Terms and Conditions of participation

The Hope Prize (the "Prize") is operated and promoted by Hope Prize ABN 72 401 067 792 ("we", "us", "our"). By submitting an entry to The Hope Prize, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions and our Privacy Policy (together, the "Agreement"). This Agreement sets out the rules of the competition and the rights and responsibilities of both parties. Nothing in these Terms shall be construed as a waiver of the Applicant’s moral rights under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). 

1. Overview The Hope Prize is an international short story competition open to eligible entrants who submit original works of fiction or memoir. Submissions will be reviewed and judged in accordance with these terms, and winners will be awarded cash prizes as follows:

• First Prize: AUD $10,000

• Second Prize: AUD $2,000

• Third Prize: AUD $1,000

Winners may also be offered publication in the Hope Prize anthology.

2. Definitions and interpretation This Agreement, and any other terms and conditions or information on the Site, are originally drafted in English and have thereafter been translated into the other languages. In the event that any translated version of this Agreement, and any other terms or documentation, conflicts with the English version, the English version shall prevail, except where prohibited and without limitation to any statutory rights of consumers. Any reference in this Agreement to the singular includes the plural, to any gender includes all genders, to any act or statute includes any Act or statute which supersedes, replaces or modifies any earlier Act or statute, to persons includes all bodies and associations both corporate and incorporated and vice versa. Paragraph headings are for reference purposes only and all references to clauses are to clauses in this Agreement unless otherwise specified. Any provision of this Agreement which is void or unenforceable may be severed from this Agreement without affecting the enforceability of other provisions. A failure or delay by us to exercise a power or right under this Agreement does not operate as a waiver of that power or right, and the exercise of a power or right by us does not preclude our future ability to exercise that or any other power or right. In this Agreement: "Applicant" means an individual who submits an entry to the Prize. "Submission" means a valid entry submitted by an Applicant in accordance with these terms. "Intellectual Property" includes all current and future intellectual or industrial property rights (registered or unregistered) worldwide. "Fee" refers to the submission fee payable by the Applicant at the time of entry. "You" or "your" means any person accessing our website or submitting an entry. Where context permits, words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa. Headings are for ease of reference only.

3. Eligibility & Entry Requirements
3.1 The Prize is open to individuals aged 18 years and older at close of submissions on 31 October 2025.
3.2 Applicants may reside anywhere in the world. All entries must be submitted in English.
3.3 The Prize is not open to employees or contractors of The Hope Prize, affiliated partners, judges, their immediate families, or anyone professionally connected to the administration of the Prize.
3.4 Submissions must be original short stories and narrative nonfiction under 5,000 words, and should address themes of hope, courage, or resilience, as described in the submission guidelines.
3.5 Each submission must be accompanied by a completed entry form and payment of the applicable submission fee. Multiple submissions are permitted, but each requires a separate entry and fee.
3.6 Entries must not have been previously published in print or online in a commercial context. 
3.7 Simultaneous submissions are permitted; however, it is the Applicant's responsibility to withdraw their submission from consideration if accepted elsewhere.

4. Submission Fees
4.1 An early bird fee of $20 AUD per submission applies to entries received before 11:59pm EST, 30 June 2025.
4.2 The standard fee is $30 AUD per submission for entries received after 30 June 2025 and before the final deadline of 11:59pm EST, 31 October 2025.
4.3 All fees are processed via Submittable. Fees are non-refundable, regardless of the outcome of the submission.
4.4 The submission platform is provided by a third-party provider (Submittable), and while we make reasonable efforts to ensure the platform functions smoothly, we are not liable for platform outages, errors, or malfunctions. Entrants are encouraged to submit early to avoid last-minute issues.

