Entries are invited for The Good Oil 2025 Writers’ Award, an initiative of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan in partnership with Garratt Publishing. The award aims to support and encourage the development of aspiring and published writers.
In this Jubilee Year in the Church, the theme of the award is Pilgrims of Hope.
“Let us become pilgrims of hope! Peoples, nations, and all creatures need those who choose to move towards communion. Others will follow. Let us return to building bridges where there are now walls. Let us open doors, connect worlds, and hope will spring forth.”
Pope Leo XIV, Rome, 14 June 2025
The winner of The Good Oil 2025 Writers’ Award will receive mentoring by Garratt Publishing to support their writing goals.
A judging panel will award first, second and third place. The prize for the winning entry is $600; second prize $400; third prize $200.
A new Encouragement Award with a prize of $250 is being sponsored by Garratt Publishing.
Prize-winning entries will be published in The Good Oil.
The Good Oil is a ministry of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan. The publication’s editorial vision is to nourish the spirit, stimulate thinking, promote social justice, and encourage reflection and dialogue about issues of the day from a Christian, Catholic, Good Samaritan perspective.
Entrants are strongly encouraged to look at past editions of The Good Oil to gain an understanding of the type and style of articles published. To view current and past editions, click here.
Entry is open to residents of Australia, Kiribati, the Philippines and Japan – countries where the Sisters of the Good Samaritan live and minister.
Entrants are invited to submit a single piece of writing on the theme Pilgrims of Hope, adopting one of the following styles:
Reflection – creative writing or first person reflective writing
Opinion – first person personal opinion
Profile – profile of a person based on an interview and research
News feature – issues-based article written in journalistic style
The judges will base their decision on the entries which best explore the theme Pilgrims of Hope in their chosen writing style. In particular, the judges will be looking for writing that is topical, engaging, creative, original and well written.
By submitting their entry, entrants confirm that they are the author of the submitted work, that it has not been published previously or submitted in any other awards or competitions, and that they have read and agreed to The Good Oil 2025 Writers’ Award Guidelines.
Entry is free and open to writers aged 18 and over. Only entries submitted online will be eligible. Entrants may submit more than one piece of writing, to a maximum of three (3) pieces.
To submit your entry, click here.
Entries close at 5pm AEST on Friday 29 August 2025.
