Short Story Competition

Junior Judge: Maxine Beneba Clarke 

Maxine Beneba Clarke is the author of over fifteen books for adults and children, including the poetry collection ‘It's the Sound of the Thing: 100 new poems for young people’, which won the 2024 ABIA for Book of the Year for Younger Children, 'Stuff I'm (NOT) Sorry For: 99 more poems for young people’, and the ‘Aussie Kids’ series chapter book ‘Meet Taj at the Lighthouse’.

Maxine’s picture books include the fashion anthem ‘Fashionista’, the CBCA Honour Book ‘The Patchwork Bike’, and the illustrated poem ‘When We Say Black Lives Matter’, which was longlisted for the UK's Kate Greenaway Medal.

She is currently Poet in Residence at The University of Melbourne.

Learn more about Maxine Beneba Clarke.

Young Adult Judge: Ernie Rijs

Ernie has spent nearly 50 years in Secondary Education as a leader and English / Humanities teacher. He is an experienced theatre performer and director.

Ernie’s first novel, ‘The Crossing’, was published in October 2022. He is currently putting the finishing touches to his second novel, ‘Hindsight’, and is halfway through a sequel to ‘The Crossing’. He writes short stories and plays, both for fun and to test himself in competitions, and now works as a Secondary School Counsellor. Ernie has four daughters and six grandchildren.

Read 'The Crossing' by Ernie Rijs.

Adult Judge: Alice Pung

Alice Pung OAM is an award-winning author from Naarm. Her non-fiction books ‘Unpolished Gem’, ‘Her Father’s Daughter’ and ‘Growing Up Asian in Australia’ have been set texts at schools and universities around Australia, Asia and the US. ‘Her Father's Daughter’ won the Western Australia Premiers' Award, and her novel ‘Laurinda’ won the Ethel Turner Prize at the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards. ‘One Hundred Days’, Alice’s first novel for adults, was shortlisted for the 2022 Miles Franklin Award and has been optioned by Michelle Law for development as a film. She is also the author of several award-winning children’s books.

Alice is the current Artist in Residence at Janet Clarke Hall and Adjunct Professor at RMIT University's School of Media and Communication. In 2022 she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for services to literature.

Learn more about Alice Pung.

Junior A (Prep - Year 3) 
1st Prize: $300 
2nd Prize: $200 
3rd Prize: $100

Junior B (Year 4 - Year 6) 
1st Prize: $300 
2nd Prize: $200 
3rd Prize: $100

Teen (Year 7 - Year 12) 
1st Prize: $300 
2nd Prize: $200 
3rd Prize: $100

Adult (18 years and over) 
1st Prize: $750 
2nd Prize: $500 
3rd Prize: $250

Additional information

• Prizes will also be awarded for Best First-Time Entry and Highly Commended in each category.
• In the event of a tie in any category, prizes will be added together and divided equally between the winners.

No. We only accept one entry per person. If you submit more than one entry, we will accept the first submission only. 

If you submit more than one entry, we will accept the first submission only. If you are not happy with your first entry and would like to resubmit, please email us at shortstory@melton.vic.gov.au. 

We submit all entries to our judges without any names to keep everything anonymous. This is to make sure that all entries are judged fairly. Entries including your own name will not be sent to the judges.

In video entries, you can show your face, as long as it is not clear that you are the creator of the work. For example, we will accept a short film if you are acting in it, however, we will not accept a video of you reading out your own story. Again, this is to make sure that all entries are judged fairly. 

Yes, the rights of all entries submitted remain with the original author.

By entering the competition, you agree to have your work published by Melton City Libraries on our website (if your entry is shortlisted). However, the rights of your work stay with you. 

If it tells a story, we want to see it!

Entries can be presented in any way that tells a story. Your Short Story can be a piece of writing, an illustration, a video, a voice recording, or a combination of any of the above.

Written entries should be no more than 3000 words for the Adult category (18+ years) or 1500 words for Junior and Teen categories (under 18 years). For other story formats, aim for something that takes no more than 5 minutes to experience.

No, you do not need to have a library card to enter the competition. (However, it’s free to join!) You can still enter as long as you live, work or study in the City of Melton.

If you are aged 18 years or older on or before the Short Story Competition closing date (11 July 2025), please submit your entry in the Adult category.

If you have any problems in filling out the entry form, or your entry will not upload, please email shortstory@melton.vic.gov.au.