Categories and prizes

The Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards offer a broad range of award categories, recognising students across different age groups, school years and learning needs, as well as providing dedicated awards for small schools and students from the Gunnedah region.

Alongside the major age-based award categories, special awards ensure a diverse range of young voices have the opportunity to be recognised. These include the David Maher Award for students from small primary schools, the Kurrumbede Awards for primary and secondary students from schools within 100 kilometres of Gunnedah, and Assisted Learning Awards for eligible primary and secondary students.

With prizes awarded across individual and school categories, the Awards recognise outstanding poetry from students throughout Australia and provide schools, teachers and families with an opportunity to celebrate their students’ creative achievements.

David Maher Award | Awarded to the best individual entry from a small school

  • Open to primary schools only.

  • Schools must have a total enrolment of less than 30 students. Entrants will be checked for eligibility.

  • Home-school/distance education students are NOT eligible for this award.

  • Judges reserve the right not to award this prize.

Kurrumbede Award | Awarded to the best primary & secondary school entries from a school within 100km of Gunnedah

  • Open to primary schools and secondary schools within 100km radius of Gunnedah town centre.

  • Entrants will be checked for eligibility.

  • Judges reserve the right not to award this prize.

Assisted Learning | Awarded to the best primary school and secondary school entry

  • Open to students enrolled in an Individual Education Program (IEP), Support Teacher Assisted Learning (STLA) programs or with English as a second language are eligible to enter in this category.

  • Entries are submitted by the teacher.

  • The “Assisted Learning Section Form” must be completed and returned by email to executiveofficer@dorothea.com.au.