This year’s Student Poetry Competition drew a record response from young writers across Victorian schools.
More than 1300 poems were submitted by students from Foundation to Year 12, the highest number of entries since the competition began in 2020.
Each poem offered a glimpse into how young people see and shape the world through words, with many choosing to explore this year’s optional theme of ‘gratitude’, writing about the people, places and moments that meant the most to them.
It’s a celebration not just of poetry, but of creativity, reflection and the joy of self-expression.
Below you can read the written entries, watch the winning performance poems, and find out which students received honourable mentions in each category.