Cumberland Young Writers Award 2025

The competition will be open to students from 8 to 18 years old who live in Cumberland, attend a school in Cumberland, or who are members of the Library Service. The competition provides opportunities for young writers and illustrators to showcase their talents.

The competition will be judged and awarded in the following age group categories:

Works could be:

All entries will complete a work using the images provided for the age groups. There will be one (1) image provided for each age group to provide inspiration for the works.

Entries are judged on originality, creativity, construction, and use of language. An independent panel will be assembled that will judge the works. Four finalists are chosen in each age group.

Awards will be presented to one (1) winner, one (1) runner-up and two (2) highly commended in each age group and type of work.

Finalists from each category will have their works published in a book and added to the library collection.

Full names of finalists will be published and may be made available online and online and to the public.

All participants will be given a participation award for recognition of the work.

Please read the Conditions of Entry Form before submitting your entry.

Submit the Young Writers Entry Form with your story, poem or graphic short story.

Entries close Friday 18 July 2025

Cumberland City Council Libraries will be working with award winning author Christopher Cheng to run workshops for students who are interested in learning to write. 

The workshops will be held at Auburn and Merrylands libraries and bookings are essential.

Follow the links below to book into a workshop filtered by competition age group category.

Workshop for 8 to 11 years on Tuesday 8 July 2025 - Book for 8 to 11 years

Workshop for 12 to 14 years on Tuesday 8 July 2025 - Book for 12 to 14 years

Workshop for 15 to 18 years Thursday 10 July 2025 - Book for 15 to 18 years