The Ethics Centre Young Writers’ Competition 2026: $500 Prize for Young Writers Aged 13–29

The Ethics Centre Young Writers’ Competition 2026 is now open, inviting young writers to explore one of the most important questions facing society: What does an ethical world look like to you?

The annual non-fiction writing competition, organised by The Ethics Centre, provides young people with an opportunity to develop and share their ideas about ethics, society and the issues that matter to them. The competition is designed to amplify young people’s perspectives and give emerging writers a platform to communicate their thinking to a wider audience.

The competition is open to young writers aged 13 to 29, with entries divided into two age categories: 13–17 years and 18–29 years.

For the 2026 competition, the winner in each age category will receive a prize package valued at $500, consisting of a $250 cash prize and a $250 Rhodia voucher. Winners will also have their essays published digitally by The Ethics Centre.

Two runners-up in each age category will also have their essays published digitally by The Ethics Centre.

Application Deadline: 1 November 2026 at 11:59pm

What Is The Ethics Centre Young Writers’ Competition?

The Young Writers’ Competition is an annual non-fiction writing competition run by The Ethics Centre.

The competition is built around the idea that young people have valuable perspectives on what an ethical society should look like. It provides a platform for young writers to consider ethical questions, engage with complex social issues and communicate their ideas through non-fiction writing.

Rather than simply rewarding conventional academic writing, the competition encourages young people to think critically about the ethical issues they encounter in the world around them.

The central question for entrants is:

What does an ethical world look like to you?

This gives participants considerable freedom to identify and explore an ethical issue that matters to them.

Who Is the Competition For?

The competition is specifically designed for young writers aged 13 to 29.

There are two age categories:

13–17 Years

This category is intended for younger writers aged between 13 and 17.

It provides an opportunity for teenagers to develop and communicate their perspectives on ethical questions affecting society.

18–29 Years

This category is for young adults aged between 18 and 29.

Participants in this age group can explore more advanced ethical questions and contribute their perspectives to public conversations about society, technology, relationships, culture and other issues.

The two-category structure allows young writers at different stages of development to participate.

What Can Young Writers Write About?

The competition asks participants to share their ideas about what an ethical world looks like to them.

The historical examples provided by The Ethics Centre demonstrate the broad range of topics that young writers can explore.

Previous entrants have written about issues including:

• Artificial intelligence
• Relationships
• The future of work
• Animal ownership
• Gender and perceptions of men
• Philanthropy
• Beauty and its economics
• Social media
• Trauma
• Connection
• Copyright
• Plagiarism
• True crime media
• Intergenerational justice
• Friendships
• Environmental and existential concerns
• Prisons
• Technology and society

This history demonstrates that the competition is not limited to one particular discipline.

A writer can approach ethics through technology, culture, society, relationships, economics, health, the environment or another area that raises meaningful ethical questions.

Why the Competition Matters

The Ethics Centre states that it is committed to amplifying young people’s perspectives on what an ethical society looks like to them.

This is an important part of the competition because young people frequently experience social, technological and cultural changes differently from older generations.

The competition creates an avenue for young writers to articulate these perspectives through non-fiction writing.

Rather than simply asking participants to write about abstract philosophical concepts, the competition invites them to consider ethical questions in relation to real issues that affect people’s lives.

Competition Prizes and Recognition

The 2026 competition offers recognition in each age category.

First-Place Winners

The winner of each age category will receive a prize package valued at $500.

The prize consists of:

• $250 cash prize
• $250 Rhodia voucher

In addition to the prize, each category winner will have their essay published digitally by The Ethics Centre.

This gives winners both financial recognition and an opportunity to have their writing presented to a wider audience.

Runners-Up

Two runners-up in each age category will also have their essays published digitally by The Ethics Centre.

Therefore, publication is not limited to the first-place winners.

Across the two age categories, the competition will recognise:

• One winner in the 13–17 category
• Two runners-up in the 13–17 category
• One winner in the 18–29 category
• Two runners-up in the 18–29 category

A Platform for Emerging Writers

One of the major attractions of the Young Writers’ Competition is that it offers more than a prize.

For young writers, having an essay published by an established organisation such as The Ethics Centre can provide an opportunity to share their ideas with a broader audience.

