We are thrilled to announce our winners and celebrate the remarkable talent of our young artists.
First Place Winners
- Nadia (Junior) – All Equal
- Ruby (Tied Middle) – Ngarra Gunyalungalung
- Ziyan (Tied Middle) – How to Get the Best Results
- Jasmine (Senior) – Another Year Older
Second Place Winners
- Aadya (Junior) – We Don’t Bleed Scarlet
- Summer (Senior) – Is This Normal?
Many of this year’s entries went above and beyond and spoke to a deeper purpose. Through colour or storytelling, we were overwhelmed with the ability to use creativity to raise awareness, spark conversation and inspire change.
A huge thank you to all of the young artists who shared their creativity with us.
First Place
Nadia (Junior) with All Equal
Ruby (Tied Middle) with Ngarra Gunyalungalung
Ziyan (Tied Middle) with How to Get the Best Results
product name : respect
caution : may contain fragile items
assembly is required
Step 1 : Carefully unbox the item. Do not rush by ripping or tearing the packaging apart. Peel the tape back slowly, paying attention to your body language, tone, mood, and silence. Handle with patience.
Step 2 : All parts should be included, such as
- Trust (genuine model)
- Boundaries (flexible but firm)
- Honest (even white lies work)
- Care (avoid spilling)
Please note that any missing part can result in a faulty product. Assembly is therefore incomplete.
Step 3 : Every package arrives differently, so read your manual instead of relying on someone else’s. It could be handwritten, digitally sent or invisible. You are not entitled to find the details; however, you are entitled to your own. Never assume. Always ask.
Step 4 : Begin construction with the given screws. Some may be bigger than others. Start with the smaller ones.
- “Thank you.”
- “I am listening.”
- “I apologise.”
- “I hope it gets better.”
It may seem small, but it tightens the product together along with the bigger screws. Do not apply immense pressure as it may strip the thread.
Step 5: Dust can accumulate easily. Wipe down debris regularly like careless jokes, tired afternoons and heavy silences with heartfelt apologies. Hinges rust easily, so oil them with affection and allow them to move at their own pace. They will tell you when they are good to go.
Step 6: Warnings. Do not confuse fear with respect, for both are rooted in alarm bells that ring in our heads. One decays, one grows. Do not spoil the product with control. It will rot slowly and die suddenly. Never take shortcuts. Restarting is a mindset. Do not fall behind by giving up. Refuse help from those ill-minded. Rather, offer help to those who are ill-minded.
Step 7 : The lifespan of the product exists until the owner surrenders. It will expire one day, but it is a long time away. Instead, it adapts, expands and grows into something unimaginable. You may not see it, but others see your sprout before you have the chance to.
Note: All models are not alike. Respect for one person is perceived differently by another. Adjust settings from the default to your liking.
End of manual. Begin construction.
Jasmine (Senior) – Another Year Older
Another year older
Lipstick stains on the sheets.
Blood splatters on the walls.
Shards of glass point towards her—
She’s surrendered in a ball on the floor.
The broken window
Is the start of his trace,
Followed by his markings
On her once innocent face.
It’s the nightmare that plays in my head—
That somehow, somewhere—
I could end up dead.
It hasn’t happened yet.
But it could.
I’m scared it could become my reality—
There are such high rates of femicide mortality—
The nature of their insults are so violent,
As the 103 women dead last year will forever be silent
As their words turned into actions of violence.
Last year, one woman was killed every four days
At the hands of a man.
The Australian Bureau of statistics states that:
1 in 5 of us experience sexual violence since the age of 15.
But for men it’s 1 in 16.
We’re born into a world where our safety is not a priority.
We can’t walk alone too late at night.
We have to be vigilant at all times and keep every man in sight,
Because one false move
Could cost us our life.
I just wanted to be safe.
I just want to be seen.
It’s too much too handle—
I’m only eighteen.
But why is it that I have to prove with numbers that I’m scared
That women like me will be murdered?
But why is it that when the numbers increase,
Is when the crisis becomes believed?
Is it not already a crisis when human beings are not being treated like human beings?
Is it not a crisis already when boys will be boys?
Is it not a crisis already when justice isn’t served?
Is it not a crisis already when our gender defines the respect you receive?
Just treat me like an equal
And I promise I’ll make it to nineteen.
Second Place
Aadya (Junior) with We Don’t Bleed Scarlet
We Don’t Bleed The Same
We don’t bleed scarlet
They say
If we bleed black
What difference does it make
The burden of my bones
Is the same weight as yours
As if the shade of my
Raw, callous hand
Is the same tone
Of flesh we spill
We don’t bleed scarlet
We bleed hope for the soul
My worth is defined
By my work and my toil
We don’t bleed scarlet
We bring humanity to strength
Who are you to say
We don’t deserve the respect
Summer (Senior) with Is This Normal?
Is this normal?
He gets very angry,
And then he showers me
With love and flowers It feels normal,
It’s not like he hits me…
Is this normal?
He won’t stop going through my phone
He says that he’s just checking,
To make sure I’m safe
It feels normal,
It’s not like he hurts me…
Is this normal?
He comes home from work drunk,
Mostly only ever demanding sex
He says he had a long day at work
It feels normal
He just cares about me so much…
Is this normal?
He needs to know where I am
At all times
He always needs photo updates
It feels normal,
But I’m not sure…
Is this normal?
He hit me yesterday…
He said it wouldn’t happen again
He bought me flowers…
It feels normal,
At least he said sorry?
Is this normal?
He keeps leaving bruises
All down my arms
I have to wear turtlenecks
Just to hide the marks
It feels normal
He has done it before…
Is this normal?
He gets so angry when I
Don’t do anything right
I thought I was doing okay…
It feels normal
But it keeps happening
Is this normal?
He doesn’t let me out of the house anymore
I haven’t seen my friends in months
It feels normal
But it’s getting worse
Is this normal?
My sister showed up this morning
She said pack the essentials
But I just found out I’m pregnant,
I can’t leave this child with him
He’ll hurt it just like he did me
This isn’t normal
Is this normal?
I’m scared of him,
I want to escape from this hell
But I’m worried he will find us
My sister is going to help me
I will finally be free
