Entry categories, prizes and judges

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Poem Forest is a free nature writing prize that breathes life back into the natural world that sustains us.

Created by Red Room Poetry, in partnership with Wollongong City Council, Poem Forest  deepens our connection with nature by inviting students and communities to create and publish poems inspired by the natural environment. For every poem received a tree will be planted on Dharawal and Wodi Wodi Country in the Wollongong LGA to help heal habitats and create a Poem Forest for future generations.

ENTER POEM FOREST NOW

Categories of entry

  • Lower primary (F–Year 3)
  • Upper primary (Years 4–6)
  • Primary First Nations (F- Year 6) *NEW PRIZE
  • Primary CaLD (F-Year 6) *NEW PRIZE
  • Lower secondary (Years 7–9)
  • Upper secondary (Years 10–12)
  • Secondary First Nations (Years 7-12) *NEW PRIZE
  • Secondary CaLD (Years 7-12) *NEW PRIZE
  • Accredited Teacher (All ages)
  • Wollongong Community Greening Local Prize (F–12)

Prizes

The following prizes will be awarded to the best poem in each category:

  • $100 Dymocks Book Voucher
  • Poem Published on the Red Room Poetry Website
  • Handcrafted Poetry Journal by Corban & Blair
  • Judge’s Notes & Winner’s Certificate
  • ‘Wild Things’ Art Print Poster
  • 2026 Mycelium Mushroom Calendar

Highly Commended prizes in each category will also be awarded a book prize.

Publishing Outcomes

Shortlisted, Highly Commended and Winning poems will be published on the Red Room Poetry website in our digital Poem Forest with a worldwide audience of 300,000+ readers.

Special Prize Categories

First Nations Primary (F-Year 6) & First Nations Secondary (Years 7-12) Prizes

The First Nations Primary and First Nations Secondary prizes will be awarded to Aboriginal identifying students. To be eligible for this category you must identify as Aboriginal and be enrolled as such at school. The prizes for this category are as listed above.

CaLD Primary (F-Year 6) & CaLD Secondary (Years 7-12) Prizes

The CaLD Primary and CaLD Secondary prizes will be awarded the best poems written in English to students who have a primary language other than english. The prizes for this category are as listed above.

Wollongong Community Greening Local Prize (F–12)

The Wollongong Community Greening Local Prize (F-12) from Wollongong City Council will be awarded to students living or attending school on Dharawal and Wodi Wodi Country within the Wollongong LGA. Wollongong City Council is also offering a seedling to all students who enter the POEM FOREST prize and live or study on Dharawal and Wodi Wodi Country in the Wollongong LGA. Request your seedling via our online entry form when you submit your poem.

  • School prize: free school excursion/incursion for one (1) class - up to thirty (30) students with Wollongong Botanic Garden and 30 free plants from the Garden's Greenplan Nursery for the best collaborative class poem.
  • Individual prize: see prizes listed above, plus a $50 voucher to spend at Wollongong Botanic Garden's Greenplan Nursery for the best individual poem.

Please see Terms and Conditions for eligibility.

Judges

We're thrilled that our 2025 commissioned poets will also be our judging panel this year, and welcome: Aboriginal scholar and Author Tyson Yunkaporta, Arrente, Jamaican, Irish and Scottish songstress, poet and producer Aurora Liddle-Christie AKA SOLCHLD, Children’s author and 2024 Poem Forest Accredited Teacher Prize Winner Blake Nuto.

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Featured Project

Poem Forest