L TO R: 2019 My Place Competition Winners, Leni (Year 3 / 4 Category) and Manaia (Year 5 / 6 Category).

Read 2019's Winning Entries

As short stories about 2019 My Place characters flooded in from schools all over the country this term, the ACTF was given a unique window into the creativity, passions, concerns and diversity of Australia’s young people.

The ACTF Education team was overwhelmed by the response to the 2019 My Place Competition, which asked Year 3-6 students to tell the fictional story of a child living in the My Place neighbourhood in 2019.

The number of schools participating and the quality of entries reinforced just how loved My Place is. With its ground-breaking blend of history and imaginative fiction written by Nadia Wheatley and illustrated by Donna Rawlins, My Place continues to inspire personal stories in primary classrooms. It also illustrated how the video clips and resources from the acclaimed My Place television series (available on the My Place for Teachers website) continue to be an embedded part of teacher practice in primary classrooms Australia-wide.

Many of the student stories touched on the universal themes of family, friendship, mental health, and adjusting to life in a new country, suburb or school. Contemporary issues such as sustainability, smart phone use, and refugee experiences were woven throughout many of the stories.

The ACTF’s Head of Education, Peter Maggs and Curriculum Officer, Janine Kelly felt privileged reading through the diverse, thoughtful and touching stories for shortlisting. The final judging was carried out by the ACTF’s Head of Development and Production, Bernadette O'Mahony, who played a major production role in both My Place Series 1 & 2. After final judging, Bernadette praised the creativity and storytelling skills on display, commenting that she enjoyed seeing the issues that resonated with the young writers.

Winners – Year 3 / 4 Category

1^st Prize – Leni, Pleasant Street Primary School (Victoria)

2^nd Prize – Chelsea, Woollahra Public School (New South Wales)

3^rd Prize – Levi, Morphett Vale East Schools (South Australia)

Winners - Year 5 / 6 Category

1^st Prize – Manaia, Frenchville State School (Queensland)

2^nd Prize – Isabelle, St. Columba’s Catholic Primary School (Queensland)

3^rd Prize – Nina, Woollahra Public School (New South Wales)

Honourable Mention – Rachel, Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Primary School (Victoria)

Honourable Mention – Annelise, Frenchville State School (Queensland)

Honourable Mention – Chloe, Woollahra Public School (New South Wales)

Winning entries will be uploaded to the ACTF site in early Term 4 for participates to read through. All students who entered the competition will receive a certificate of participation in the coming weeks. The winning students from each category, along with their teachers, will also receive ACTF Shop vouchers and Walker Books packs as their prizes.

The ACTF would like to thank the teachers and students from around the country who made the 2019 My Place Competition such an outstanding success.

Read 2019's Winning Entries

See also: