Given the unexpectedly high number of strong submissions from teams of two this year, we’ve decided to allow these teams to be considered as finalists, despite the original guideline requiring teams of three.
While the requirement was designed to ensure similar levels of complexity attributable to teamwork in the Team category and to encourage collaboration from diverse perspectives, we acknowledge the need for flexibility in our first year.
To ensure clarity and fairness, we will communicate that this is a one-time exception for this year and we will communicate this change on the website, directly to schools and to those registered to receive competition updates.
Only one team member needs to submit your world. Follow these instructions if you're joining as a team.
Absolutely! We encourage you to be as creative and innovative as possible. If your unique vision doesn't quite fit the listed format examples (like short film, story, artwork, etc.), you can still go ahead with it assuming it's in the spirit of the competition (i.e. an original creative work). And remember to follow the 5 principles of a strong application from the workbook to be eligible.
We can’t accept submissions via email, however, the easiest way to enter your work is via the online form here. You should do this together with a parent or caregiver
Much more information about the submission can be found in the workbook or on our competition hub. From a time limit perspective, as a general rule, a film or any other type of medium should take no longer than 6 minutes for the panel to view. We’ll be looking at your submission in a 12-minute block. We’ll spend roughly half the time considering your creative work, and half the time looking through your workbook with the Must-Do activities. So, your film can be any length up to 6 minutes long!
To make an eligible submission, you only need to submit a PDF of your workbook with the ‘Must-Do’ activities filled out. That includes completing each worksheet itself and adding your ‘World Name’ (think of this as your Team Name) in the corner of each one. You also need to complete the cover page of course, with all your parent/caregiver details.
Remember, as mentioned in the Terms & Conditions, The world is not dystopian, and the future is looking bright. While you should be realistic about how our probable future will unfold (and that might include thinking about ‘negative’ effects or events), and you certainly can consider health megatrends like ‘#5 A Volatile World’, your creative work should showcase a future in which NSW has overcome, adapted and even thrived in such challenging conditions. Then analyse what the experience of that one persona looks like in that future world (through your Must-Do activities) and help us visualise your perception of the future in the creative medium of your choice (through your Creative Work).
One person can submit on behalf of the group.
You must submit:
Your creative piece can be any format. If it is a presentation or film, we suggest this being at a maximum 6 minutes long. Judges will have rouglhy 12 minutes to judge each submission, and half of this time will be spent looking at your ‘Must-Do’ activities, and the other half reviewing your creative piece. Competition finalists will be invited to present their futures at the Future Health Symposium on November 3rd. Finalists will be provided presentation guidance and coaching.
Yes, you can use AI tools to help you with your creative work, but there's an important rule: the final creative piece must clearly be your original work and thinking. AI should be a helper, not the main creator. For example, you can use AI to brainstorm ideas, generate text for a story, or create elements for an artwork. However, if you're making a digital product prototype, you cannot use AI tools (like "vibecoding") to launch a functional app; your submission must remain a non-functional design or mockup (like in Canva, Figma or Adobe XD). We want to see your unique voice and ideas shine through!
You will submit your entry through the online submission form on the competition website. This form will allow you to upload your completed workbook (which must be a single PDF file) and your creative piece (e.g., video file, image files, audio file, or a PDF for stories/zines up to 2GB). If your creative piece is a physical object, you'll upload photos of it via your workbook. Page 26 of your workbook has detailed instructions on how to prepare and submit your work. Make sure everything is uploaded by the deadline, especially if you’re mailing your work in (we recommend doing that 7 days before the deadline)
Your "World Name" is the unique title for the future world you create! It helps to give your imagined future a clear identity and makes it easier for you (and the judges!) to refer to your specific vision. It also helps tie together all the different parts of your workbook and creative piece under one exciting theme. Make sure to add your chosen "World Name" to the cover page and all the "Must-Do" worksheets.
The "Must-Do" activities are compulsory and are essential parts of your submission. You must complete these worksheets (Three Horizons, STEEPV, and Persona) for your entry to be eligible for judging. They are designed to help you think deeply about your future world. The "Could-Do" activities are optional but highly recommended! They offer extra tools (like the 2x2 Matrix, Backcasting, and Moonshot) and ideas to help you develop an even more insightful and creative submission. While they aren't judged directly, they can help strengthen your final creative piece.
You can definitely do this on your own! Teacher participation is entirely optional. All the resources you need, including this workbook and explainer videos, are freely available on the competition website. You are welcome to work independently. However, if you want to ask your teacher for help or advice, or if your teacher decides to integrate this into a class activity, that's great too! We encourage any support that helps you bring your amazing ideas to life. Definitely ask an adult (teacher or parent/caregiver) for any help you need during the competition (e.g. safely conducting a video shoot in a public place) or even just printing/scanning your workbook.
Your entry will be judged based on the "Five Principles of a Great Worldbuilding Submission" outlined on Page 6 of your workbook. Judges will be looking for how clear and concise your submission is, the imagination you show, how well you've chosen a format that fits your idea, if you show the "why" behind your creation (using the Must-Do activities), and how much your unique voice comes through. The goal is to make your core idea shine quickly and powerfully!
The "Health Megatrends" report is your primary research resource! It identifies six major forces that are anticipated to shape healthcare in NSW by 2040. You should use one or more of these megatrends as "building blocks" to inform your future world. For example, if you choose "Mass Personalisation," think about how personalised medicine or health data affects your persona's life. Reading the report will help ground your creative ideas in real-world trends and expert insights, making your future vision more plausible and impactful.
The deadline for all submissions is Thursday, 25 September 2025, at 8:00 PM (AEST). This means you need to have both your completed workbook (as a PDF) and your creative piece submitted via the online form on the competition website by this exact time. Make sure you plan your time well and don't leave your submission to the very last minute! You can find all the key dates on Page 28 of your workbook. Make sure everything is uploaded by the deadline, especially if you’re mailing your work in (we recommend doing that 7 days before the deadline).
Submit any questions that are not covered in this FAQ to our contact form.