The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) have launched its inaugural iSAY Competition. Students are invited to write an essay of up to 1,500 words on trade with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with the chance to win:
- a trip to an Australia now event in an ASEAN country in 2019
- the opportunity to showcase their ideas at the Diplomatic Academy in Canberra; and
- their essay published in DFAT’s Business Envoy magazine.
iSAY aims to promote understanding among the youth demographic of the benefits of trade and the importance and promotion of closer cooperation on trade between ASEAN member countries. The competition supports the Australia now ASEAN 2019 program.
The competition has three categories, open to:
- Australian year 11 and 12 students,
- Australian undergraduate students, and
- ASEAN undergraduate students.
Competition details:
Australian senior high school (Year 11 and 12) student category – up to 750 words
Australia is part of the global economy. How has international trade and globalisation benefited Australia and your city, town or community?
Australian and ASEAN undergraduate university student categories – up to 1,500 words
ASEAN represented 14 per cent of Australia’s total trade in 2017-18 and 4 per cent of Australia’s two-way investment at the end of 2017. What are the barriers to a closer trade and economic relationship and how can Australia and ASEAN countries work together to overcome them?
The top-placed entrant (the author of the winning essay) in each of the three categories will become a special guest contributor to DFAT’s business envoy magazine with each top-placed essay published in a future edition.
The three Australian university undergraduate student category finalists (in practice, the author of the winning essay and two runners-up) will receive return flights to Canberra and accommodation to present their ideas at a Youth Forum at the Diplomatic Academy on Monday 12 August 2019. In addition, the top-placed Australian university undergraduate entrant (the author of the winning essay) will receive return flights and accommodation to attend an Australia now event in an ASEAN country to be nominated by DFAT.
The two ASEAN university undergraduate student category finalists (in practice, the author of the winning essay and one runner-up) will receive return flights to Canberra and accommodation to present their ideas at the Youth Forum.
For the top-placed entrant in the Australian high school student category, we will liaise with the relevant STO regarding delivery of a winner’s certificate and printed copy of the business envoy featuring their published essay.
The top-placed entry for each category (winners) and finalists (runners-up) will be announced in July on the iSAY competition webpage and on social media.
Essays are to be submitted via email to trade@dfat.gov.au
For more information, please visit the competition webpage. The competition’s terms and conditions are published in full on the iSAY webpage. The competition closes on Friday 28 June 2019.