The Newcastle Poetry Prize is a project of the Hunter Writers’ Centre Inc. and supported by the University of Newcastle.

By entering the Newcastle Poetry Prize, the Entrant agrees to be bound by the following terms and conditions.

1. Entries close 11.59pm AEST on Friday 4th August 2023.
2. Entrants must be aged 18 years or over.
3. Entrants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia. Entrants can reside anywhere in the world.
4. Entries must be original work authored by the Entrant.
5. The prize pool is $22,500 maximum sponsored by the University of Newcastle.
6. The maximum line limit is 200. This includes titles and any sub-headings. There is no minimum line limit.
7. Only lines of text are included in the maximum 200-line count, not spaces between lines. For print presentation, Hunter Writers’ Centre reserves the right to alter white space between lines.
8. Poems must not include any identifying marks that would identify the Entrant, including the Entrant’s name. This means any word that the judges can link directly to the Entrant. Names of places and/or first names of people are, generally, acceptable. Be sure there are no words that identify the Entrant as the author.
9. Entry is online only. Each entry must be attached as a separate Word document (.doc, docx) to the submission form. 
10. Entrants do not have to be a member of Hunter Writers’ Centre to enter the competition.
11. Entries must not be published in any form (print or electronic) or currently offered for publication.
12. During the judging period, poems may be entered into other competitions. If a poem is long-listed for the Newcastle Poetry Prize, the poet will be given a 24-hour period to decide whether they want to withdraw their poem from the Newcastle Poetry Prize or from the other competition. Exclusivity is essential for the Newcastle Poetry Prize long-listed poems. If, during the judging period, a poem is accepted or long-listed in another competition, the poet must immediately notify the Hunter Writers Centre and withdraw their entry from the Newcastle Poetry Prize or withdraw from the other competition. Entry fees are non-refundable if a poem is withdrawn from the Newcastle Poetry Prize.
    
13. Entrants must acknowledge any quotes or text from other sources used within entered poems.
14. Entrants may be subject to an academic integrity check.
15. Entrants must provide their own name on the entry form for administrative purposes. If an Entrant prefers to be published under a pseudonym, they must note both their pseudonym and real name on the entry form.
16. There is no limit on the number of entries that can be submitted. Entry fees are $35.20 per entry ($32.00 + $3.20 GST). A single poem is a single entry and carries an fee of $35.20. One poem = one entry = one entry fee.
    
17. Poems entered in previous Newcastle Poetry Prize years that were not selected in the shortlist, anthology or prizes may be re-entered.
18. Staff and Board Members of Hunter Writers’ Centre and their family members are not eligible to enter.
19. The Newcastle Poetry Prize Local Award is eligible only to Hunter Valley residents.
20. The Hunter Writers’ Centre Members Award is eligible only for Hunter Writers’ Centre members.
21. The Harri Jones Memorial Prize is awarded to the best poem written by an Author under the age of 36 years.
22. A poem cannot be entered If the judges have read part or all your entry prior to submission.
23. The judges’ decisions are final. No correspondence will be entered into with either the judges, the staff or the board of Hunter Writers’ Centre or sponsors.
24. By entering the Newcastle Poetry Prize, the Author gives permission to Hunter Writers’ Centre to publish their work in the 2023 Newcastle Poetry Prize anthology if selected by the judges. The copyright to the work is retained by the Author. As publisher of the anthology, Hunter Writers’ Centre will have First Publication Rights to all submitted works and may use any title or excerpt from any entry for the purpose of promoting the competition and the anthology. Any collection or publication after the Newcastle Poetry Prize that includes the Author’s poem should acknowledge this competition.
25. The list of authors to be published in the anthology will be announced in October. Prize-winners will be announced at the prize ceremony in November
26. The Newcastle Poetry Prize ceremony will be held in Newcastle on Saturday 18 November 2023. This date is subject to change.
27. All poets selected to be entered into the anthology will be posted one (1) copy of the print anthology. Poets residing overseas will be asked to contribute to postage costs.
28. Prize winners may be required to participate in media-related events associated with the competition.
29. By supplying your contact details, the Entrant agrees to receive opt-out correspondence from the Hunter Writers’ Centre.