About Jamie Cullens
Jamie Cullens was the founding Director of what is now known as the Centre for Defence Leadership and Ethics (CDLE). He served for 19 years in the Infantry, commanded at platoon, company and battalion levels. He saw operational service in Kashmir with the UN, in Panama with US forces and Australian Special Forces in Iraq. He was appointed as the first Director of the Centre for Defence Leadership Studies in 2002, supporting command, leadership, management and military ethics program development at the Australian Defence College (ADC). He served in this role for over a decade and is known across Defence as a champion for the education and training of ADF and APS members in military ethics and leadership.
About the Competition
Founded in 2018, authors were invited to pen an essay of 3000 words (+/- 10%) across three (3) categories. In 2020 the competition was expanded to include opinion pieces, poetry, short stories and graphic novels. All categories have a generic theme allowing entrants to explore topics in leadership, culture and ethics in Defence.
Recognition
Book voucher prizes are awarded for first, second and third in each category.
The Australian Defence College, the Centre for Defence Leadership and Ethics and The Forge thank all the contributors and congratulate the winners of the competitions. Winning entries can be viewed through the links below.
Disclaimer
The views expressed in the essays, opinion pieces, short stories, poems and graphic novels hosted on this site are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Australian Government or Defence. While reasonable care has been taken in hosting these literary works, the Commonwealth of Australia and the authors—to the extent permitted by law—disclaim all liability howsoever caused (including as a result of negligence) arising from the use of, or reliance on, web site. By accessing this site, users are deemed to have consented to this condition and agree that this site is used entirely at their own risk.
Competitions
2022 - Thank you and good luck to all the entrants. Submissions are currently being reviewed. Watch this space for winning entries.
2021 - Winning entries
2020 - Winning entries
2019 - Winning entries
2018 - Inaugural Winners of the Jamie Cullens Writing Competition