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The art of the line: Submissions open for 2025 Bruce Dawe Poetry Prize

2 min read
30 Jul 2025
An older man with a mustache sits indoors, wearing a light-patterned shirt, with one arm resting on a stack of books.
An oil on canvas artwork of Bruce Dawe by artist Sven Roehrs (Fryer Library accession number 100528).

The passion, creativity and candour of new and established poets will be on show again this year as part of the ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø’s (ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø) 2025 Bruce Dawe Poetry Prize.

One of the richest accolades in Australian poetry, the literary prize honours the legacy of acclaimed contemporary poet Bruce Dawe AO and was established 26 years ago following his long tenure as a lecturer at the University.

Bruce Dawe AO was not only loved across the country for his award-winning work and profound observations of ordinary life, but also deeply cherished by the ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø community and the many alumni whose lives he touched.

Chair of the Bruce Dawe National Poetry Prize Professor Laurie Johnson said the significance of the competition never fades – regardless of how many years pass by.

“Bruce Dawe remains in our cultural memory as one of Australia’s finest poets, and we are extremely proud of the fact that he served here for many years, inspiring generations of writers, teachers, and scholars,” Professor Johnson said.

“We received just under 1,700 entries in 2024, which is both a great show of continued support for the Prize from Australia’s writing community and a testament to the power of poetry to help people find a voice at a time when the events around the world can seem overwhelming.”

Professor Johnson said one of the most exciting parts of the Bruce Dawe Poetry Prize was the variety and uniqueness of entries, and he expects this year to be no different.

“There was plenty of formal experimentation on display in last year’s entries and we expect to see more of that in 2025, with our writers looking for new ways to make a mark through poetry in a world of clips, soundbites, and viral memes,” he said.

“Politics and global conflicts are likely to dominate the entries, but we invite poets to also find ways to use their writing to highlight the good in people or the joy in their world.

“Sometimes, writers can be their own worst critics – so the best way to gauge your own writing is to have it read. Submitting to the competition allows our expert judging panel to identify yours as a voice for our time.”

The winner of ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø’s 2025 Bruce Dawe Poetry Prize will receive $3000, and two highly commended entrants will be awarded $500 each. Submissions close 22 October.