After tuning in to thousands of nature poems echoing with magpies calling at dawn, cicadas humming in the summer heat, rain drumming on tin roofs, and creeks whispering their way to the sea, we feel honoured to announce the 2026 Poem Forest Prize Shortlist.
"The day I learnt to write poems at school, I couldn't stop writing all night. This is one of my entries from my first day as a poet."
~ Raphael B, Year 3 - Caulfield Grammar School, VIC
These outstanding nature poems come from young people and teachers across Australia who slowed down, listened deeply and gave Country a voice through their words. Drawn from more than 3,000 entries, each poem will plant a tree on Dharawal and Wodi Wodi Country in the Wollongong LGA, growing a forest of poems (and a chorus of birdsong) for future generations.
Congratulations to all the shortlisted poets, and a huge thank you to every poet who submitted their words and helped grow the Poem Forest!
Shortlisted poems
Lower Primary (F/K–Year 3)
'Acrostic Country' by Kaysen L, Year 3, Epping Public School (NSW)
'Animals Have a Voice' by Marley C, Year 2, St Michael's Collegiate School (TAS)
'But, 'shh', says the water.' by Sophie C, Year 2, St Michael's Collegiate School (TAS)
'Koori Kookaburra' by Kyole L.D., Year 3, Glebe Public School (NSW)
'Maple' by Olive F, F/K, Homeschool (WA)
'Raining' by Raymond L, Year 3, Mentone Grammar School (VIC)
'Senses outside' by Aiden I, Year 1, Duffy Primary School (ACT)
'The Sound of Country' by Rico Y, Year 3, Oatley West Public School (NSW)
'The Voice of Stone' by Edward C, Year 3, Sydney Grammar School, Edgecliff (NSW)
Upper Primary (Years 4–6)
'Colours of Memory' by Eliza S, Year 6, St John's Catholic Primary School (NSW)
'My Crazy Family' by Amelia S, Year 6, William Bayldon Public School (NSW)
'Nature Poem' by Elizabeth H, Year 6, Illawarra Christian School (NSW)
'Red-Bellied Black' by Lachlan F, Year 5, The Nature School Primary (NSW)
'Sounds of Country' by Madeleine J, Year 5, Gisborne Primary School (VIC)
'The Cleansing' by Beatrix C, Year 5, Tintern Schools (VIC)
'the olive' by Ali A, Year 6, Crestwood Public School (NSW)
'The tree that watched' by Zahli T, Year 6, St John's Catholic Primary School (NSW)
'Uluru' by Rio L, Year 4, East Fremantle Primary School (WA)
'Windy Place' by Isabella A, Year 6, Kelvin Grove State College (QLD)
'Elder' by Caitlin H, Year 5, Cornish College (VIC)
Primary First Nations
'Ballad of BurraBeeDee' by Mya W, Year 5, Coonabarabran Public School (NSW)
'Be grateful for the Biyala (red gum trees)' by Indigo H, Year 6, Congupna Primary School (VIC)
'Bush' by Isaac M, Year 2, Cringila Public School (NSW)
'Gumleaf' by Karma C, Year 3, Illaroo Road Public School (NSW)
'Koori Kookaburra' by Kyole L.D., Year 3, Glebe Public School (NSW)
'My Crazy Family' by Amelia S, Year 6, William Bayldon Public School (NSW)
Primary Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD)
'Algal Blooms' by Aqsad S, Year 4, Iqra College (SA)
'A Summertime Crescendo' by Kate A, Year 3, St Charbel's College (NSW)
'My Country' by Emilia B, Year 6, St John's Catholic Primary School (NSW)
'Nature, Animals and the Sky' by Riley L, Year 3, Oatley West Public School (NSW)
'The Class Of Beauty' by Amelia M, Year 6, Glebe Public School (NSW)
'The crops' by Ali M, Year 6, Giralang Primary School (ACT)
'The Sound of Country' by Rico Y, Year 3, Oatley West Public School (NSW)
