For the interest of Australian poets who may not have known about it:

The Bruce Dawe National Poetry Prize


The Prize has been endowed by Bruce Dawe, one of Australia's best-loved and most widely read poets, as an annual $1,500 award to encourage poets throughout Australia. The endowment is held in trust by the University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, and administered by the Faculty of Arts. The prize is judged by the English Literature staff of the Faculty, chaired by Dr Chris Lee.

Bruce Dawe said the decision to endow the prize stemmed from a belief that all universities should encourage the practice of the arts within Australian society.

It is hoped that this prize will support poets and help recognise the important contribution they make to Australian culture.


CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

1 The Bruce Dawe National Poetry Prize is open to all Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia.
2 The Prize will be awarded to an original, unpublished poem not exceeding 50 lines. There are no generic or thematic constraints.
3 Entries will not be under offer to any publication, or offered for publication, until the adjudication is finalized and the winner is notified.
4 The Prize will normally be awarded to a single poem/poet, with up to three unpaid highly-commended entries notified. The winner will be notified personally, and announced on the website the first week of November.
5 Entrants may submit no more than three poems for consideration.
6 Each single entry must be accompanied by a non-refundable fee of A$6.00 per poem for administration expenses, ie: one poem, A$6.00, two poems A$12.00, three poems A$18.00. Personal cheques, bank cheques, postal/money orders should be made payable to: USQ.
7 As a copy of the Entry Form can be kept for tax purposes, receipts will not be issued unless requested.
8 Entries should normally be typed, one side only, on A4 paper.
9 Personal details should not appear on any manuscript to ensure discretion and fair-dealing in the adjudication process. Please supply full details as required on the separate Entry Form.
10 Do not submit original manuscripts. Please submit copies only of poems. If you would like your poem/s returned, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Entries will be retained for twelve months.
11 The Trustee of the Prize accepts no liability for loss or damage of manuscripts.
12 The decision of the Trustee's adjudication panel is final. No subsequent correspondence will be entered into.
13 The judges reserve the right not to award the Prize in any given year.

The competition closes on 31st July

There is an entry form available at the website.