Competitions

History competitions are a great way to motivate and reward your students and raise the profile of History in your school community. There are strong links to the curriculum, and students can often use school assessments and projects as their entries.

If you have ever had the chance to attend an awards ceremony or travel with competition winners, you will know the profound impact the competitions have on their learning and their personal development. There are great travel and competition-judging opportunities for teachers, too!

We have summarised the key elements of each of the competitions below, and you can find out a little more by click on the tabs to the left.

The Simpson Prize

For Year levels: 9–10, nationwide
Topic: ‘Australia’s relationship with Great Britain explains why Australia and individual Australians went to war.’ Discuss the accuracy of this statement with reference to either World War One OR World War Two?
Competition Format: Online submissions
Accepted entry modes: Essay
Deadline for entries: 5.00 pm Friday 8 November 2024
Prizes: One winner and one runner-up from each State and Territory will participate in a three-day program in Canberra.
Coordinating and/or Sponsoring Organisation: HTAA, Australian Government Department of Education
Special Features: National Competition
Opportunities for HTAV members: Teacher Chaperone positions available
For more information: www.htav.asn.au/students/the-simpson-prize
Website: www.simpsonprize.org

Robert Menzies Institute Speech Competition

For Year levels: 9–12; Australian students
Topic: "If truth is to emerge and in the long run be triumphant, the process of free debate, the untrammeled clash of opinion must go on." How important is respectful debate to the health of democracy?
Competition Format: Speech filmed as a video
Deadline for entries: Sunday 20 July 2025
Prizes: The winner will be invited to deliver their speech at the Robert Menzies Institute Annual Conference in November 2025. The winner will also receive $250 worth of vouchers.
Special Features: Finalists will be selected and will be invited to deliver their speeches at the Robert Menzies Institute Annual Conference.
Opportunities for HTAV members: N/A
For more information: www.htav.asn.au/students/robert-menzies-institute-speech-competition
Website: www.robertmenziesinstitute.org.au/speechcompetition2024

Australian History Competition

For Year levels: 7–10, nationwide
Topic: Two papers broadly based on the Australian Curriculum: Years 7-8, Years 9-10
Competition Format: Assessment held on one day
Acceptable entry modes: Test format, multiple choice questions, tests history skills rather than prior content knowledge
Deadline for entries: Registrations close Sunday 31 March 2024. Competition held Monday 27 – Friday 31 May.
Prizes: Cash prizes
Coordinating and/or Sponsoring Organisation: HTAA, Historicool Magazine
For more information: www.htav.asn.au/students/australian-history-competition
Website: australianhistorycompetition.org.au

Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize