Young writers across Australia put pen to paper and used their creativity to address pressing social issues through the Pens Against Poverty writing competition organised by Anglicare Australia.

The annual competition, an official Anti-Poverty Week activity, invites students in Years 3 to 10 across Australia to submit original stories and poems that highlight the issues of poverty, inequality, and the resilience of people experiencing disadvantage.

Last year’s theme, A Place for Everyone, encouraged students to use their voices to advocate for change while fostering empathy and critical thinking about societal challenges.

The hundreds of submissions were judged by prolific Australian writers Jackie French and John Foulcher, as well as Anglicare Australia Executive Director Kasy Chambers and Co-Director of the CREATE Centre at the University of Sydney, Robyn Ewing AM.

Competition winners were announced in October during Anti-Poverty Week and were presented with their awards at a ceremony in November at Canberra’s Government House.

 

South Australian school winners

It was an impressive display of creativity and prose for Woodcroft College, whose students won:

• Years 7 and 8 Poetry Highly Commended: Vidyha
• Years 9 and 10 Stories Winner: Jacqui
• Years 9 and 10 Poetry Highly Commended: Lily

The school also won a Special Commendation for its consistent and high-quality participation in the writing competition each year.

A total of 65 entries were submitted from the school in this year’s writing competition; the highest number nationally.

For student Lily, the writing competition was a chance to raise awareness of poverty in Australia.

“It was a great way to show awareness of poverty and the way we can tend to dismiss or ignore it,” she said.

“I thought this could be an excellent way to use my voice to speak for those who are not heard.”

Lily said she was surprised that her poem, ‘The Reality of Life’, won an award in the competition.

“I wasn’t expecting much to come of my submission due to it being a nationwide competition,” she said.

“It is a great honour and achievement, and I am appreciative that my entry can help spread awareness about poverty.”

We also congratulate Pulteney Grammar School, which took out a national award for the third year in a row with the Jackie French School Award for high-quality writing.

The school had 50 unique entries in the competition and won a $500 prize.

Congratulations to all the students and schools who participated in the competition.

 

 

Lily’s piece

This is an extract from The Reality of Life, the highly commended Years 9 and 10 poetry entry:

‘They go unnoticed by those around them.

Everyone just brushes past them,

Not even sparing a glance.

Some discreetly turn their heads the other way,

Avoiding the truth and realisation in front of them.’