after submission, so you need to submit every poem you want to enter at the same time. The terms and conditions do not allow the editing of entries.
I have published my poem on my blog, social media or in print, does that make it ineligible for entry?
Our definition of publication excludes self-publishing. You are welcome to enter any poem you have written if it has not been published by a third party at the time of submission.
Is there any theme or structure required?
No, let your creativity flow. There is no theme, nor is there a preferred structure. Everything from free verse to formal styles such as bush poetry, sonnets and haikus are welcome.
I would like to edit the poem I have submitted. Can that be done?
No, the terms and conditions do not allow the editing of submitted poems.
I cannot enter the competition as the registration system is telling me that my email address is already used.
If you are a past entrant or have attended other USQ events in the past, you may already have an account with us. When you select enter now on the homepage and it redirects you, enter your email address on the right under ‘Have you registered with us before?’ then click on the ‘I forgot my password’ link in the lower right hand corner. This should automatically send you an email to reset your password.
Once you have reset your password, you should be able to login under the ‘Have you registered with us before?’ and proceed with your submission. If this doesn’t work, please email brucedaweprize@usq.edu.au with an image of the error message you are receiving and we will help you find another way.
I don’t have access to a computer, is there another way to enter the competition?
We encourage all entrants to register online, and if they do not have computer access to seek assistance from family and friends. If this is not possible, please contact brucedaweprize@usq.edu.au to arrange an alternative.
The 2021 Bruce Dawe National Poetry Prize opens on Wednesday 10 March at 8.00am AEST. Please view the full terms and conditions before entering the competition. The competition will close on Friday 4 June 2021 at 4.00pm.
For more information, view the frequently asked questions (FAQs) or email brucedaweprize@usq.edu.au.
For more information, view the frequently asked questions (FAQs) or email brucedaweprize@usq.edu.au.