What’s happening?
Queensland school students with a gift for storytelling were celebrated on Wednesday, 6 August, at the annual Literary Competition hosted by the Independent Education Union – Queensland and Northern Territory (IEU-QNT) and the English Teachers’ Association of Queensland (ETAQ). The presentation evening was held at the Queensland Multicultural Centre, where award recipients received certificates and book prizes provided by event sponsor Penguin Random House Australia.
First prize recipients also had the opportunity to read their winning pieces to the audience, bringing their poetry, short stories, and non-fiction prose to life.
Why it matters
Now in its 66th year, the Literary Competition is the oldest continuing writing competition in Queensland. It is open to both students and staff in state and non-government schools, making it one of the few platforms that brings together writers across sectors.
ETAQ President Carley Elliott said more than 1500 submissions were received this year, with schools across the state contributing entries of high quality. “Now in its 66th year, the Literary Competition remains the oldest continuing writing competition in Queensland and is open to students and staff in both state and non-government schools,” Ms Elliott said.
Local impact
Ormiston College student Derrick Chen achieved an impressive double win, taking out first place in both the Years 5 and 6 short story and poem categories. His recognition highlights the creativity emerging from the Redlands region and demonstrates the high standard of student writing across Queensland.
By the numbers
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1500+ submissions were entered across all categories in 2025.
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66 years – the Literary Competition has been running since its establishment by the union.
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17,000 members – IEU-QNT represents more than 17,000 teachers, principals, school support staff and early childhood employees across Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Zoom in
Guest speaker Brian Falkner, an award-winning international author and writing coach, shared insights and highlights from his career, inspiring the young writers and their families in attendance. His lecture added a professional perspective to the evening before students took the stage to present their winning works.
IEU-QNT Branch Secretary Terry Burke said the competition was an excellent opportunity for students to refine their skills and embrace creativity. “Our antecedent union established the competition to encourage literary development and freedom of expression in young people,” he said.
Mr Burke also congratulated the prize winners and acknowledged the effort of all participants. “The Literary Competition judges were impressed with the exceptional talent on display this year, with a diverse range of entries submitted from across the state. I congratulate those outstanding writers who were awarded prizes and thank all the recipients who entered the 2025 Literary Competition.”
Zoom out
The Literary Competition is a long-standing initiative that continues to highlight the role of unions, educators, and professional associations in supporting young writers. Its collaboration between IEU-QNT and ETAQ has fostered decades of literary growth and provided students with a valuable outlet for creative expression.
What to look for next
The Literary Competition will return in 2026, building on its 66-year tradition of recognising talent and encouraging the next generation of Queensland writers.
