WriteOn competition
WriteOn is an annual writing competition for all NSW primary students in Years 1 to 6.
About the competition
The annual WriteOn competition is an exciting opportunity for schools, teachers and students to focus on writing. Through the competition, students develop skills in writing to express their ideas and may become published authors.
The competition is for students in Years 1 to 6 who are accessing NSW syllabuses, including students registered for home schooling. Students create an imaginative text of up to 500 words, using a provided stimulus.
Each year, winners are celebrated at an award ceremony and their entries are published in ‘The Best of WriteOn' anthology. The 2024 version of the anthology is now available for purchase from the NESA Shop.
WriteOn 2025
WriteOn 2025 opens Monday 24 March 2025. This year the competition is held in association with the State Library of NSW. For WriteOn 2025, students use a stimulus quote to explore their voices as authors when creating an imaginative text.
The new stimulus for WriteOn 2025 is the quote:
“Could they be changing?”
Entries close on Friday 20 June 2025.
Download the competition poster (PDF 1010.05KB)
Subscribe to NESA News for updates on the competition.
How to enter
Schools/home schools use the online entry form to submit one typed entry from each participating stage of learning.
Please read the entry criteria before submitting student entries.
Entry criteria
- Each school/home school can submit a maximum of 3 entries: one entry from Stage 1, Stage 2, and/or Stage 3.
- Each typed submitted work can be up to 500 words.
- Entries can only be submitted by a teacher in a school or a registered home schooling parent/legal guardian with a valid NESA registration number.
Consent form
All entries require parent/guardian consent. The consent form is included within the entry form.
Consent form preview (PDF 435.87KB)
Support materials for WriteOn 2025
NESA has developed new teaching and learning materials to support teachers using WriteOn to promote writing in their schools.
Download the Teaching and learning support materials for WriteOn 2025 Stages 1–3 (PPTX 1.47MB). This resource includes Judges’ notes from WriteOn 2024.
Judging
A panel of experienced NSW primary teachers, including representatives from NESA and educational sectors, judge the final entries submitted to NESA.
The decision of the judging panel is final.
WriteOn 2024 winners
Winners of WriteOn 2024 were celebrated at an awards ceremony held at the Art Gallery of NSW. Find out more about the WriteOn 2024 event.
Meet some of last year’s winners.
2024 WriteOn competition: Meet the award winners
Contact
For further information email curriculum@nesa.nsw.edu.au