We are delighted to announce the inaugural Inflection Points Writing Prize. This $5,000 cash prize will be awarded to the best new piece of Australian writing about the big problems our nation faces, and the solutions within our grasp.

Entries to this prize should be focused on a specific issue that fits into at least one of the Inflection Points focus points: state capacity, infrastructure and housing, productivity growth, and human flourishing. 

Entries should go beyond merely identifying a problem, and work to interrogate solutions. We are interested in writing that engages with how the barriers to progress can be overcome, or have been overcome in the past.

Note: Submissions for the Inflection Points Writing Prize closed in June 2026. We expect to announce the winners of the prize in September.

The Inflection Points Writing Prize is open for entries until June 30, 2026.

We founded Inflection Points to create a platform for long-form writing about Australia and the institutions that drive its success. Our publication exists to deepen engagement with our nation in its own right—not in comparison to others—and to in turn build a national shorthand for the unique ways Australia functions.

There is much Australian writing about the problems we face as a nation. There is less about the potential—and historically successful—solutions. 

This prize exists to encourage both established and emerging Australian writers to move their work beyond problem definition and critique, and toward solutions investigation and generation.

We at Inflection Points believe that Australia is full of great writers—but that there is a lack of diverse platforms to publish and nurture those writers to reach their full potential. Our magazine aims to play a positive role in enabling our nation and its media environment to flourish for years to come. This Prize is one small part of that mission. 

We will publish the winning publication and up to three runner-up pieces, awarding the following prizes:

Winner: $5,000

Runners-up: Up to three prizes of $1,000 each

All final submissions to the Prize should be:

1. Unpublished, original work by an author or co-authors
2. At least 2,000 words in length, with no upper limit
3. Engaging actively with at least one of the Inflection Points focus points, as outlined on the About page of the publication’s website

When judging pieces we will consider the following:

Analysis of problem(s) and solution(s) 

• Rigorous use of evidence 
• Consideration of trade-offs and limitations

Journalistic quality

• Clear and engaging prose
• Even-handed consideration of issues

Originality and impact

• Potential to inform Australian policy 
• Novel contribution to Australian public discourse

Please note: if you are interested in writing a piece for Inflection Points, entering the Prize is not the only way to do so. You can submit a pitch via our email, and if it is a good fit we will work with you on your piece and provide modest payment. Go to our Pitches page for more information.