'The sounds you can hear' by Ethan C, Year 4, Mentone Grammar School (VIC)
'The Symphony of the Skies' by Lucas L, Year 6, Murray Farm Public School (NSW)
'Two Worlds' by Roy P, Year 6, Summer Hill Public School (NSW)
Lower Secondary (Years 7–9)
'Amaroo' by Layla W, Year 7, St Columba Anglican School (NSW)
'Echoes in the Gums' by My N, Year 7, Hurlstone Agricultural High School (NSW)
'Growling Swallet' by Cawaner H, Year 9, Homeschool (TAS)
'Morning surprise' by Bela T, Year 9, Canterbury Girls High School (NSW)
'On salted wounds' by Ella A, Year 9, Corpus Christi College (NSW)
'The wind chases them all' by Ron K, Year 8, Geraldton Senior High School (WA)
'Wave' by Payton D, Year 9, Murray Bridge High School (SA)
Upper Secondary (Years 10–12)
'A Bird?' by Coco L, Year 11, Byron Bay High School (NSW)
'Floor Time' by Mitsuki B, Year 11, Lindisfarne Anglican School (NSW)
'Gumtree-Music' by Antigone S, Year 11, Roma Mitchell Secondary College (SA)
'we are all trees' by Tiffany M, Year 10, Queensland Academy for Health Sciences (QLD)
'When I was young I pretended the trees could talk' by Yumi T, Year 10, Meriden School (NSW)
Secondary First Nations
'Growling Swallet' by Cawaner H, Year 9, Homeschool (TAS)
'I don't Know' by Glenzira D, Year 9, Murray Bridge High School (SA)
'My home' by Indianna B, Year 11, Chatham High School (NSW)
'The wind chases them all' by Ron K, Year 8, Geraldton Senior High School (WA)
'Trees' by Slate W, Year 7, Murray Bridge High School (SA)
Secondary CaLD
'Echoes in the Gums' by My N, Year 7, Hurlstone Agricultural High School (NSW)
'Floor Time' by Mitsuki B, Year 11, Lindisfarne Anglican School (NSW)
'Morning surprise' by Bela T, Year 9, Canterbury Girls High School (NSW)
'The Australian jungle' by Jack N, Year 8, Fort Street High School (NSW)
'we are all trees' by Tiffany M, Year 10, Queensland Academy for Health (QLD)
'When I was young I pretended the trees could talk' by Yumi T, Year 10, Meriden School (NSW)
Accredited Teacher
'A message from Gaia' by Elisabetta Romano, Teacher, NSW School of Languages (NSW)
'In and of Itself.' by Fin Walsh, Teacher, Brighton Secondary School (SA)
'Kambalda Crescent' by Hannah-Rose Jenkins, Teacher, Wollondilly Anglican College (NSW)
'She took us from the earth in an anodized shuttle' by Blake Nuto, Teacher, St Michael's Collegiate School (TAS)
'The Reclaiming' by Temily Jayne Green, Teacher, Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School (WA)
Wollongong Community Greening Local Prize (F/K–Year 12)
'Bush' by Isaac M, Year 2, Cringila Public School (NSW)
'Colours of Memory' by Eliza S, Year 6, St John's Catholic Primary School (NSW)
'King of the river' by Amanda P, Year 5, Mount Ousley Public School (NSW)
'Nature Poem' by Elizabeth H, Year 6, Illawarra Christian School (NSW)
'Slither' by Ned H, Year 5, Wollongong Public School (NSW)
'Sounds in a life of a tree' by Mae F, Year 6, Mount Ousley Public School (NSW)
'The countries plea' by Emi F, Year 6, Wollongong Public School (NSW)
'The tree that watched' by Zahli T, Year 6, St John's Catholic Primary School (NSW)
'The Vine's Family' by Aiden R, Year 6, Illawarra Christian School (NSW)
'The Waves Crashing' by Olive P, Year 6, Mount Ousley Public School (NSW)
Join the Winners Announcement Ceremony (Online)
Made the shortlist? Your poem might be a 2026 Poem Forest winner.
To find out, join our online live-streamed Winners Announcement ceremony on Wednesday, 18 November, 11am.
