Threatened Species Art and Writing Competition

 FB cover photo TSAC24

Entries for the Threatened Species Art and Writing Competition (TSAC) 2024 are now OPEN. This competition will run from Friday 14 June to Friday 5 August. 

About the competition

The Macarthur region, our backyard, is home to a wide diversity of native plants and animals. Many of these plants and animals are affected by a range of impacts such as habitat loss, competition and predation from non-native species and foreign diseases. There are a range of species occurring within the local region that are at risk of extinction and have been listed as ‘Threatened Species.’

The TSAC is a regional environmental education program, involving Camden Council, Campbelltown City Council, and Wollondilly Shire Council. The competition raises awareness of Biodiversity Month (September) and National Threatened Species Day on 7 September.

The competition targets all stages of primary school (age groups: 5-6, 7-9, and 10-12) and is also open to youth aged 13-16. TSAC encourages students to learn about a local threatened species and represent it in an artwork or creative writing piece.

The competition is now in its 17th year and through its cross-curricula nature has been successfully engaging students in Geography, Science, Visual Arts and English throughout the Macarthur region.

How to enter

Enter Artwork online by clicking here. 

Enter Writing online by clicking here. 

Alternatively send your entry by post with an attached entry form: 

Camden Council 

PO BOX 183

Camden NSW 2517

Campbelltown Council 

PO BOX 57

Campbelltown NSW 2560

Wollondilly Council 

PO BOX 21

Picton NSW 2517

All entries must be submitted by 5pm on Monday 5 August 2024

For further information about how to enter the TSAC click here. 

Entering an artwork

All you need to do is ensure your entry:

  • is of a threatened plant, animal or pollinator species that is found in the Macarthur region
  • includes your name, age and contact details on the artwork
  • is equivalent to a one-sided A4 sheet of paper.

Be as creative as possible! You could use pens, pencils, crayons, paint, textiles, digital art, clay, recycled and natural materials etc. 

If you are entering as a school, please ensure that each student’s name, age and class is identified on the artwork.

Entering a creative writing story

We want you to write a short story that captures the beauty and uniqueness of our threatened native plants, animals and pollinators.

You can get as creative as you like, however the story must include facts about one or more of the following:

  • your species habitat
  • it's diet
  • the threats it is facing
  • how you think we can save the species from extinction.

Competition rules

  • Creative writing and artwork entries must be on an A4 piece of paper and entries close on Monday 5 August 2024. 
  • Entries must feature a threated species (plant animal, pollinator) that is found in the Macarthur region. 
  • Each individual entry must have an entry form attached. 
  • If you are entering as a school, please ensure that each student's name, age, school and class is identified on the artwork or story. 
  • Creative writing entries must include real facts about the featured plant animal or pollinator.
  • Artwork entries can incorporate any medium such as digital, painting, collage, drawing and textiles. 
  • Entrants in this competition give permission for their artwork and/or story to be publicly displayed and reproduced by print and electronic media by the competition organises for not-for-profit publications, advertising and promotional purposes, and for their name to be published if they are a winner. 
  • Entries submitted by school groups/classes will be available for collection from respective local Council offices following the conclusion of the travelling exhibition.
  • Any uncollected entries will be donated to local schools and/or libraries.
  • All personal information gathered by the competition organisers will be used solely for the purpose of administering the TSAC.
  • The judging panel for the artwork will include representative from each council and their decision will be final. The creative writing stories will be judged by one judge representing all councils and their decision will be final.
  • Respective Councillors, competition organisers, the judging panel and their immediate families are not eligible to enter the competition. 

Teacher resources

The TSAC encourages schools to engage and enter as many students as possible. The school that has the highest number of students entered into the competition will win the TSAC School Prize Package. The school prize package is designed to support schools to continue with biodiversity education. 

Similar to individual entries, schools can enter artworks and writing pieces online or by post with an attached entry form. 

You can find the teacher resource kit for the Threatened Species Art and Writing Competition here. 

How can your school become a haven for native flora and fauna?

There are many ways that you can help your school to become a haven for native flora and fauna, by

  • designing a native garden for your school- Identify some local plant species that could be planted to attract wildlife 
  • removing known weed species from your garden and replacing them with local native plants 
  • leaving dead wood, leaf litter and rocks in the bush that animals can use as a shelter or for foraging for food 
  • joining a community group, such as a local Bushcare group 
  • setting up your own eco-warrior team at school.

As you develop your haven for native flora and fauna, keep Camden Council updated! We are always excited to see what positive steps people are taking towards protection of our native and threated species. 

For more information about the TSAC contact Camden Council’s Natural Resource Officer on 13 CAMDEN or email sustainability@camden.nsw.gov.au