The three themes for the Macarthur Nature Competition are:

Caring for Country

People helping our environment, cultural connection, life, waterways.

Consider images and creative art of the positive impacts, actions and behaviours of people living with and caring for our Macarthur environment. This can include cultural activities, picking up litter, nest boxes, wildlife rescue, backyard habitat gardens, tree planting, volunteering with Bushcare and weeding.

Positive personal impacts can also simply be spending more time in nature, living in harmony with our natural environment and acknowledging the human connection to land over millennia.

Animals and Pollinators

Australian animals and pollinators include the furry, scaly, slippery, feathery, and crawly critters that make up our uniquely Australian wildlife.

Photographs or creative art of animals and pollinator species which make our part of the world unique to live in (i.e. birds, mammals, invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, insects, fish). Refer to the information below regarding the ethical photography of animals that must be adhered to for this competition.

Australian Native Plants and Landscapes

Photographs or Creative Art of native Australian plants and landscapes that are found in the Macarthur region. This may include the leaves, branches, flowers, seeds, lichen, bark and fungi that make up the Australian plant community. This may also include trees and plants within a landscape setting.

PLEASE NOTE: Competition Categories may change from year to year

For inspiration, check out the Macarthur Nature Photography Competition Gallery and Threatened Species and Art and Writing Competition for the 2025 entries.

Artwork

• Primary school: aged 5 to 6 years
• Primary school: aged 7 to 9 years
• Primary school: aged 10 to 12 years
• High school: aged 13 to 18 years
• Open: aged 18+ years
• Professional

Creative Writing

• Primary school: aged 5 to 12 years
• High school: aged 13 to 18 years
• Open: aged 18+ years
• Professional

Photography

• Professional (all themes)

Caring for Country: 

• Primary school: aged 5 to 12 years
• High school: aged 13 to 18 years
• Open: aged 18+ years

Plants and Landscapes:

• Primary school: aged 5 to 12 years
• High school: aged 13 to 18 years
• Open: aged 18+ years

Fauna and Pollinators:

• Primary school: aged 5 to 12 years
• High school: aged 13 to 18 years
• Open: aged 18+ years

Competition Overview

The Macarthur Nature Competition is coordinated by staff from Campbelltown, Camden and Wollondilly Councils (“the competition organisers”). The competition invites entries in creative writing, artwork, and photography that highlight the native plant and animal species found within the Macarthur region.

Eligibility

• The competition is open to individuals and school groups unless otherwise specified.

• Respective Councillors, competition organisers, members of the judging panel, and their immediate families are not eligible to enter.

• Photographers who have earned more than $500 from photography sales in the 2025/2026 financial year are not eligible to enter amateur age categories but may be eligible for a professional category if applicable.

Entry Requirements

• Entries close 26 June 2026. Late entries will not be accepted.

• All entries must feature a native plant or animal species occurring within the Macarthur region (Campbelltown, Camden and Wollondilly LGAs).

• Entries must be the original work of the entrant and must be obtained lawfully.

• Entrants must live/reside in Campbelltown, Camden and Wollondilly LGA's. 

Submission formats:

Creative writing and artwork:

• May be submitted on paper (any size or format). Though a digital photo of the art and online submission is preferred.

• Each hard copy entry must include a completed entry form.

• School submissions must clearly identify each student’s first name, age, school and class.

• Creative writing must include accurate, factual information about the species.

• Artwork may use any medium (e.g. drawing, painting, collage).

Photography:

• Must be submitted online.

• Each entrant may submit a maximum of three photographs.

• Images must have been taken within the last 12 months.

• Photographs may be in colour or black and white.

• Each photograph may only be entered into one category/theme.

Ethical and Legal Requirements

All entries must comply with relevant Commonwealth, State, Territory, and local laws.

Wildlife and Environmental Protection

• Native plants and animals are protected by law across Australia.

• Entrants must not harm, interfere with, or disturb wildlife or their habitats.

Prohibited activities include (but are not limited to):

• Harassing wildlife, including use of call playback or sound devices

• Disturbing nests, hollows, or habitats

• Feeding wildlife or using bait

• Altering vegetation or habitat

• Walking or driving off designated tracks

• Erecting structures (e.g. hides) without permission

• Using flash photography on fauna

• Damaging plant species

Entrants are responsible for understanding and complying with all relevant regulations in the locations where they create their work.

Photography-Specific Conditions

• Images must not include flash photography on fauna.

• Photos must adhere to ethical wildlife photography guidelines. Non-compliant images will not be judged.

• Images must not be digitally manipulated beyond basic adjustments:

• Permitted: cropping, minor tonal adjustments, spotting, burning/dodging

• Not permitted: AI-generated imagery, compositing, cloning, or altering subject matter

• Retouching is limited to removal of dust or scratches only.

Judging

• Entries will be judged by a panel including representatives with expertise in art, photography, and local biodiversity.

• The judging panel will include a representative from each Council.

• The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Use of Entries

By entering, entrants grant permission for their work to be:

• Displayed publicly

• Reproduced in print and electronic media

• Used for not-for-profit publications, promotions, and advertising

• Entrants will be acknowledged where their work is reproduced, and winners may have their names published.

Collection of Entries

• Hard copy entries submitted via schools will be available for collection from local Council offices after the competition.

• Uncollected entries may be donated to local schools or libraries.

Privacy

• Personal information collected will be used solely for administering the competition and will not be used for any other purpose.

General Conditions

• Entries that do not comply with these terms and conditions may be disqualified.

• The competition organisers reserve the right to amend these terms and conditions if required.