June Shenfield National Poetry Awards 2025

Entries Due Monday, 12 May

MARION is delighted to open entries for the 2025 June Shenfield Poetry Awards — a national annual prize established to commemorate poet June Shenfield and to encourage the writing, publishing, and reading of poetry.

June Shenfield was a poet, playwright and performance artist who lived and worked in Paris for much of her life. She wrote experimental, free verse poetry that was designed to be read aloud. In 1985, with her husband Ken Shepherd, she opened the first gallery and bookshop in France devoted to Australian art and writing.

MARION and FNAWN Members entry fee: $15, Non-member entry fee: $20

Entry fee submissions are non-refundable. The fee is required for each submission made.

Key Dates

  • Monday 26 March – Call for entries opens

  • Monday 12 May – Entries close at midnight

  • Monday 16 June – Shortlist announced

  • Thursday 3 July – Winners announced
    ACT Literary Awards Night
    The Australian Academy of Science's Shine Dome, Acton

This award is for an emerging Australian poet.
Who is an emerging writer?

In this case it could mean that you have done a fair amount of writing, studied writing, or are currently studying writing at a tertiary institution. You may have had some short pieces published or been listed for some awards; however, you have not yet had a full-length book published by a mainstream publisher.

ENTRIES CAN BE MADE BELOW: Please read the following terms and conditions before making a submission.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

PRIZES

  • The First Prize winner will receive AUD $1,000.

  • The Second Prize winner will receive AUD $700.

  • The Third Prize winner will receive AUD $500.

  • Award winners and shortlisted poets may have their work published online in the MARION Journal and/or in a future poetry publication.

ELIGIBILITY

  • These are National Awards - Entrants can be from any state or territory in Australia.

  • The applicant must be a citizen or permanent resident of Australia.

  • The prize is open to emerging poets.

  • The poem must have been written in 2024 or 2025.

  • Submitted poems must not have been previously published in a book (including anthologies), a literary journal (print or online), or a commercial website. However, poems that have only been self-published (e.g., on a personal blog or social media) or published in non-commercial community newsletters or university publications are eligible, provided the entrant retains full rights to their work. For the purposes of the June Shenfield Poetry Awards, an emerging poet is defined as a writer who has demonstrated dedication to their craft but has not yet achieved significant professional recognition.

    This may include poets who:

    • Have not yet published a full-length collection with a commercial publisher.

    • May have had poems published in journals, anthologies, or online platforms but are still in the early stages of their literary career.

    • Have not received major literary awards or fellowships for their poetry.

    • Are actively developing their voice and body of work within the literary community.

  • If the submitted poem is longlisted or shortlisted for another award, the poet must promptly notify MARION. To preserve the integrity of the judging process, the poet may be required to choose between opportunities and withdraw their work from one competition before final outcomes are announced.

The prize is designed to support and encourage emerging poets by providing financial recognition and public acknowledgment of their work. This may include individuals who have actively written poetry, studied writing, or are currently undertaking writing studies at a tertiary institution.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

  • Entries must be uploaded to this submission form.

  • The form must uploaded and you must make payment for your submission to be valid.

    Note: Upload your poem as a PDF or Word document using a legible font (e.g., Times New Roman, 12pt, single-spaced)

  • Language: Poems must be written in English.

  • Length: Poems must be a maximum of 80 lines. The title is not included in this line count.

ENTRY FEES

  • Entry fees are $15 per entry for MARION members.

  • Entry fees are $20 per entry for non-members.

  • Entry fees are non-refundable, including in cases where an entrant withdraws their submission.

  • Individuals can enter a maximum of 6 works. Each work must be submitted separately, and an entry fee is required for each submission.

JUDGING PROCESS

  • Submissions will be assessed on originality, artistic merit, and emotional impact.

  • The prize will be blind-judged; the judge/s will not be aware of the identity of the entrants.

EXCLUSIONS

  • Members of the judging panel, MARION staff and Board, as well as immediate family members of MARION staff and organisers, are not eligible to enter.

ORIGINALITY AND AI USE

  • Entries must be original works written by an individual living author and must not infringe upon anyone’s copyright.

  • The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the creation or generation of submissions is not permitted. Entries found to have been generated or significantly assisted by AI will be disqualified.

PRIVACY, DATA AND OUTCOMES

  • Entrants' personal information will be managed in accordance with MARION’s privacy policy and relevant privacy laws. It will be used solely for administering the prize.

  • Should any dispute arise between MARION and the Award Recipient that cannot be solved by negotiation between the two parties, the dispute will be resolved through mediation by the ACT Conflict Resolution Service.

  • All decisions by MARION and the judging panel are final. No further correspondence will be entered into.

ENTRY SUBMISSION FORM