Entries will open in March. Read the how to enter information below and the terms and conditions before entering to ensure you meet entry requirements. Competition closes on 6 June 2022.
Prizes
The 2022 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.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.
The 2022 Winning Entries are
Overall Winner
Poet: Debbie Lim
Poem: The Process
Highly Commended
Poet: Joanne Watson
Poem: Swimming
Highly Commended
Poet: Louise Nicholas
Poem: Kodukushi
View our previous winners.
How will my poems be judged?
All poems are submitted to the judges with no additional information. The judges will not know the name, age, gender or location of the author. All that they will have to judge are the words that you put to paper.
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 UniSQ 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.
For more information, view the frequently asked questions (FAQs) or email brucedaweprize@usq.edu.au.