Parliament Prize now open

Entries for this year’s Parliament Prize competition are now open for Victorian students from Grade 5 to Year 12.

The popular competition asks students to consider the issues that are important in their own communities and record a 90-second video of a statement they would make to parliament if they were an MP.

Students can win cash prizes for themselves and their schools, with three entry categories: Grades 5 6, Years 7-9 and Years 10-12.

A prize of $500 and a commemorative trophy will be awarded to the first-placed entry in each category. There will also be prizes of $250 to the second-placed entries and $125 to the third-placed entries in each age group.

An award of $1,000 will be made to each first-placed student’s school, which will ideally be used to promote civics and citizenship and law-related education within these schools, at the schools’ discretion.

Last year the Parliament Prize received 675 entries from students at 145 schools across Victoria. And, with more than 390 unique topics raised in these entries, Members of Parliament took a great interest in what students in their local areas had to say.

Examples included the cost of living, gender equality, health and mental health, animal rights and education.

To enter and view the full terms and conditions, visit the competition’s website at vicparl.news/parlprize.

Entries are due by 5pm, Friday 16 June 2023.

The winners will be announced via the Victorian Parliament’s website and social media in early August, and will be presented with their prizes in a special ceremony at Parliament House on a date to be advised.