1. Maximum length for each entry is 1,500 words. The judges reserve the right to reject work exceeding the word length.
2. All entries must be typed using double spacing, 12 point, in Arial or Times New Roman. Please leave at least 3cm margins. The judges reserve the right to reject work incorrectly formatted.
3. The story’s name and page number must be included in the header of each page. DO NOT include the author’s name.
4. All entries must be submitted as PDF through the online submission portal along with completion of the online form fields and payment. Do not include any personal information on submitted work. Please save your PDF file as your story title only. Do not include any personal information in the file name.

1. All entries must be the original work of the author, previously unpublished in any online or printed publication and have not achieved a place in any other competition.
2. Entries must be written entirely by the author. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate, write or rewrite any part of a submission is strictly prohibited. Any entry found to have used AI in this manner will be disqualified. Odyssey Victoria reserves the right to investigate suspected AI use and disqualify entries where a breach of this condition is reasonably established.
3. Entries that have been submitted to this competition previously should not be resubmitted.
4. All entries must be fiction, include a reference to alcohol and/or drugs and address the years theme. This theme is open to interpretation. The author does not necessarily have to write about alcohol and/or other drugs.
5. Entry cost is $10 per short story submission with a maximum of 3 entries per person.
6. Payment must accompany all entries and is non-refundable. Entries submitted without payment will not be accepted. Payment and submission can be made through our online submission portal.
7. The judges reserve the right to not award prize money if none of the entries fulfil all set criteria, and/or do not meet the quality sought by the judging panel.
8. Entries must be submitted before the closing date. Winners will be contacted by Odyssey Victoria and published on the Odyssey Victoria website.
9. Prizes will be awarded for the top three stories. First place prize: $1000 and a one year membership to Writers Victoria. Second place prize: $100. Third place prize: $50.
10. The judges’ decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
11. Winners only will be notified.
12. Copyright will remain with the author but Odyssey Victoria reserves the right to publish the prize-winning and runner-up stories.

Dr. Stefan Gruenert is a registered psychologist with over 25 years of experience in the alcohol and drug sector as a clinician, researcher, and manager. He is CEO of Odyssey Victoria and serves on the boards of the Victorian Council of Social Service and the Victorian Alcohol and Other Drug Association. Stefan has published research on treatment effectiveness, family work, and parenting, contributed to resources on family violence, and advised government policy. He has presented internationally, attended a UN meeting on global drug policy in 2008, and received a Harvard Fellowship in 2014.

A former journalist and public relations consultant, Tom Valenta is an author and advocate. In all, he has written thirteen books of non-fiction covering diverse topics including dementia, cystic fibrosis and alcohol and other drugs. His work in the dementia and cystic fibrosis fields was inspired by personal experiences – he lost his wife, Marie, to Alzheimer’s disease in 2009 and two of his six grandchildren live with cystic fibrosis. In addition to the books, he has written articles, scripts and has advocated in these areas. Tom’s book on cystic fibrosis, “Every precious breath: Inspirational stories about living with cystic fibrosis,” was published in 2011.

Tom’s books also include Voyage of Hope: The History of Odyssey in Australia and A Time of Hope about Odyssey’s Hope Centre in Bairnsdale : For his work, Tom was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) on Australia Day, 2019.

Jenny Valentish is a journalist and author who has edited major magazines, including Jmag for Triple J and Time Out Melbourne, and now freelances for leading publications such as The Guardian, The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Monthly. She has taught journalism at several institutions and runs her own workshops.

Valentish is the author of five books, including the Walkley-nominated Woman of Substances (2017), Everything Harder Than Everyone Else (2021), and The Introvert’s Guide to Leaving the House (2025). Her work has been published internationally and recognised as a valuable resource in health and social research, and she serves on boards and advisory roles related to mental health and addiction recovery.

Andrew Whitmore is an Australian author who grew up in Melbourne and various country towns due to his father’s police work. Inspired by Tolkien during high school, he pursued ancient history and English literature at Monash University before becoming a teacher and librarian, including a stint teaching in Turkey. He attended the 1975 Clarion writers’ workshop with Ursula Le Guin and began his writing career with a sword and sorcery novel. Whitmore has written both fantasy novels and children’s books, including Fireflaught, The Ark of Dreams, and The Fortress of Eternity, as well as genre-related non-fiction.

Jacqui Horwood is a reader, writer and library nerd. She has been a judge for the Ned Kelly Awards for the Australian Crime Writers Association, and the Davitt Awards for Sisters in Crime Australia, She is currently on the Board of Creative Clunes which brings the Clunes Booktown Festival to life.