What is it? The Writing Democracy Challenge is a letter-writing challenge for students in Years 7-10 in NSW public schools. Students engage with important social issues, refine their writing skills, and learn the real-world practice of civics and democracy!
Presented by Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law at UNSW, UNSW Resilient Democracy Lab, Story Factory and NSW Department of Education.
Competition Highlights:
- Date: Tuesday, 15 September 2026 (International Democracy Day)
- Time Commitment: 90-minute, in-school letter-writing challenge
- Who Can Participate: any student in Years 7-10 attending a NSW public high school
- Prizes & Workshop: selected students will be invited to attend a State-wide final workshop on Wednesday, 18 November 2026 at NSW Parliament House
How it Works:
Within the 90-minute in-school Challenge window, students will:
- Preparation Materials:
- Watch educational videos on democracy, political persuasion, and advocacy.
- Receive instructions and a letter-writing template to help them craft a persuasive letter.
- The Challenge:
- Write a letter proposing a solution to a real-world issue addressed to either the NSW Department of Education or their local council.
- Judging & Prizes:
- Letters will be judged based on innovation and persuasiveness.
- The best entries will be invited to the State-wide workshop, where students will refine their letters and send them to decision-makers.
Teachers will:
- Supervise the conduct of the Challenge in-school
- Read student letters and nominate two students from each stage (Stage 4 and Stage 5) to attend the State Final in November
All materials (videos, instructions etc) will be provided by the Writing Democracy team.
Why Get Involved?
- Civics Engagement: Teach students how democracy works in practice and encourage them to become active participants in creating positive social change.
- Skill Development: Students will sharpen their writing, critical thinking, and persuasion skills.
- Student Voice: Students at all levels will learn the power of their voice in addressing issues that are important to them, their school and their community.
Next Steps
- Interested? Please register here by Friday, 31 July 2025: Writing Democracy Challenge 2026 - School Registration – Fill in form
- For questions contact Rose Vassel, Project Coordinator, at writingdemocracy@unsw.edu.au.
FAQS
Are there any costs associated with participating in the Challenge?
There are no fees or extra costs for taking part in the school-based stage of the competition. However, if your school chooses to print any competition materials (this is optional) those costs will be borne by the school.
What are the timing / resource requirements of participating in the Challenge?
The table below shows the estimated timeline and resource requirements for participating in the Challenge.
| When | What | Who | Hours |
| 31 July 2026 | Last date for schools to sign-up to the Challenge | School principals / head teachers / classroom teachers | NA |
| End of August | Distribute Challenge materials to classroom teachers by email | Head teachers or office staff | 0.2 |
| Early September | Briefing call (optional) | Classroom teachers for years 7-10 | 0.5 |
| 15 September | International Democracy Day Challenge (in-school) | Classroom teachers for years 7-10 | 1.5 |
| Late September | Marking of Challenge letters | Classroom teachers for each year group | 2 |
| 18 November 2026 | State-wide workshop | 1 teacher to accompany participating students | 5-6 plus travel time |
Will schools be funded to mark the papers?
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide funding for teachers to mark the papers. However, we do not require that English teachers specifically mark the student responses. If there are teachers in other streams who are interested in the Challenge, marking can also be distributed to them.
How many students from my school can participate in the Challenge?
There is no maximum number of students that can participate in the Challenge, and we encourage schools to participate in the Challenge with whole classes or year groups. We also welcome participation by small groups of students, although we ask that a minimum of 5 students participate.
Is there flexibility around the date of the Challenge?
We encourage schools to conduct the Challenge on 15 September 2026 to coincide with International Democracy Day. However, we understand that for various reasons this may not be possible. If this is the case, you may choose to conduct the Challenge on any day in the week commencing 15 September.
At what time should I run the Challenge?
You can conduct the Challenge during any 90-minute window. It is not necessary for all classes to complete the Challenge at the same time, and accordingly you may wish to stagger the Challenge over multiple 90-minute windows according to class periods.
Will the instructional videos be livestreamed or pre-recorded?
The videos will be pre-recorded and all the necessary materials will be provided in advance, making it possible to run the Competition at a time that works for your school.
Do students type their letters or write by hand?
Each school can choose to have their students type their letters or write them by hand, depending on what is easier to administer and mark (and noting that the letters of winning students should be retained to bring to the Final event).
What is the outcome of the Final Workshop? Will there be prizes?
There will be two prizes (to be determined) per stage, as well as some special mentions. Students who are selected for the Final Workshop will have the opportunity to send their letters to the Secretary of the Department of Education or their local council.