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The Premier's Anzac Spirit School Prize provides young South Australians with the opportunity to examine and empathise with the remarkable sacrifices of South Australian service men and women during the 20th century. The prize is open to all South Australian students in years 9 and 10.
Entries are now open for the 2026 Premier’s Anzac Spirit School Prize
Entries are open now until Friday 3 July 2026 at 5.00pm.
Find out how to enter the 2026 Premier's Anzac Spirit School Prize (on this page).
Video: Premier’s Anzac Spirit School Prize (2:14)
In this video, winners of the 2022 Premier’s Anzac Spirit School Prize reflected on what the prize meant to them.
Video transcript for winners of the 2022 Premier’s Anzac Spirit School Prize
Aston: Being on the Premier’s ANZAC Spirit tour made me realise that the people that we hear about and we read about in history, they're not just names and they’re not just certain words.
They're also people that were just like us that dedicated their life to making Australia a better place.
Vinka: So looking at how the prize has impacted my academic ambitions, I'd say that it's definitely exemplified
my passion for history and for learning.
I have wishes to study or to complete a Bachelor of Arts majoring in modern history so that I can then later complete my juris doctor to practice law here in Australia and even potentially go into politics as well.
William: The best part of the whole experience would probably be meeting everyone. They’re all so different,
but we're also similar as well.
They're really nice people and it was great to learn the history and learn about our country and what it's been through.
Charlotte: My older brother, Ezra, he won the prize back in 2021 and so he got to go to Darwin as well, and then I won it in 2022 and I went to Darwin and now my sister's won it.
Jack: I'm definitely looking at going into something historical in the future.
Lauren (teacher): I've taken some history classes that I never planned to ever be taking.
In fact, I'm doing a university class next year, hopefully, for history and being able to do that experience I never would have thought about before being able to win this.
The first student who had been a recipient of this award, afterwards, she was taking part in some public speaking events, and I just watched her confidence as a young adult grow and watch her empathy for the world deepen.
History became her passion, and she now wants to be a history teacher and she's also become our school
captain this year.
Student: Absolutely I would encourage anyone who is passionate about history and looking to further develop
their skills.
I think by participating in this you gain so many priceless opportunities that you can't seek elsewhere and it really is a lifelong experience.
End of transcript.
About the prize and study tour
This prize has been conducted since 2007. Students who are awarded the prize are invited to participate in a commemorative study tour.
The selection process involves a submission entry and then an interview for students who are shortlisted.
The students are accompanied on the study tour by:
- a representative of the Department for Education
- appointed teachers
- a representative of the SA Branch of the Returned and Services League (RSL SA) of Australia.
Teachers who have entered students in the prize can apply to accompany students on the study tour.
Promote the prize in your school
Download the poster (PDF 5 MB) to display in your school.
Competition details
Entries are open from Monday 27 April 2026 until Friday 3 July 2026 at 5.00pm.
Who can enter
The Premier’s Anzac Spirit School Prize is open to South Australian students in year 9 and 10.
Only 4 entries will be accepted from a school. It will be up to each school to determine the 4 entries to be submitted to the Premier’s Anzac Spirit School Prize judging panel.
Students in year 9 or 10 may enter through a service-based community group, such as, Australian Defence Forces cadets. The entry must be submitted through the student’s school and can be in addition to the 4 entries submitted by the school.
Prize winners
Following a selection process, students who are awarded the prize are invited to participate in a commemorative study tour. Awardee students will be accompanied on the tour by a representative of the SA Branch of the Returned & Services League (RSL) of Australia, a representative of the Department for Education and appointed teachers.
Teachers who have entered students in the prize can apply to accompany students on the study tour as a chaperone.
All entries submitted to the judging panel will receive a certificate of recognition (Participation, Merit or Award Recipient).
How to enter – student submissions
Writing the student submission – entry requirements and assessment criteria
To enter, students are required to research and report on the life story of a South Australian service person who served in World War 1 and/or 2.
Applicants will select a lesser-known person who served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Medical or other service duties.
Students use primary and secondary sources to explore the life of the service person, creating a historical argument that shows how they displayed at least 2 of the Anzac characteristics. These qualities are generally accepted to include endurance, courage, ingenuity, humour, and mateship (Australian War Memorial, 2023).
Applications will address Part A: Historical argument and Part B: Source analysis, in their entry.
This is the list of individuals who cannot be researched (PDF 283 KB) for the 2026 Premier's Anzac Spirit School Prize.
Part A – historical argument
Students develop a historical argument demonstrating how a lesser-known service person displayed the Anzac spirit during World War 1 and/or 2. In your response:
- Describe the life of the selected person before departing for war, during their service and their post-war life or manner of death.
- Explain how the selected person demonstrated at least 2 characteristics of the Anzac Spirit during and/or after the war.
- Analyse and discuss how their experience reflects the enduring nature of the Anzac Spirit in Australian life.
- Identify and acknowledge evidence from primary and secondary sources.
Conditions:
- A maximum of 1500 words if written or 12 minutes in multi-modal form.
