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.

National History Challenge

For Year levels: F–12, nationwide
Topic: 2025 Theme – Conflict and Resolution
Competition Format: Submitted entries to a State Coordinator
Acceptable entry modes: Research essay, museum exhibit, multimedia, performance, website, ANY other form of creative representation
Application process: Schools must register for a Welcome Kit prior to deadline
Deadline for entries: Friday 22 August 2025
Prizes: Cash prizes and a behind-the-scenes trip to Canberra to receive their award at Parliament House
Coordinating and/or Sponsoring Organisation: HTAA, Australian Government, Department of Education and Training
Special Features: Individual or group entry (max. four students)
Opportunities for HTAV members: Competition judging
For more information: www.htav.asn.au/students/national-history-challenge
Website: historychallenge.org.au

Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize

Robert Menzies Institute Speech Competition

For Year levels: 7–12; Australian students
Topic: "If truth is to emerge and in the long run be triumphant, the process of free debate, the untrammeled clash of opinion must go on." How important is respectful debate to the health of democracy?
Competition Format: Speech filmed as a video
Deadline for entries: Sunday 20 July 2025
Prizes: Cash and Book prizes.
Special Features: The winner of the Year 11/12 will be invited to deliver their speech at the Robert Menzies Institute Annual Conference in November 2025.
Opportunities for HTAV members: N/A
For more information: www.htav.asn.au/students/robert-menzies-institute-speech-competition
Website: www.robertmenziesinstitute.org.au/research-learning/learning/speech-competition

The Simpson Prize

For Year levels: 9–10, nationwide
Topic: TBA
Competition Format: Online submissions
Accepted entry modes: Essay
Deadline for entries: TBA
Prizes: One winner and one runner-up from each State and Territory will participate in a three-day program in Canberra in 2026.
Coordinating and/or Sponsoring Organisation: HTAA, Australian Government Department of Education
Special Features: National Competition
Opportunities for HTAV members: Teacher Chaperone positions available
For more information: www.htav.asn.au/students/the-simpson-prize
Website: www.simpsonprize.org
Please note, the competition which is open for entries in 2025 is referred to as the ‘2026 Simpson Prize’, to reflect when the prize will be awarded.

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: Registrations close Monday 31 March 2025. Competition held Wedneday 28 May.
Prizes: Cash prizes
Coordinating and/or Sponsoring Organisation: HTAA, Historicool Magazine
For more information: www.htav.asn.au/students/australian-history-competition
Website: australianhistorycompetition.org.au

Please note: All competitions are run by different organisations and are subject to their Child Safety policies.