This year marks an exciting new chapter for our Student Poetry Competition. For the first time, we’ve invited a panel of guest judges to join us in celebrating the creativity of student writers across Victoria. This exciting new addition to the competition gives students the opportunity to have their work read and recognised by voices from across the poetry and education community.
Matt Runnalls
Matt Runnalls is a global award-winning mental health advocate, bestselling author, and the founder of Mindfull Aus, a leading non-profit dedicated to improving mind and behavioural health through education, emotional literacy programs. Driven by lived experience and compassion, Matt has delivered over 2500 speeches and keynotes across the globe, inspiring change and breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health. His impactful work has reached schools, communities and corporate sectors alike, empowering individuals to prioritise wellbeing and speak openly. Through Mindfull Aus, Matt continues to lead vital conversations that foster resilience, connection and hope.
Sara Amanulla
Growing up, Sara always wanted to be a writer, but she became something she loved even more: an English teacher at Fitra Community School. Now Sara gets to share books and words and poems with students year in and year out – the best job! Sara’s love for poetry began when she read Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken, a poem that stayed with her long after her teacher introduced it. Sara’s always been fascinated by how poetry plays with language and invites deep thought. A fun tradition of hers is buying a new children’s poetry book each year to enjoy and share with her students.
Sophia Benjamin
Sophia Benjamin is a publishing worker, writer and lover of literature and poetry. She works across publicity, marketing and editorial at Scribe Publications and Scribble Kids Books, and previously worked at Thames & Hudson Australia. She’s also worked for other literary magazines and organisations, including Going Down Swinging, Meanjin and The Small Press Network. Sophia’s writing has been published in Overland, Voiceworks and Archer. In 2019, she self-published a collection of poetry entitled Sleepover. Earlier this year, Sophia’s short story ‘My Wedding Cheesemonger’ was adapted for the stage in the show ‘À La Carte’ at NIDA. Sophia’s favourite writer is Toni Morrison.
Do your students love expressing themselves through words? Are they curious about performance poetry, spoken word or the power of rhythm and rhyme?
In partnership with Arts Centre Melbourne, we’re offering a lucky class with strong student participation in the Student Poetry Competition the opportunity to attend an exclusive Hip Hop Lyric Writing workshop at The Channel, facilitated by acclaimed artist N’fa Jones.
This hands-on experience invites students to explore self-expression through hip hop culture and values, including respect, inclusion and individuality, as they transform their ideas and opinions into original lyrics. They’ll craft their own verses, experiment with rhyme and flow and have the chance to perform to a backing beat.
Encourage your students to submit their individual poems to the Student Poetry Competition by Friday 29 August 2025.
Want to explore more programs like this? Visit Arts Centre Melbourne’s Schools Program to see how they’re supporting creative learning in classrooms across Victoria.
ACM Schools Program
Arts Centre Melbourne Schools Program engages students and teachers to our venues for exciting mainstage performances, including theatre, live music, dance, circus and so much more. School groups can also book into tours and curriculum aligned performing arts workshops led by teaching artists. Eligible schools can access subsidised tickets and transport through the First Call Fund program. Stay connected via our eNews to hear about our upcoming opportunities including Teacher Professional Learning.
Arts Centre Melbourne sits on a site that has been a gathering place for song, storytelling, community and culture for First Nations people for millennia. Sitting beneath our iconic Spire, we stage more than 4000 performances and public events per year and have welcomed over 3 million people through our doors for over 40 years.
