The Premier’s Spelling Bee is an annual competition that encourages primary school students in Years 3 to 6 to develop their spelling skills in a fun and educational way. Students are selected at school level to take part in regional finals. Regional winners then compete in the state final.
This Premier’s Reading Challenge encourages students from Kindergarten to Year 9 to develop a love of reading and plays an important role in developing literacy.
The Premier’s Debating Challenge is open to students from Year 5 to 12. Teams compete in a round robin series of debates against other schools. The winners go on to compete at regional and state level to determine the eventual state champion.
The Arts Unit offers public speaking competitions for NSW school students. Each competition is a great opportunity for students to develop their speech-writing and presentation skills while representing their schools in a state-wide competition.
United World College scholarships
These are available to students in Years 11 and 12 to enable young people to spend two years in one of the United World College's 12 overseas campuses.
Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarships
The Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarships are an opportunity to visit significant overseas sites associated with Australia’s participation in war for Years 10 and 11 students in selected schools.
Blacktown City Council Youth Ambassador Program
Blacktown City Council are looking for young people aged between 15 and 18 to represent the City. If successful, you will serve as Ambassadors for a period of 12 months representing the city at Citizenship Ceremonies and Civic Receptions, as well as representing the Youth as part of the Sister Cities and Youth Advisory Committees.
So, if you are a young person who enjoys public speaking, meeting new people, helping your community and would like to represent the youth of Blacktown City then this is the program for you!
The program is a fun way to learn new skills and gain invaluable experience outside the schooling environment.
Youth Development Scholarships
NSW Community and Justice will be offering up to 1,400 scholarships to students enrolled in education or training. Successful applicants will receive $1,000 to help with school expenses and secondary support services.
Blacktown City Council Mayoral History
The Blacktown City Mayoral History Prize was first awarded in 2008. The aim of the Mayoral History Prize is to encourage an interest in the rich and diverse history of Blacktown City. We welcome entries with an indigenous focus or theme.
The winner(s) will receive a cash prize and all entrants will receive a certificate of achievement.
Entries will be included in the Local History collection at Blacktown City Libraries. The winning entry in each section may also be published to the Blacktown Memories platform
Blacktown City Mayoral Creative Writing
The Mayoral Creative Writing Prize is a chance to showcase and foster the talents of Blacktown City’s aspiring writers. It is open to adults and children (aged 8 to 17 years), who live in Blacktown city.
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award - Australia
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award - Australia provides an internationally recognised, self-development program for people aged 14 to 25. The program equips young people with the opportunity to undertake a variety of voluntary and challenging activities.
Blacktown City Council Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander NAIDOC Awards
Each year Blacktown City Council we celebrate the contributions of members of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to our City.
This year we will be awarding the following categories:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Citizen of the Year
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Young Achiever of the Year (12-25)
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Person of the Year
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Person Living with Disability Award.
Blacktown City Council Australia Day Awards
Every year Blacktown City Council look to the community for nominations for Council’s Australia Day Awards. These awards are recognised as our most prestigious and pay tribute to the incredible individuals who are making a significant difference to their community.
Contribution includes areas such as; education, health, fundraising, charitable and voluntary services, business, sport, arts, the environment, or any other area that contributes to the advancement and wellbeing of the Blacktown community.
We are encouraging you to nominate a family member, friend, community leader or colleague who went above and beyond to serve the Blacktown community. Self-nominations are also welcome.
Encouraging competition at the Hawkesbury Show: The Hawkesbury District Agricultural Association, a non-profit entity with a rich agricultural legacy, is dedicated to enhancing the region's farming standards and honouring excellence in agriculture. Through various competitions and events, we strive to foster a culture of achievement and celebrate our agricultural heritage.
The Mission of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS), as it has been now for over 200 years, is to shape the future of Australian agriculture and to continuously improve Australian produce to award-quality levels.
The RAS competitions serve to protect and ensure Australia’s bright, viable and ethically sustainable future.
Student short film competition
As part of the ongoing focus and priority launch around school attendance, the NSW Department of Education is holding a state-wide film competition for all students from Kindergarten to Year 12.
RSL and Schools Remember ANZAC Commemoration
To mark the 70th Anniversary of this service in 2023, RSL NSW, the Department of Education, Catholic Schools NSW and the Association of Independent Schools NSW launched an art competition for NSW school students. Following its success, the art competition and exhibition will return in 2025. Two artworks will be selected for the cover of that years service program.
Art Gallery - NSW - These are annual, open competitions, offering various levels of prize money.
The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) is proud to host the Anzac Day Schools' Awards each year. This national competition recognises the work of students, teachers and schools who engage with veterans and honour Australia's wartime history.
Nestled at the heart of Australia’s literary community, the Dymocks Beyond Words Competition stands as a beacon of creativity, imagination, and youthful expression. Spearheaded by Dymocks Tutoring, Dymocks Books & Gifts and Milligram, a stalwart in the Australian book industry for over 140 years, this competition is more than an event; it’s a movement towards nurturing the voices of tomorrow.
Sustainable School - Some annual competitions are listed below:-
NSW Environmental Education Awards: Celebrating the achievements of educations and environmental education programs in NSW. An annual awards supported by the Australian Association for Environmental Education.
Mobile Muster Schools Challenge and Film Competition encouraging the community to reduce e-waste and recycle their mobile phones.
NSW Government Sustainability Awards: NSW Youth as Changemakers Award & Minister’s Young Climate Champion Award, delivered in partnership with the Banksia Foundation. Note there is an entry fee applicable.
SCINEMA Junior For students who love science and have an interest in filmmaking.
Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize: Video competition for primary and secondary students with a passion for science and communicating ideas..
Wild at Art: Threatened Species Children’s Art Competition encourages children unleash their artistic creativity while learning about the extinction crisis facing our native plants and animals.
A national annual writing program in honour of the founder of the Sutherland Shire Environment Centre, Bob Walshe
Zayed Sustainability Prize a prestigious global award based in the United Arab Emirates recognises achievements of those who are driving impactful, innovative and inspiring sustainability solutions across five distinct categories: Health, Food, Energy, Water and Global High Schools. Sign up for the newsletter to receive the latest updates for the submission phase.