Do you have a short story inspired by the Australian country and a story you’re ready to share? The 2026 Ernestine Hill Memorial Award, presented by the Fellowship of Australian Writers NSW, invites Australian permanent residents to submit original short fiction of up to 4000 words for the chance to win $1000 and have their work considered for publication.
If you’d like to strengthen your short story writing before entering, our Short Story Essentials course can help you learn the techniques behind compelling, polished and show-stopping short stories.
From the competition website
- The Award is for Short Stories with an Australian Country theme, up to 4000 words.
- Entrants must be permanent residents of Australia.
- Submitted entries must not have previously been published, nor be under consideration for publication. Entries may have been entered in other competitions but not won a monetary prize. Receipt of entry will not be acknowledged.
- Multiple entries are permitted, a separate Entry Form must be submitted with each entry.
- Entries are to be submitted via the online entry form.
- Entry Fee is $20.00 per entry. Payment of the Entry Fee is to be made via the Stripe payment system, online from within the Entry Form.
- Entries must be in Word format or they will be disqualified.*
- Those unable to use the online forms, or the Stripe payment system please email the competition convenor Cate Plink at [email protected]
- The author’s identity must appear on the Entry Form ONLY. The author’s name must NOT appear on the manuscript.
- Only page number and title of the entry is to appear on the manuscript.
- The author retains copyright to all work submitted, prize-winning entries must be available for publication in the Fellowship’s bulletin Writers Voice and on the FAW NSW website.
- Entries must be original, creative and inspiring works.
- The judge’s decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into. There will be no individual appraisals.
The Award
PRIZE: $1000
THE WINNER and shortlisted entries will be notified via email once the judging has been completed. Judges report and short list will be on the FAW website. The winner will be announced at the Annual Awards luncheon to be held in Sydney in May 2027 (date to be advised).
Closing date 6.00pm AEDT Saturday 31st October 2026.
To learn more and enter, go to the Fellowship of Australian Writers New South Wales website here.
