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 free download (PDF 6.81MB).
WriteOn 2026
WriteOn is held in association with the State Library of NSW.
Entries open: Monday 23 March 2026.
Entries close: Friday 19 June 2026.
The stimulus for WriteOn 2026 is the quote:
‘It was a small thing, but it made a difference.’
Download the WriteOn 2026 competition poster (PDF 595.86KB).
Subscribe to NESA News for updates on the competition.
How to enter
Schools and home schools can use the stage-appropriate online entry form to submit one typed entry from each participating stage of learning:
- WriteOn 2026 - Stage 1 Entries – Fill out form
- WriteOn 2026 - Stage 2 Entries – Fill out form
- WriteOn 2026 - Stage 3 Entries – Fill out form
Please read the entry criteria before submitting student entries.
All entries require parent, guardian or carer consent. The consent form is also included in the entry form.
Consent form preview (PDF 487.71KB).
Consent forms must be retained at the school and be presented to NESA on request.
Entry criteria
- Each school or home school can submit a maximum of 3 entries: one entry per stage of learning from Stage 1, Stage 2, and 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, guardian or carer with a valid NESA registration number.
- All entries require parent, guardian or carer consent.
Support materials for WriteOn 2026
NESA has 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 participate in WriteOn at their school may be presented with a participation or school finalist certificate.
Participation and School finalist certificate (PDF 88.33KB).
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 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