The Sustainability through your own lens school photography competition, delivered by ResourceSmart Schools, celebrates student creativity through imagery and a written reflection.

Each winning entry will receive $200 for their school to support a sustainability project or initiative.

Winners will be invited to the 2027 ResourceSmart Schools Awards, where their work will be showcased as part of a special exhibition.

2026 Theme

This year’s theme is Backyard Biodiversity: discover your local icons.

Every Victorian region has its own iconic plants, animals and habitats, and this competition is an opportunity for students to showcase their favourites.

What to photograph:

  • a native animal living in your backyard
  • a threatened species observed in a nearby reserve
  • a biodiversity activity taking place along a local river
  • a cool animal living on the school grounds
  • a local habitat or ecosystem.

Key dates

InformationDate
Competition closeFriday 16 October 2026
Information sessionWednesday 2 September
Register for the Information session
Finalist and winners announcementMonday 7 December 2026
ResourceSmart Schools Awards ceremony10 June 2027

How to enter

An adult school staff member must manage and submit each entry on behalf of the student or student group.

To enter, students must:

  1. Capture an original photograph that reflects the theme Backyard Biodiversity: discover your local icons.
  2. Write a short reflection of no more than 100 words answering: What species, habitat or place in nature do you think deserves greater recognition and protection and why?
  3. Ask an adult staff member at your school to submit your photograph and reflection on your behalf.

Submit entry

Who can enter?

The competition is open to Victorian schools that are active ResourceSmart Schools or become active before entering – don’t worry is free and easy. If you are unsure on how to become active, just email resourcesmartawards@deeca.vic.gov.au.

Schools may submit up to 3 entries per year level.

Read the Terms and conditions for this competition.

Competition categories

Entries will be considered across the following categories:

  • Lower primary: Prep–Year 4
  • Middle years: Years 5–8
  • Senior school: Years 9–12.

Photograph requirements

Photographs must:

  • be submitted as a JPEG or PNG file
  • be suitable for reproduction at A4 size
  • have a minimum of 2480 pixels on the shortest edge
  • be no larger than 10 MB
  • be the original work of the student or student group
  • comply with the competition terms and conditions.

If a photograph shows an identifiable person, the entrant must provide the appropriate consent form if the photograph is selected as a finalist:

How entries are judged

Entries will be assessed by a judging panel based on the submitted photograph and accompanying written reflection following the judgin criteria.

  • Relevance of the text: The written reflection responds clearly and meaningfully to the competition theme and prompt.
  • Creativity: The photograph and reflection are engaging and demonstrate creativity through their subject matter, perspective, composition, focus and storytelling.
  • Photographic skill: The photograph demonstrates technical quality through the effective use of lighting, colour, focus and composition.

For more information, read the full criteria:

Resources

Turn this into a school activity! Share the news with your school using these promotional resources for your school social media, newsletter or campus newsboard: Promotional resources.

Celebrate Biodiversity Month in the classroom with these resources:

Other resources

Page last updated: 31/08/26