2026 Short Story Competition Shortlists

Adult/Open

Camella Macpherson - Cardigan
Haelie Roberts - The days I disappear 
Matthew Southwell - Yes, Yes, Yes…
Lindsay Bamfield - Carys in her garden
Stephen Duddy - Therefore I think 

Secondary:

Luka Butautyte - What faces forget 
Ruby Lee - Heartbeat
Dhanisha Kumar - What it means to be human
Elise Low - Parasite
Elizabeth Du - Even when it's raining

Primary:

Fenix Kline - What it means to be human
Eddie Lah - MAXIMUSALTIMUS 
Kenayu Courtis - The girl who couldn't sing
Lumi Bould - Alive with the dead
Edie Cremean - The bushfire