Judging criteria and panel

judging criteria

Every submission is assured equal consideration, and every entrant’s story is valued, providing a platform where the vibrancy and variety of First Nations storytelling can be showcased and appreciated.

Entries will be judged based on the following criteria and weightings. Each entry will be assessed on its merits across these criteria.

Storytelling – 25%

Engaging storytelling techniques that captivate the audience and effectively convey the intended message or theme.

Originality and Creativity – 25%

Originality and creativity of the story, including unique perspectives and imaginative storytelling.

Relevance to Theme – 25%

How well the story addresses and interprets the chosen theme in a meaningful and thought-provoking way.

Presentation and Organisation – 25%

Does the entry feel like a finished, professional piece of work, showing care and effort in its creation.

judging panel

Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges, including members of the APS Indigenous Senior Executive Service Network (ISEN) and the Parliamentary Services Indigenous Employee Network (PSIEN).

A shortlisting panel from the PSIEN will select five finalists from each year level cohort (7/8, 9/10, 11/12).

The shortlisted finalists will be forwarded to the judging panel from the APS ISEN for the selection of the winner from each age group.

To learn more about our judges, click on their photos below:

Ben Bolt

Jodi Cassar

Sheryl Hedges

Jason Regan

Gerrit Wanganeen

Emily Woodward