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
In these Terms and Conditions:

• “Applicant” means the person submitting a story to The Hope Prize.

• “Submission” means a valid entry submitted in accordance with the entry requirements.

• “Fee” refers to the entry fee paid at the time of submission.

• “Intellectual Property” includes all rights relating to the submitted work.

• “You” or “your” refers to the Applicant.

3. Eligibility & Entry Requirements

3.1 The Hope Prize is open to individuals aged 18 and over at the time of the submission deadline (31 October 2025).
3.2 Writers from anywhere in the world are welcome to enter. All entries must be submitted in English.
3.3 The Prize is not open to employees or contractors of The Hope Prize, our partners, judges, their immediate families, or anyone professionally involved in the administration of the competition.
3.4 We accept original short stories or narrative nonfiction (up to 5,000 words) that explore themes of hope, courage, or resilience, as outlined in our submission guidelines.
3.5 Each entry must include a completed entry form and the relevant submission fee. You’re welcome to submit more than one piece — just complete a separate form and fee for each.
3.6 Stories must not have been previously published in a commercial context (e.g. in books, magazines, journals, or paid websites).
3.7 Simultaneous submissions are allowed. If your work is accepted elsewhere, please withdraw it from The Hope Prize.

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. Manuscripts must not include any identifying information (name, email, etc.) to ensure anonymous judging.
5.2 It’s your responsibility to ensure your entry is submitted correctly. We can’t take responsibility for entries that are lost, late, misdirected, or incomplete.
5.3 All submissions must be your own, original work and must not infringe on the rights (including intellectual property rights) of any third party.
5.4 By submitting a story, you confirm that:

• it’s your own original creation;

• it doesn’t infringe on anyone else’s rights;

• it doesn’t contain defamatory, obscene, or unlawful material.

• Your story was written by you, without the use of AI generation or authorship tools.

If any legal issues arise in relation to your story, you agree to work with us in good faith to resolve them.
5.5 Withdrawing your entry: You can withdraw your story at any time by emailing hello@thehopeprize.com with the subject line “Submission Withdrawal” and including your Submittable ID. Please note that entry fees are non-refundable.

6. Intellectual Property
6.1 You retain full copyright of your work, always. By entering The Hope Prize, you grant us the following permissions:

• For all entries: a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence for 12 months from the date of submission, allowing us to store, copy, and use your work for judging and administrative purposes.

• For shortlisted entries (winners and highly commended stories): a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual licence to publish, share, promote, and adapt your work (in part or full) in any format — including our website, anthology, promotional materials, and future educational or retrospective collections.

6.2 If your work is shortlisted, it may be published in both print and digital formats to promote The Hope Prize and its charitable mission, now and in the future.
6.3 If your story is selected for the anthology, we ask that you do not publish it elsewhere before the official release date. This helps us maintain the originality and impact of the collection. After the release, you’re welcome to publish it wherever you like.
6.4 If your story is selected for publication, it may be lightly edited or formatted. We will always respect the integrity of your work in line with Australian copyright law and your moral rights as the author.

7. Judging
7.1 All judging is conducted anonymously. Identifying details are removed before review. Our judging panel includes at least two qualified individuals with experience in literature, creative writing, publishing, or related fields. The judges' names will be published on our website.
7.2 The panel will select up to 20 highly commended entries, including a First Prize winner (AUD $10,000), a Second Prize winner (AUD $2,000), and a Third Prize winner (AUD $1,000). We aim to publish the final anthology with Simon & Schuster Australia, pending final arrangements.
7.3 Due to the number of submissions, we’re unable to provide individual feedback or comments on entries.
7.4 Judging decisions are made with great care and are final. No correspondence will be entered into regarding the outcome.
7.5 While we intend to follow this process as outlined, we reserve the right to make adjustments if necessary.

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 at hello@thehopeprize.com

9. Tax Implications
9.1 Prize winners are responsible for any tax implications arising from their prize money.
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 A "Force Majeure Event" means any event beyond our reasonable control that affects the running of The Hope Prize — such as natural disasters, pandemics, technical failures, or major disruptions to services or suppliers.
10.2 If a Force Majeure Event occurs, The Hope Prize may modify the competition timeline, judging process, prize structure, or publication plans as needed. We’ll do our best to notify entrants of any major changes.
10.3 If unforeseen events beyond our control prevent The Hope Prize from proceeding, we reserve the right to cancel the competition. In such cases, we may offer partial or full refunds at our discretion, but refunds are not guaranteed.
10.4 We are not responsible for any loss, delay, or disruption caused by events beyond our control.

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 responsible for any loss, damage, or disappointment that may result from entering (or not being able to enter) the Prize, or from any changes or cancellations.
12.2 We are not liable for any indirect or unforeseen losses.
12.3 Our total liability to you will not exceed the amount you paid in entry fees.
12.4 We reserve the right to change, suspend, or cancel the Prize at any time due to unforeseen circumstances.
12.5 We may update these Terms and Conditions as needed. Any major changes will be posted on our website, and changes made after you've entered won’t apply to you without your consent.

Contact

For all enquiries, please email: hello@thehopeprize.com
Follow us on Instagram: @hopeprize