Application requirements

Each applicant must complete or submit the following to be eligible for this award:

• An online application form and acceptance of the Terms and Conditions via the online system. The application process closes on Sunday, 23 March 2026 at 11:59 PM AWST.
• Two (2) copies of the submitted play (including one that is a ‘clean’ copy on which the writer’s name, contact details or agent’s details do not appear anywhere) via the online application system.
• A complete synopsis of the submitted play.

Should the applicant's entry reach further stages of long/short list, the following may be requested to verify eligibility: 

• Evidence of date of birth. This may be a version of the applicant’s birth certificate, passport, or other identification indicating the date of birth.
• Evidence of proof of residency in Australia during the past four (4) years. This may be a version of the applicant’s Australian passport; Australian citizen certificate; or Australian Permanent residency documentation.

Judges and judging process

• Judging is based entirely on material submitted by the applicant by the close of entries date. No additional material will be accepted after this date. Please note that insufficient or incomplete applications may not be eligible.
• The trustee reserves the right to refuse applications not considered eligible for entry, and late applications will not be accepted.
• Dates listed under ‘Key Dates’ must be strictly adhered to by the applicant. There are no exceptions to this rule.
• The prize shall be awarded to the applicant who, on the recommendation of the majority of judges, is considered to have written the play of the highest merit.
• If the majority of judges consider that there is no entry of sufficiently high merit to warrant the award, no prize will be awarded.
• The majority decision of the judges and of the Trustee on the interpretation of all award rules and conditions shall be final and legally binding, and no correspondence will be entered into with regard to the judges’ decision.
• All successful and unsuccessful applicants will be contacted by email.
• The judges’ names are not disclosed until after the judging process.
• If at any time after the award has been granted to any entry, and a majority of judges determine that the entry did not comply with the conditions of entry or eligibility, the award may be withdrawn from that entry, and the artist must immediately repay the prize money to the Trustee.
• In the event that an award is withdrawn from an entry pursuant to this condition, the other entries which were submitted in the same year may be reconsidered for the award; otherwise, no award will be conferred in respect of that year.
• Whilst it is expected that these conditions will be strictly observed, the Trustee reserves the right to waive compliance with or alter any conditions.
• The award recipient should obtain their own professional advice in respect of any taxation implications of receiving the award.

Publicity and promotion

• By entering this award, the applicant grants the Trustee and its agent a licence to reproduce any material or entry/ies by electronic or print media or on television leading up to, or for the duration of the exhibition, and thereafter, to further advertise and in other ways publicise the Max Afford Playwrights’ Award, and any other scholarships/awards in its portfolio.
• It is expected that the winner of the award will be announced in May-June 2026. As soon as applicable after the announcement of the award, all applicants will receive notification to their email address.