The competition therefore combines:

• Writing
• Critical thinking
• Ethical reflection
• Public communication
• Recognition
• Digital publication

This makes the opportunity relevant to young people who are interested not only in writing but also in understanding and discussing important issues affecting society.

What Previous Competitions Have Looked Like

The Ethics Centre has provided information about previous Young Writers’ Competitions, demonstrating the range and quality of ideas that young entrants have explored.

2025 Young Writers’ Competition

The 2025 competition attracted 91 submissions from emerging Australian writers aged 13 to 29.

According to The Ethics Centre, entrants addressed pressing ethical questions including:

• The ethical implications of artificial intelligence on relationships
• The impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce
• Illegal animal ownership
• Perceptions of men

The 2025 results included winners and highly commended writers in both age categories.

13–17 Years

First place: Ariel Bai — Love and the machine

Highly commended: Rhiannon Gee — Illegal animal ownership and the coming ethical shift

18–29 Years

First place: Isha Desai — The “good ones” aren’t always kind

Highly commended: Dia Bianca Lao — The ethics of AI’s untaxed future

These examples demonstrate the range of subjects young writers can address, from relationships and technology to animal ownership and changing social expectations.

2024 Young Writers’ Competition

The 2024 competition attracted 89 original submissions from emerging Australian writers aged 13 to 29.

Entrants explored ethical questions surrounding:

• Pet ownership
• Philanthropy
• The economics of beauty
• Connection
• Social media
• Trauma

13–17 Years

First place: Serei Bayley — Rethinking the way we give

Highly commended: Chloe Qin — The transactional economics of beauty

18–29 Years

First place: William Salkeld — The ethics of pets: Ownership, abolitionism and the free-roaming model

Highly commended:

• Marlene Baquiran — The right to connect
• Wendy Chen — Understanding trauma as an ethical issue

These previous entries demonstrate that participants are encouraged to examine ethical questions from different perspectives rather than following a single prescribed approach.

2023 Young Writers’ Competition

The 2023 competition was the inaugural edition of the Young Writers’ Competition.

Participants explored ethical questions involving:

• Copyright in art
• Plagiarism
• Artificial intelligence
• True crime content and its impact on victims
• Intergenerational justice
• Friendships

13–17 Years

First place: Kieran Cashin — Lisa Frank and the ethics of copyright

Highly commended:

• Stella Eve Pei-Fen Browne — On plagiarism, fairness and AI
• Jessica Liu — True crime media: an ethical dilemma
• Sophie Yu — I changed my mind about prisons

18–29 Years

First place: Zoe Timimi — What we owe our friends

Highly commended:

• Pia Curran — What we owe each other: intergenerational and intertemporal justice
• David He — Blindness and seeing
• Layla Zak-Volpato — Gen Z and eco-existentialism: a cigarette at the end of the world

The history of the competition demonstrates that ethical writing can cover a very broad range of contemporary issues.

How the Competition Can Help Young Writers

The Young Writers’ Competition provides several potential benefits for participants.

1. Opportunity to Publish Your Work

Winners and runners-up in each age category will have their essays published digitally by The Ethics Centre.

For an emerging writer, publication can provide an important opportunity to have their ideas read beyond their immediate school, university or social network.

2. Financial Prize

The winner of each age category receives a prize package valued at $500.

The package includes:

• $250 cash
• $250 Rhodia voucher

3. Develop Critical Thinking

The competition encourages participants to engage with ethical questions.

This can help young writers examine assumptions, consider different perspectives and develop arguments around complex issues.

4. Explore Issues That Matter

Participants are not restricted to one narrow subject.

Previous competitions demonstrate that young people can explore questions involving technology, relationships, culture, society, health, economics, the environment and other areas.

5. Gain Recognition

Being selected as a winner or runner-up provides recognition for a young writer’s ability to think about and communicate ethical issues.

6. Join a Tradition of Young Ethical Thinkers

The competition has already attracted dozens of submissions from young Australian writers in its previous editions.

The 2025 competition alone attracted 91 submissions, while the 2024 competition received 89.

How to Approach the Competition

Although the source does not provide a detailed writing rubric or judging framework, previous winning and highly commended entries provide useful insight into the type of issues young writers have explored.

A prospective entrant can begin by identifying an ethical question that genuinely interests them.