5. How to Enter 5.1 Entries must be submitted via Submittable in either Word (.doc/.docx) or PDF format. Submissions must not include any identifying information on the manuscript itself.
5.2 It is the responsibility of the Applicant to ensure their entry is correctly submitted. The Prize accepts no responsibility for lost, late, misdirected, or incomplete entries.
5.3 All entries must be the Applicant's own, original work and must not infringe the rights (including intellectual property rights) of any third party.
5.4 You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold us harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, costs, expenses, damages, and losses (including but not limited to any direct, indirect, or consequential losses, loss of profit, loss of reputation, and all interest, penalties, and legal and other reasonable professional costs and expenses) suffered or incurred by us arising out of or in connection with:

(a) your breach of your representations, warranties, or obligations under this Agreement;

b) your breach or violation of any third-party Intellectual Property rights;

(c) any claim that your submission contains defamatory, libellous, offensive, or obscene material;

(d) any claim that your submission violates any applicable law or regulation, including but not limited to privacy, data protection, and confidentiality laws;

(e) any claim that your submission contains material that infringes upon or violates the rights of any third party; and

(f) your negligence or wilful misconduct.

We reserve the right, at your expense, to assume the exclusive defence and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you, and in such case, you agree to cooperate with our defence of such claim.
5.5 Entry Withdrawal: An Applicant may withdraw their submission at any time by contacting hello@thehopeprize.com via email with subject line: Submission Withdrawal and including their submission ID. Once withdrawn, the entry will no longer be considered for the Prize and the submission fee will not be refunded.
5.6 By submitting an entry, you warrant that:

(a) the work is your own original creation;

(b) it does not infringe upon the copyright or other rights of any third party;

(c) you have full power and authority to grant the rights described in this Agreement; and

(d) the work contains no defamatory, obscene, or otherwise unlawful content.

6. Intellectual Property
6.1 Applicants retain full global copyright of their work. However, by submitting an entry, Applicants grant The Hope Prize the following rights: (a) A non-exclusive, royalty-free licence for a period of 12 months from the date of submission, allowing The Hope Prize to copy, store, and use the work for administrative, operational, and judging purposes. (b) For works selected as winners or highly commended entries (“shortlisted works”), a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to reproduce, publish, communicate, adapt, and distribute the submission (in full or in part) in any format or media, including but not limited to: promotional materials, online platforms, retrospective or educational collections, and The Hope Prize anthology.
6.2 Shortlisted Applicants understand that their work may be published in print and digital formats and used to help promote The Hope Prize and its charitable mission, now and in the future.
6.3 For entries not selected as shortlisted works, the licence granted in clause 6.1(a) will expire automatically 12 months after the date of submission.
6.4 Shortlisted authors may republish their work elsewhere after the initial publication date of the anthology, provided that such republication does not occur before the official release date. This clause ensures the originality and exclusivity of the anthology at the time of launch.
6.5 Shortlisted Applicants consent to the editing and formatting of their work for publication and promotional purposes, provided such changes do not materially alter the substance or integrity of the work, in accordance with the moral rights provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth).

7. Judging The judging process remains at all times at our discretion. While we intend to conduct the process as outlined below, we reserve the right to modify any aspect of it at any time.
7.1 Judging is conducted anonymously. All identifying information is removed prior to review by the judging panel. The panel will consist of at least two qualified individuals with expertise in literature, creative writing, publishing, or related fields. Judges’ names will be published on our website.
7.2 The panel will select up to 20 highly commended entries, including one First Prize winner (AUD $10,000), one Second Prize winner (AUD $2,000), and one Third Prize winner (AUD $1,000). We intend for the final anthology to be published by Simon & Schuster Australia, subject to final publishing arrangements.
7.3 Due to the volume of entries, no feedback will be provided to entrants. We are unable to offer individual assessments, comments, or explanations regarding judging decisions.
7.4 All judging decisions are final and made with great care. No correspondence will be entered into regarding the outcome.
7.5 Judges are selected at the sole discretion of The Hope Prize based on their recognised literary expertise. Judges are required to declare any conflicts of interest prior to the commencement of judging and may be recused if a conflict arises.
7.6 All judging decisions, including those related to conflicts of interest, are final and not subject to appeal or review.

8. Use of your information
8.1 We will use any personal information you provide in accordance with applicable law and our Privacy Policy. This includes using your information for the administration of the Prize, as described in these Terms and Conditions, and for any marketing or other purposes to which you have consented. We may also share your details with sponsors or partners involved in the Prize, but only where necessary to deliver or promote the Prize.
8.2 If you have any questions or concerns about the use of your personal information please contact us by email.

