Lorikeet’s annual Open Your Mind Poetry Competition is now open.
Are you a WA resident living with mental health challenges or caring for someone who is? MIFWA has launched our annual Lorikeet Centre poetry competition for Western Australian residents living with mental health challenges or caring for someone with mental health challenges.
This year’s poetry competition theme ‘Threads of Us’ weaves a vibrant tapestry of human connection and community, exploring how individual lives intertwine to create a stronger whole. Through evocative imagery and heartfelt verse, we welcome poems that celebrates the invisible bonds that unite us—shared stories, collective struggles, and moments of empathy. We welcome writers to recognise the power of togetherness in a fragmented world, reminding us that in connection, we find resilience, hope, and belonging.
The poetry competition is free to enter, and there will be several prizes.
Download the 2025 Open Your Mind Poetry Competition – Poster
The competition closes at 5pm, Tuesday 2 September 2025.
We’ll announce the winners during Mental Health Week 2025 (October).
A selection of poems will be compiled and published in the annual Lorikeet Open Your Mind Poetry Book.
Submission Guidelines
- Open to anyone living with mental health challenges or caring for someone who is.
- Open to WA residents only.
- Entry is free.
- Max. 2 poems per person.
- Max. 18 lines per poem, and a unique title per poem.
- All submissions must be your own original unpublished work.
- Winners will be announced in October 2025 during Mental Health Week.
- MIFWA reserves the right to display, reproduce or publish the submissions on its website, newsletters, social pages and other MIFWA materials.
Prizes
All entries:
- 1st: $100
- 2nd: $75
- 3rd: $50
Best Lorikeet & MIFWA Participants:
- 1st: $100
- 2nd: $75
Deadline
To enter, submit your poems by 5pm, Tuesday 2 September 2025:
By email to: events@mifwa.org.au with the subject: Poetry Competition
In-person at: Lorikeet Centre, 104 Cambridge Street, West Leederville
or: MIFWA Head Office, Level 3, 9 The Avenue, Midland
By post to:
Poetry Competition
MIFWA, PO Box 1947, Midland WA 6936
For further information or if you have any questions, call 9237 8900 or email us at events@mifwa.org.au.
Download the 2025 Open Your Mind Poetry Competition – Guidelines
Download the 2025 Open Your Mind Poetry Competition – Poster
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