The Hachette Prize for Young Writers is now open for 2025
The Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers is a developmental award open to Australian secondary school-aged students across the nation.
The prize recognises writing excellence in three categories: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction and Poetry. Entries can include writing for readers of any age.
The Prize is sponsored by Hachette Australia and administered by Express Media, Australia’s premier youth literary organisation. Shortlisted writers get the opportunity to receive mentorship from an established author. In 2025, the Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers Mentor is Ashleigh Barton!
The Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers gives young writers the opportunity to hone their skills under the guidance of some of Australia’s favourite authors. The Prize aims to ignite passion for creative writing and poetry in the minds of Australia’s secondary school students, and to encourage them to pursue writing and publishing opportunities inside and outside of the classroom.
On becoming our 2025 Ambassador, Ashleigh Barton, says:
I am so excited to be the 2025 ambassador for the Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers, administered by Express Media, Australia’s peak youth literary organisation. This competition offers an invaluable opportunity for young writers to develop their skills, polish their work and share their voices with the world. I can't wait to read your stories!
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Ashleigh Barton is a bestselling children's author and copywriter. Before writing full time, she worked in some of Australia's biggest publishing houses, running marketing and publicity campaigns for globally renowned authors and illustrators. Ashleigh’s work includes picture books, junior fiction and middle grade novels and has been recognised on the CBCA Notables and/or Shortlist in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025. In 2025 Ashleigh published her acclaimed middle grade fiction book How to Sail to Somewhere and her latest picture book, Hedgehog or Echidna?, was released in August 2025. Ashleigh lives in Sydney with her husband, three children and their dog.
The prize winner in each category will receive:
$500 courtesy of Hachette Australia
Publication of their work on the Express Media website
Their names and an acknowledgement printed in Voiceworks, Australia’s premier youth literary journal.
All fifteen shortlisted writers will:
Be invited to participate in a writing masterclass
Attend an exclusive Q&A with Ashleigh Barton
Receive a book pack courtesy of Hachette Australia.
The prize is judged by representatives from Hachette Australia and Express Media.
Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers will close at 11:59PM AEST Sunday 12th October.