Sustainable Steps Poster Competition

There are 5 award categories.

Year level categories

For the following year level categories, artworks must be created by individual students:

• juniors (preschool and kindergarten)
• lower primary (years 1 and 2)
• mid primary (years 3 and 4)
• upper primary (years 5 and 6)

Supported artwork category

In 2026 we have introduced a Supported Artwork category. This entry is for students who may benefit from additional support to participate in the competition. Entries can be co-created with guidance or assistance from teachers, support staff or peers, supporting inclusive participation.

1. Think of one action

Your poster should inspire Canberrans to take one simple action from this list:

• save energy or water
• protect our waterways and biodiversity
• keep food and waste out of landfill
• consume less or reduce emissions
• promote active travel such as walking or cycling.

2. Make your poster

Posters can be in pencil, paint, crayon, mixed media or digitally created. They should be on standard A4 or A3 size paper or cardboard. Layout can be either portrait or landscape.

Posters will be judged by:

• the quality of the poster
• the creativity of the poster
• how well the poster encourages people to take simple sustainability action.

3. Fill out an entry form

Collect a printed form from any ACT Library branch or download and print the entry form [PDF 260.2 KB].

• Complete the entry form and tape securely to the back of your poster.
• Write your first name only and your school grade level on your poster.
• Parent/ guardian consent must be received with contact details for finalists
• Mail in your poster or deliver your entry it to any ACT Library branch.

Before you submit your poster, make sure your first name only and school grade level are written on it, and that you have attached your parental / guardian signed entry form.

4. Submit your entry

You can submit your entry by post, or take it to your local ACT Library.

Library drop-off

Between 28 August and 13 October 2026, you can give your poster to staff at any ACT Library branch.

Let them know that your poster is for the Sustainable Steps Poster Competition.

Post

Mail your entry to:

Sustainable Schools Program – Sustainable Steps Poster Competition – CED
GPO Box 158 Canberra ACT 2601

Submissions will not be accepted after Tuesday 13 October 2026

Judging

A panel of judges from ACT Government will assess the entries and select finalists.

Finalists will be selected from five categories:

• juniors (preschool and kindergarten)
• lower primary (years 1 and 2)
• mid primary (years 3 and 4)
• upper primary (years 5 and 6)
• supported artwork category

Return of posters

Finalists’ posters can be collected at the conclusion of the Climate Choices Schools Awards event. All other posters will be returned to entrants’ schools.

Terms and conditions

By entering this competition, you agree to be bound by the competition Terms and Conditions and confirm that you have read and understood these conditions of entry. Read the Terms and Conditions.

Privacy

The collection of some private information is necessary to allow the City and Environment Directorate (CED) to contact you if the entry is a winning entry. The Privacy Statement contains information about what information CED collects, to whom it is disclosed, how you may access or seek to correct your personal information held by CED, and how you may complain about an alleged breach of the Territory Privacy Principles.

The Directorate Privacy Policy is available online. See the See the Information Privacy Policy.