The Jamie Cullens Writing Competition (JCWC) celebrates creative and critical thinking within Defence, inviting contributions across essays, persuasive articles, short stories, poems, and graphic novels. Open to members of the Australian Defence Force and Defence employees, the competition encourages thought-provoking insights into leadership, ethics, character, and cultural challenges in Defence. With themes ranging from the role of character in leadership to the ethical implications of new technologies, the JCWC fosters original ideas and innovative expression.

Links to each winning article will be made available over the coming weeks.

Category 1 – Essay winners

First Prize: MAJ Travis Peet: A Just Surrender
Second Prize: Ms Rachael Baker: Deconstructing Women’s Empowerment: A critical reflection of well-intentioned support for Women’s leadership in Defence and national security.
Third Prize: AB Emma Storey: ‘The Great moral Challenge’: The ethics of climate change in the ADF

Category 2 – Articles and Opinion Piece

First Prize: CAPT Paras Lohani: Leadership in Motion – Through a Junior Officer’s Perspective
Second Prize: WOFF David Turnbull: The Abyss
Third Prize: CAPT Taylor Cresswell: Failure in Character IS a failure in competence

Category 3 – Short Stories winners

First Prize: CAPT Jamie Schofield: Feedback
Second Prize: LCDR Sarah Lucinsky: The Elements: Meditations on a Modern Tragedy
Third Prize: LCDR Richard Morris: Don’t

Category 4 – Poems winners,

First Prize: FLGOFF Isabella Blenkin: The Only Woman in the Room
Second Prize: PTE Emily Chettle: A Row of Plastic Soldiers
Third Prize: LCDR Benjamin White: L.E.A.D.E.R.S.

Category 5 – Graphic Novels winners,

First Prize: FLTLT Adam Lo: Artificial Maleficent
Second Prize: CPL John Wellfare: Tactical Ethics