Unleash Your Creativity for Conservation: The Threatened Species Art and Writing Competition Is Back!
Did you know our very own Macarthur region is a treasure trove of incredible native plants and animals? From unique flora to fascinating fauna, our backyard is bursting with biodiversity! But sadly, many of these amazing species are in trouble. They're facing big challenges like losing their homes, battling introduced predators, and fighting off foreign diseases, pushing them closer to extinction.
That's where you come in!
The Threatened Species Art and Writing Competition (TSAC) is calling on all young conservation heroes to make a difference. This annual regional environmental education program, proudly supported by Campbelltown City Council, Camden Council, and Wollondilly Shire Council, is your chance to shine a spotlight on our vulnerable local species.
Now in its 18th year, TSAC is a fantastic way to celebrate Biodiversity Month (September) and Threatened Species Day on Sunday 7 September. We challenge school students 5 - 16 years of age to dive deep, research a local threatened species, and then bring its story to life through a captivating artwork or a powerful piece of creative writing.
This isn't just an art or writing competition; it's a cross-curricular adventure! TSAC seamlessly blends Geography, Science, Visual Arts, and English, offering a unique and engaging learning experience for schools across the Macarthur region.
So, are you ready to use your creativity to help protect our precious threatened species?
How to enter
Whether you're creating an artwork or writing piece, entering is easy!
Simply complete the online entry form and attach your artwork or creative writing piece.
Online entries are open on Monday 21 July and close Sunday 7 September 2025.
Postal Entries
You can also submit your entries by post using the entry form to the below locations:
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Wollondilly Shire Council, Threatened Species Competition, PO Box 21, Picton NSW 2571
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Campbelltown City Council, Threatened Species Competition, PO Box 57, Campbelltown NSW 2560
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Camden Council. Threatened Species Competition, PO Box 183, Camden NSW 2570
Entering a Creative Writing Story
We want you to write a short story that celebrates the beauty and uniqueness of our threatened plants and animals.
You can get as creative as you like, however the story must include facts about one or more of the following:
- The plant or animal's habitat
- The plant or animal's diet
- The threats to the plant or animal
- How you think we can save the plant or animal from extinction.
Entry is open to writers aged 8 to 16 years. All you need to do is:
- Write a creative story that could be read to someone aged 5-6 years old
- Make sure your story is no longer than one A4 page.
Judging of creative writing entries
Each year we receive some inspiring reasons as to why students are inspired to create an artwork of their chosen species, and we want to capture these wonderful written words in the form of creative short stories.
To determine the best competition entries, Council’s library and environment staff have developed creative writing criteria and will be judging the stories against this.
Creative writing criteria:
• 30% for three or more accurate facts about the chosen species
• 20% ability to connect the audience with the subject matter (impact)
• 20% creativity
• 15% grammar
• 15% structure (beginning, middle and end)
Entering an Artwork
All you need to do is ensure your entry:
- Is of a threatened plant or animal species that occurs in the Macarthur region and on any sized paper
- Be as creative as possible - you could use pens, pencils, crayons, or even stick things on, like leaves, twigs or cellophane
- Includes your name, age and contact details on the artwork.
If you are entering as a school, please ensure that each student's name, age, school and class is identified on the artwork.
Teacher Resources
We have created a teachers resource kit to assist with the delivering the competition in classrooms.
You can promote the competition in your school community with our Threatened Species Art and Writing Competition Poster.
To find out what threatened plants and animals occur in the Macarthur region view the threatened Threatened Species List.
Terms & Conditions
COMPETITION RULES
Art and creative writing categories
1. Creative writing and artwork entries must be on an A4 piece of paper. Entries close Sunday 7 September 2025.
2. Entries must feature a threatened species (plant, animal, pollinator) that occurs in the Macarthur region.
3. Each individual entry must have an entry form.
4. If you are entering as a school, please ensure that each student’s name, age, school and class is identified on the artwork or story.
5. Creative writing entries must include a minimum of 3 facts about the featured plant, animal or pollinator.
6. Artwork entries can incorporate any medium such as digital, painting, collage, drawing and textiles.
7. Entrants in this competition give permission for their artwork and/or story to be publicly displayed
and reproduced by print and electronic media by the competition organisers for not-for-profit publications, advertising and promotional purposes, and for their name to be published if they are a winner.
8. Entries submitted by school groups/classes will be available for collection from respective local
Council offices following the conclusion of the travelling exhibition.
9. Any uncollected entries will be donated to local schools or libraries.
10. All personal information gathered by the competition organisers will be used solely for the purposes of administering the Threatened Species Art and Writing Competition.
11. The judging panel for the artwork will include a representative from each Council and their decision
will be final. The creative writing stories will be judged by one judge representing all Councils and their decision will be final. The criteria for judging the creative writing stories include:
• 30% for three or more accurate facts about the chosen species
• 20% ability to connect the audience with the subject matter (impact)
• 20% creativity
• 15% grammar
• 15% structure (beginning, middle and end)
12. Respective Councillors, competition organisers, the judging panel and their immediate families are not eligible to enter the competition.