9. Tax Implications
9.1 Prize winners are responsible for any tax implications arising from their prize money. The Hope Prize does not provide tax advice and recommends that winners seek independent advice regarding tax obligations in their country of residence.
9.2 Where required by law, The Hope Prize may withhold taxes from prize payments or report prize payments to relevant tax authorities.
9.3 International winners are responsible for understanding and complying with any applicable tax obligations in their country of residence. 

10. Unforeseen Circumstances
We take great care in running The Hope Prize, but in the event of the unexpected:
10.1 For the purposes of this Agreement, a "Force Majeure Event" means any circumstance beyond the reasonable control of The Hope Prize that prevents, hinders, or delays the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including but not limited to: (a) acts of God, flood, drought, earthquake, or other natural disaster;
(b) epidemic, pandemic, or public health emergency;
(c) terrorist attack, civil war, civil commotion, riots, war, or armed conflict;
(d) nuclear, chemical, or biological contamination;
(e) any law, government order, regulation, or official directive;
(f) collapse of buildings, fire, explosion, or accident;
(g) interruption or failure of utility services (e.g. electricity, water, internet);
(h) strikes, industrial action, or labour disputes;
(i) significant technical failures affecting the submission platform, judging process, or publication;
(j) non-performance by third-party suppliers or subcontractors.

10.2 If a Force Majeure Event occurs: (a) The Hope Prize will not be in breach of these Terms and Conditions or liable for any delay or failure to perform its obligations; (b) The time for performance of such obligations shall be extended for the duration of the Force Majeure Event; (c) The Hope Prize may modify competition deadlines, prize structure, judging processes, or anthology publication details as reasonably required; and (d) The Hope Prize will make reasonable efforts to notify Applicants as soon as practicable.
10.3 If a Force Majeure Event continues for more than six (6) months, The Hope Prize may terminate this Agreement by giving written notice to all Applicants. Such termination shall be without prejudice to any rights or obligations accrued prior to termination.
10.4 In the event of termination under clause 10.3: (a) The Hope Prize will make reasonable efforts to refund any submission fees, less administrative costs already incurred, but refunds are not guaranteed and remain at our sole discretion; (b) The Hope Prize shall not be liable for any costs, expenses, or losses incurred by an Applicant as a result of the termination; and (c) All licences granted under clause 6.1(a) shall expire immediately upon termination.
10.5 The Hope Prize shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations where such failure or delay results from a Force Majeure Event.

11. Governing Law
11.1 These terms and conditions are governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia.
11.2 Any disputes arising in connection with the Prize shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Victoria, Australia.

12. Liability
12.1 To the fullest extent permitted by law, we are not liable for any damage, loss, or disappointment incurred by you as a result of participating, or not being able to participate, in the Prize; being unable to claim a prize; or in connection with any events, announcements, or publications related to the Prize.
12.2 We are not liable for any indirect, consequential, special, or incidental loss or damages of any kind.
12.3 To the maximum extent permitted by law, we exclude all conditions, warranties, guarantees, and representations that may be implied by statute, common law, or otherwise.
12.4 Insofar as permitted by law, The Hope Prize, its employees, and affiliated partners shall not be liable to compensate any entrant or winner for any loss or damage arising from the acceptance or use of a prize.
12.5 Without limiting the above, our total liability to you or any third party (whether arising under contract, tort, statute, or otherwise) in connection with this Agreement shall be limited to the value of the submission fee paid by you.
12.6 In the event of unforeseen circumstances, we reserve the right to amend, suspend, or cancel the Prize at any time, without prior notice. The Prize is void where prohibited by law.
12.7 We reserve the right to update or amend these Terms and Conditions at any time. Any material changes will be communicated via our website. Changes made after an entry has been submitted will not apply retrospectively without the entrant’s consent.
12.8 If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

13. Dispute Resolution
13.1 In the event of any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, the parties shall attempt to resolve the dispute in good faith.
13.2 If the parties are unable to resolve the dispute within a reasonable time, either party may refer the matter to mediation, or, if agreed, binding arbitration in Victoria, Australia.

Contact

For all enquiries, please email: hello@thehopeprize.com
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