The Bruce Dawe National Poetry Prize has been endowed by Bruce Dawe, one of Australia's best-loved and most widely read poets, as an annual $1500 award to encourage poets throughout Australia. The endowment is held in trust by the University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, and administered by the Faculty of Arts. The prize is judged by the English Literature staff of the Faculty, chaired by Professor Chris Lee.

Bruce Dawe said the decision to endow the prize stemmed from a belief that all universities should encourage the practice of the arts within Australian society. It is hoped that this prize will support poets and help recognise the important contribution they make to Australian culture.

The competition opens on 1 March and closes on 30 June 2012. The winner is contacted personally and announced on this website in early October 2012.

Entry

Entrants are encouraged to read the *PDF conditions of entry prior to completing either the *PDF entry form or *Word entry form and submitting their poem/s.

2010 winner

This year's first prize is Ray Liversidge for his poem The lawn.