The Ethics Centre is committed to amplifying young people’s perspectives on what an ethical society looks like to them.

Our annual writing competition is an exciting chance for young writers to share their ideas with a wide, engaged audience.

The winner of each age category will receive a prize pack valued at $500, comprising a $250 cash prize and a $250 Gleebooks voucher. They will also have their essay published digitally by The Ethics Centre.  Two runners-up in each age category will also have their essays published digitally by The Ethics Centre.

Applications are now open for 2025. The deadline for entries is Monday 8 September at 9am AEST.

Check the Submission Information below for this year’s prompts, conditions, and more.

2024 Finalists

Our 2024 Young Writers’ Competition attracted 89 outstanding, original submissions from emerging Australian writers aged 13 to 29. Entrants tackled some the most pressing ethical issues they see in today’s world, from pet ownership, philanthropy and the economics of beauty to connection, social media and trauma – reflecting the breadth of unique insights offered by these articulate young thinkers.

13-17 years

First place

Highly commended

  • Chloe Qin,
    The transactional economics of beauty

18-29 years

First place

Highly commended

2023 Finalists

In our inaugural Young Writers’ Competition in 2023 entrants tackled some of the most pressing ethical issues they see in today’s world, from copyright in art, plagiarism and AI, true crime content’s impact on victims, intergenerational justice and the complexity of friendships – reflecting the breadth of unique insights offered by these articulate young thinkers.

13-17 years

First place

Highly commended

You may be interested in...

Blindness and seeing

Lisa Frank and the ethics of copyright

What we owe our friends

GET IN TOUCH

Make An Enquiry