- Students should use a consistent referencing style of their choosing and acknowledge their sources in an attached reference list.
Part B – source analysis
Document and explain the origin, content, context and purpose of the primary and secondary sources used in your entry.
Conditions:
- Maximum of 500 words (written).
Criteria
Parts A and B will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Knowledge and understanding: Describe the perspective of individuals across historical contexts (/6).
- Historical perspectives and interpretations: Explain historical perspectives and use evidence to inform interpretations (/6).
- Communicating: Create historical arguments using evidence from sources (/6).
- Questioning and researching: Locate, identify and acknowledge evidence from primary and secondary sources (/6).
- Total score ___/24
Personal statement (maximum 500 words)
On a separate document, students are required to write a personal statement highlighting their:
- community responsibilities and involvement
- extra-curricular contributions to the school
- interest in history and the influence it has on our world today.
Conditions:
- Maximum of 500 words (written).
Download the guidance document (PDF 271 KB) for further information.
Step 1 – entry and declaration form
Teachers and students read the guidance document (PDF 271 KB) for entries.
Teachers fill in the student entry and declaration form.
To complete the online form, you will need:
- student name, address and email
- caregivers name/s, phone and email
- school details such as Principal, student and teacher declarations
- caregivers consent to participate.
Step 2 – email submission
Teachers email student submissions to AnzacSchoolPrize@sa.gov.au.
Ensure that files are labelled clearly. For example:
- document 1 – part A, part B
- document 2 – personal statement.
All written submissions should be emailed in Word document format.
Email template
Applications not following format guidelines will not be considered in the judging process.
In the email’s subject line, label as below:
Part A and B and Personal Statement – AnzacHighSchool – Matilda Smyth – 2026
For applicants who don't have access to a computer or the internet, teachers can email us on AnzacSchoolPrize@sa.gov.au to make alternative arrangements.
How to enter – teacher chaperones
Teachers who have been directly involved in student entries in their school for the Premier’s Anzac Spirit School Prize are invited to apply for selection to accompany the student award recipients on the study tour.
Your responsibility if selected
The study tour will be led by a representative of the Department for Education and accompanying teachers. The role of the accompanying teacher is to implement the duty of care requirements of the 3 participating education sectors.
Please note, this is not a Department for Education merit selection process.
Step 1 – teacher application form
To apply, teachers must complete the teacher application form – this must be submitted at the same time as your student entries.
As part of the online form you need to write a statement of no more than 600 words explaining your reasons for wanting to accompany the students on the Premier’s Anzac Spirit School Prize study tour in 2027. The statement should include:
- information on teaching experience
- evidence of expertise in extended excursion management and responsibility
- evidence of excellent interpersonal skills with students.
Step 2 – referee statement from your Principal
You need to demonstrate the support of the teacher’s school Principal via a referee statement commenting on the applicant’s suitability for a supervision and support role in the context of the trip (to be emailed to AnzacSchoolPrize@sa.gov.au).
How we select teacher chaperones
Those nominated are to be selected on the basis of:
- being a teacher who has been directly involved in supporting a student or students participating in the Premier’s Anzac Spirit School Prize
- your referee statement from your Principal (emailed)
- your 600 word statement submitted with the online application form.
Previous awardees and entries
Awardees for 2025
The 2025 Premier’s Anzac Spirit School Prize awardees have been invited to participate in the State Government’s study tour to Paris and the Western Front in September/ October 2026.
The 2025 awardees are:
- Ameeran Ali - Reynella East College
- Mason Bergmann - Ceduna Area School
- Caitlin Colla - Oakbank School
- Chloe Fels- Heathfield High School
- Adela Frankel - Berri Regional Secondary College
- Jasleen Kaur - St Paul's College
- Saanvi Khanna - Wilderness School
- Tyler Kinross - St Columba College
- Chelsea McElroy - Grant High School
- Hannah McPherson - Investigator College
- Amelia Pertini - Saint Ignatius' College
- Harley Pokorra - Oakbank School
- Maggie Redden - Jamestown Community School
- Sjoerd Van DiJk - Aberfoyle Park High School
- Sunny Stanton - Kangaroo Island Community Education
- Tahlia Stringer - Port Broughton Area School
- Thomas Sullivan - Encounter Lutheran College
- Matilda Villet - Immanuel College
- Chloe Villios - Saint Ignatius' College
- Grace Wegner - Renmark High School
The teachers selected to accompany the students:
- Grace Mitchell Reynella East College
- Rebecca Jones Grant High School
The RSL SA delegate on the study tour is Lawrence Ng, President, Air Force Association SA.
Previous awardee entries
Visit winning entries on the Virtual War Memorial Australia website to see Premier’s Anzac Spirit School Prize awardee entries since 2015.
The individuals profiled in these winning entries cannot be submitted again.
This is the list of individuals who cannot be researched (PDF 283 KB) for the 2026.
More information
If you would like more information or have any questions, email AnzacSchoolPrize@sa.gov.au.
