Competitions

History competitions are a great way to motivate and reward your students and raise the profile of History in your school community. There are strong links to the curriculum, and students can often use school assessments and projects as their entries. If you have ever had the chance to attend an awards ceremony or travel with competition winners, you will know the profound impact the competitions have on their learning and their personal development.

There are great travel and competition-judging opportunities for teachers too!
We have summarised the key elements of each of the competitions below, and you can find out a little more by click on the tabs to the left.

• Premier’s Spirit of ANZAC Prize
• The Simpson Prize
• HTAV Historical Fiction Competition
• National History Challenge
• Australian History Competition
• John Button School Prize

Premier’s Spirit of ANZAC Prize



For Year levels: 9 and 10, students in Victoria only
Topic: Choice of three questions released each year in February
Competition Format: Online submissions
Accepted entry modes: Essay with references, poem, short story, audio presentation, video, musical composition, web page, artwork
Deadline for entries: Tuesday 9 October 2018, 5pm
Prizes: An overseas study tour for 22 students and a Canberra study tour for 20 students
Coordinating and/or Sponsoring Organisation: Victoria State Government: Veterans Branch of the Department of Premier and Cabinet
Special Features: HTAV will bring a free roadshow to your school for your students (‘The Lost Men of Fromelles’ plus unpacking the 2018 Topics)
Opportunities for HTAV members: Teacher Chaperone positions available for both study tours; Member of the Teacher Judging Panel
Website: www.dpc.vic.gov.au/index.php/veterans/premiers-spirit-of-anzac-prize


The Simpson Prize



For Year levels: 9 and 10, nationwide
Topic: New topic released each year
Competition Format: Online submissions
Accepted entry modes: Essay
Deadline for entries: November 2018 – Date TBC
Prizes: One winner and one runner-up from each state and territory will attend a Canberra study tour. Winning students will travel to key battlefields overseas.
Coordinating and/or Sponsoring Organisation: Australian Government, Department of Education and Training
Special Features: National Competition
Opportunities for HTAV members: Teacher Chaperone positions available
Website: www.simpsonprize.org


HTAV Historical Fiction Competition

For Year levels: 5 to 10; Victorian students or institutional members of HTAV
Topic: A piece of engaging Historical Fiction, focus on both writing and historical accuracy
Competition Format: Online submissions
Acceptable entry modes: Short Story
Deadline for entries: Wednesday 1 August 2018, 5pm
Prizes: Winning students will each receive a cash prize of $150 and a certificate
Coordinating and/or Sponsoring Organisation: HTAV, one prize from History Council of Victoria
Special Features: Competition categories are banded across two years
Opportunities for HTAV members: Competition judging
Website: www.htav.asn.au/students/htav-historical-fiction-competition


National History Challenge



For Year levels: F – 12, nationwide
Topic: 2018 Theme: Turning Points
Competition Format: Submitted entries to a State Coordinator
Acceptable entry modes: Research essay, museum exhibit, multimedia, performance, website, ANY other form of creative representation
Deadline for entries: Saturday 25 August 2018
Prizes: Cash prizes and a behind-the-scenes trip to Canberra to receive their award at Parliament House
Coordinating and/or Sponsoring Organisation: Australian Government, Department of Education and Training
Special Features: Individual or group entry (max. four students)
Opportunities for HTAV members: Competition judging
Website: www.historychallenge.org.au


Australian History Competition



For Year levels: 7-10, nationwide
Topic: Two papers broadly based on the Australian Curriculum: Years 7-8, Years 9-10
Competition Format: Assessment held on one day
Acceptable entry modes: Test format, multiple choice questions, tests history skills rather than prior content knowledge
Deadline for entries: Participating schools must register by Saturday 31 March 2018; competition held in week of 23 May 2018
Prizes: Cash Prizes
Coordinating and/or Sponsoring Organisation: HTAA and Historicool Magazine
Website: australianhistorycompetition.org.au


John Button School Prize

For Year levels: Years 10 to 12, under the age of 19 years. Past winners are not eligible to re-enter in subsequent years.
Topic: Essays submitted for the School Prize will discuss Australian politics or policy. They might address such topics as Australia’s population, climate change, reconciliation with Indigenous Australians, water, asylum seekers, education, health, the state of the arts — big ideas for Australia’s future.
Competition Format: Online submissions
Accepted entry modes: Essay
Deadline for entries: May 2018 – Date TBC
Prizes: Student prize is $2,500; Student's school receives $2,000.
Coordinating and/or Sponsoring Organisation: The University of Melbourne
Special Features: Victoria Competition
Website: arts.unimelb.edu.au/scholarships/prizes-and-scholarships/john-button-school-prize