Step 1: Identify an Ethical Question

Start with an issue that raises a genuine question about what people should do, how society should operate or what constitutes fairness, responsibility or good conduct.

For example, previous writers have explored questions around:

• Artificial intelligence
• Copyright
• Social connection
• Animal ownership
• Friendship
• Trauma
• Social media
• Intergenerational responsibility

Step 2: Develop Your Position

Once an ethical issue has been identified, consider what you think about it.

A strong non-fiction essay should give the reader a clear understanding of the writer’s perspective.

Step 3: Consider Different Perspectives

Ethical questions are often complex.

Writers can strengthen their discussion by recognising that other people may understand the issue differently.

Step 4: Connect the Issue to the Real World

The competition’s previous entries show that writers can examine ethical questions through contemporary social issues.

Connecting an ethical question to real experiences, developments or debates can make an essay more engaging.

Step 5: Focus on Clear Writing

Because the competition is designed to share young people’s ideas with a wider audience, clarity is important.

A writer should aim to communicate complex ideas in a way that readers can understand.

Start Your Application Here

Application Deadline

Applications for the 2026 Young Writers’ Competition must close:

1 November 2026 at 11:59pm

Young writers should ensure that they complete and submit their entries before the stated closing time.

Applicants are encouraged to begin preparing their essays early rather than waiting until the final day.

Click HERE to download the Information Pack.

About The Ethics Centre

The competition is organised by The Ethics Centre, an organisation focused on putting ethics at the centre of everyday life.

The Ethics Centre provides a range of activities and resources relating to ethics, including:

• Articles
• Podcasts
• Videos
• Research
• Courses
• Events
• Advice
• Consulting and leadership programmes
• Youth programmes
• Writing initiatives

The Young Writers’ Competition forms part of the organisation’s broader work of engaging people with ethical questions and encouraging thoughtful discussion about the issues that matter.

Who Should Consider Entering?

The competition may be particularly relevant to young people who enjoy:

• Writing
• Critical thinking
• Philosophy
• Social issues
• Technology and society
• Current affairs
• Ethics
• Research
• Public communication
• Debate
• Creative and analytical non-fiction

A participant does not need to be a professional writer to find the competition relevant.

The opportunity is specifically aimed at young writers, making it accessible to people who are developing their writing skills and have an issue they want to explore.

Location and Geographic Context

The competition is organised by The Ethics Centre in Australia and its previous competition records specifically describe entrants as emerging Australian writers aged 13 to 29.

The supplied 2026 announcement itself states the age range but does not provide a separate detailed nationality or international eligibility clause.

Prospective applicants outside Australia should therefore verify their eligibility directly with The Ethics Centre before submitting an entry.

Important Information About Eligibility

The most clearly stated eligibility requirement is age:

Applicants must be aged 13–29.

The competition is divided into:

• 13–17 years
• 18–29 years

The source’s historical results refer specifically to Australian writers, but the supplied 2026 announcement does not explicitly state a detailed citizenship or residency requirement.

Therefore, applicants should check the official competition application information for the definitive geographic eligibility rules before submitting.

Visit HERE to learn more about the Ethics Centre Young Writers’ Competition 2026.

Conclusion

The Ethics Centre Young Writers’ Competition 2026 offers young people an opportunity to turn their ideas about society, morality and the future into compelling non-fiction writing.

Open to writers aged 13 to 29, the competition is divided into two age categories, allowing younger teenagers and young adults to compete within their respective age groups.

The competition’s central question — what an ethical world looks like — leaves considerable room for creativity and critical thinking. Previous entrants have demonstrated how broad this question can be, exploring topics ranging from artificial intelligence and social media to animal ownership, copyright, friendship, trauma, philanthropy and intergenerational justice.

For the 2026 competition, the winner of each age category will receive a $500 prize package, comprising a $250 cash prize and a $250 Rhodia voucher. Winners and two runners-up in each age category will also have their essays published digitally by The Ethics Centre.

The opportunity is therefore valuable not only for its financial prize but also for the opportunity to have young people’s ideas amplified through publication.

The application deadline is 1 November 2026 at 11:59pm.

Young writers who have an ethical question they are passionate about should consider using this opportunity to develop their argument, engage with the issue thoughtfully and share their perspective with a wider audience.