Welcome
SIMPSON PRIZE COMPETITION
2027 Simpson Prize Question
‘How useful are artefacts and artwork as historical sources when researching the experience of Australians who served in either the First World War or Second World War?’
Discuss with reference to either WW1 or WW2.
A link to the 2027 Simpson Prize Sources is:
https://www.awm.gov.au/learn/schools/simpson2027
The Simpson Prize is a civics-based, national research competition for Year 9 and 10 students which focuses on the service of Australians in World War One and World War Two.
The 16 winners and runners-up, two from each state and territory, will travel to Canberra to participate in a 3-day study program in March 2026. The results of the 2026 Simpson Prize will be available on this website at the conclusion of the Canberra Study Program. In April the 8 winners will travel to an overseas destination for an extensive commemorative study tour culminating in Anzac Day ceremonies at that location.
Submissions for the 2027 Simpson Prize are due on Wednesday 4 November 2026.
RESULTS 2026 SIMPSON PRIZE
The Simpson Prize Advisory Committee would like to congratulate the successful students in the 2026 Simpson Prize, as follows:
2026 Winners
Essays can be accessed by clicking on the student’s name
Australian Capital Territory
Dihain Ambepitiyage, Telopea Park School
New South Wales
Annabelle Zhuang, James Ruse Agricultural High School
Northern Territory
Hayden Kwong, Darwin Middle School
Queensland
Alyssa Tune, Mount Alvernia College
South Australia
Benita Wu, Seymour College
Tasmania
Rhylan Walters, Scottsdale High School
Victoria
Bethany Raine, Mount Evelyn Christian School
Western Australia
Advita Surekar, Willetton Senior High School
2026 Runners-up
Australian Capital Territory
Mai Pham, Canberra High School
New South Wales
Logan Doig, Leeton High School
Northern Territory
Dunelie Rajapaksa, Dripstone Middle School
Queensland
Samuel (Yile) Zuo, Anglican Church Grammar School
South Australia
Yiyi Wang, Unley High School
Tasmania
Imogen Ferguson, Sacred Heart College
Victoria
Jade Pang, McKinnon Secondary College
Western Australia
Alexandra French, Balcatta Senior High School
The three teacher chaperones are:
Ms Rosinda Seara PSM, Willetton Senior High School, Western Australia; Ms Emily Joan, Plumpton High School, New South Wales; and Mr Paul Foley, Loreto College, South Australia
Instructions
To enter the Simpson Prize you must respond to the question using the Simpson Prize Australian War Memorial Source Selection and your own research.
You are encouraged to discuss and respond to the question from a variety of perspectives, individual and national, using a variety of sources.
You are expected to make effective use of a minimum of 4 of the provided sources.
Up to half your response should also make use of information drawn from your own knowledge and research.
Schools are encouraged to engage the whole class or year to participate and choose the best 3 to enter.
Schools are permitted to submit up to 3 Student Entries.
See the Simpson Prize Timeline & Example Itinerary
Closing date
The due date for 2027 Submissions is Wednesday 4 November, 2026.
NOTE: If you submit an entry you should receive an automated receipt. If you don’t receive a receipt please check your junk mail. If you can’t find a receipt please submit again.
Students: Please go to Student Entry Requirements before beginning your entry.
Teachers: Teachers submitting student entries are eligible to become a Teacher Chaperone for Simpson Prize activities; please go to Teacher Chaperone Entry Requirements for details.
Note: Winners will participate in Simpson Prize activities in 2027.
Instructions on how to submit completed entries are found at How to submit entries.
The Simpson Prize Competition is supported by the Australian Government Department of Education through Civics and Citizenship Education and is run by the History Teachers’ Association of Australia.