The ResourceSmart Schools photography competition is proudly brought to you by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and is part of the ResourceSmart Schools program.
1. Terms and Conditions
All entries must meet the criteria set out in these terms to be a valid entry. Only a valid entry can be considered for a winning prize.
2. Eligibility Criteria and Entrance Requirements
To be eligible to participate in this Photo Competition, each School must:
a) Be currently ‘active’ in ResourceSmart Schools online or if not currently in the program, register to be a ResourceSmart School. Enrolment details can be found at Become a ResourceSmart School.
b) Each entry must be submitted by a staff member of the School who will be responsible for managing the entry on behalf of the student/s entry.
c) Entries may be submitted by an individual student or a group of 2 or more students. If a group entry wins a category, the prize and number of tickets allocated to attend the ResourceSmart Schools Awards will be the same as for an individual winner.
d) Each school may submit up to three entries per year level and must specify the category for each entry. The age categories are:
- Lower Primary School – Prep to Grade 4
- Middle School – Grades 5 to 8
- Senior School – Grades 9 to 12
e) Each entry must demonstrate the theme and be original in content and creativity.
f) Entries must be uploaded to the Award Force platform and be in a JPEG or PNG format with a minimum size suitable for A4 printing being at least 2480px on the short edge. Maximum file size is 10 mb.
3. Competition
a) DEECA employees, contractors and their immediate families are not eligible to submit an entry, however the competition is open to all ResourceSmart Schools regardless of whether there is a student or staff member related to or knows an DEECA staff member attending that School.
b) Illegible, incomplete, late or non-compliant entries are invalid and will not be accepted.
c) DEECA reserves the right to determine the eligibility of entries and determine winners and finalists in the Competition in its complete discretion.
4. Prizes and Notification of Competition Winners
a) Each entry will be assessed on their merit, based on the selection criteria and how well the entry demonstrates the theme and the composition of the photo. Each photograph submission will be assessed anonymously, and judges will not receive names of the student or students or the school’s name.
b) Competition winners will be selected by DEECA’s judging panel (who will be made up of volunteers from both DEECA and other organisations known to DEECA) with one winner and 2 finalists being selected in each age category.
c) The judges’ decision is final.
d) Finalists will be notified in December 2026, and winners will be invited to attend the ResourceSmart Schools Awards held in June 2027 at a date to be confirmed.
e) The prizes are:
- Lower Primary - $200 to the School and one framed print of the winning photo entry.
- Middle School - $200 to the School and one framed print of the winning photo entry.
- Senior School - $200 to the School and one framed print of the winning photo entry.
f) All finalists will receive a certificate
g) Prizes will be distributed within 60 days of the Competition Winners being announced.
h) Prize money will be paid to the winning School on receipt of a valid tax invoice and details of a nominated bank account.
5. Key dates
a) Entries close at 5:00pm on Friday 16 October 2026
b) Winners and finalists will be announced December 2026 by telephone and email to the School.
6. General Competition Rules
a) On submission all entries become the property of DEECA and the Department of Education and may be used for promotional and marketing in connection with the ResourceSmart Schools program. Should DEECA or the Department of Education wish to further use any photo entry for any marketing of promotional purposes not connected with the ResourceSmart Schools program it will contact the School to ask for consent.
b) Should it be necessary, DEECA reserves the right, in its sole discretion and to the fullest extent permitted by law, to modify, suspend, terminate or cancel the Competition.
c) Each School who enters this competition consents to its name and confirms it has obtained any required consent from participating students and/or their parent or guardian for the student/s name/s, the student entry photo and details associated with the entry to be used in marketing and promotional activities, including but not limited to media exposure and promotion on social media.
d) Should the School or the student entry not wish to be identified during any promotional or marketing activity carried out, it is the responsibility of the School to inform DEECA of any restrictions or considerations relating to privacy, and DEECA will take reasonable steps to comply with those restrictions.
e) Entrants acknowledge that DEECA collects, uses and discloses personal information in order to administer the Competition, the ResourceSmart Schools program and other DEECA initiatives. Personal information may be disclosed to DEECA personnel, authorised contractors and judges who assist DEECA for the purposes of administering and assessing Competition entries. All personal information is handled in accordance with privacy law and DEECA’s Privacy Statement available at www.deeca.vic.gov.au/privacy.
f) DEECA accepts no responsibility for late, lost or misdirected entries or for any technical difficulties or periods of unavailability of the Competition website.
g) Any questions regarding any of the competition terms or general questions regarding the ResourceSmart Schools program, please call on 136 186
Page last updated: 31/08/26