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 awards ceremony and their entries are published in ‘The Best of WriteOn' anthology. The 2025 version of the anthology is available as a download (PDF 6.81MB).
WriteOn 2026
WriteOn 2026 is now closed. The competition opened on Monday 23 March 2026 and closed on Friday 19 June 2026.
Winning entrants will be notified by mid-Term 3 via their school principal or contact teacher, then announced on this page. Information about the competition will continue to be communicated in NESA News.
WriteOn is held in association with the State Library of NSW. The stimulus for WriteOn 2026 was the quote:
‘It was a small thing, but it made a difference.’
Subscribe to NESA News for updates on the competition.
Support materials for WriteOn 2026
NESA developed teaching and learning materials to support teachers using WriteOn to promote writing in their schools.
Download the Teaching and learning support materials for WriteOn 2026 Stages 1 to 3 (PPTX 2.67MB). This resource includes Judges’ notes from WriteOn 2025.
Students who participated in WriteOn at their school may be presented with a participation or school finalist certificate.
Participation and School finalist certificate (PDF 88.33KB).
Judging
Judging for WriteOn 2026 is currently being processed by a panel of experienced NSW primary teachers, including representatives from NESA and educational sectors.
The decision of the judging panel is final.
WriteOn 2025 awards
Winners of last year’s WriteOn competition were celebrated at the 2025 awards ceremony held at the State Library of NSW.
Contact
For further information email curriculum@nesa.nsw.edu.au