Photo Finish competition

About the competition

Photo Finish, our annual digital photography competition, is a chance to capture and share the world around you through uplifting and cheerful photography.

The competition is open to all patients, volunteers and visitors, as well as ÐÇ¿ÕÌåÓý and Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation staff, and people who live, work or study near The Children’s Hospital at Westmead or Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick.

Entries are judged across across three categories: 

  • Nature â€� The world around us
  • Human connections,
  • The built environment.

Entries must be uplifting and aim to cheer up children, young people and staff in hospital.

Entries must be taken on a smartphone. You can use filters if you'd like.

Entries must be your original work and not breach copyright or the rights of others.

2024 competition

Submissions for Photo Finish 2024 have now closed. Thank you to all entrants for sharing your wonderful photographs. 

Finalist entries have been printed and framed for exhibition at:

  • The Children's Hospital at Westmead 
    9 December 2024 � 17 February 2025
  • Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick 
    24 February � 19 May 2025

 Any questions?

Contact our art curator, Ivy Baddock.

[email protected]

2024 finalists

A tree amongst a salt flat.
Alexis - "Tree of Hope" (Under 12 years)
Stairs leading up to the Sydney Opera House.
Bec Webb - "Geometry in Sunlight" (The built environment)
A child's feet in a beach-side rock pool.
Eva - "Happy Accidents" (Between 13 - 18 years)
A waterfall surrounded by yellow-leafed trees.
Fiona Lam - "Destination Adventure" (Nature � The world around us)
A pool of water reflects the Hyde Park War Memorial at night.
James Chea - "Memorial reflection" (The built environment)
A red temple surrounded by pink blossums.
Jayden - "Cherry Blossom Temple" (Under 12 years)
A wavy rock formation extends high and contains a small gap, showing the blue sky above.
Michelle Ko - "Seahorse in the Desert" (Nature � The world around us)
A cockatoo sits near a beach at sunset.
Molly - "Cockatoo" (Between 13 - 18 years)
Pebbles of various colours form the surface of the ground.
Nicola Young - "The Brightest of Hearts in the Hardest of Places" (The built environment)
White flowers grow through the gaps in a fence.
Paige - "Peekaboo" (Under 12 years)
A small spider sits atop a plant.
Pene Ingle - "Small spider secret" (Nature � The world around us)
A man holds his child. The child reaches for a lightbulb, one of several strung across a wire.
Po-Ling Chiang - "Lightbulb Moment" (Human connections)
A child sits in a makeshift hut in the forest.
Tanya McAleer - "Den Building" (The built environment)
Three child playing, smile and hug.
Amy Townsend - "Freckles" (Human connections)
An assortment of red, yellow and pink leaves.
Ashira - "Autumn Leaves" (Between 13 - 18 years)
A group of people walk along a rocky shorefront at the beach.
Bec Webb - "Rise and Shine" (Human connections)
Three smiling children sit in the dark with a torch, one wearing a Santa hat.
Boston - "Home for Christmas" (Under 12 years)
White flowers face toward a sunny sky.
Claire Nayda - "Flannel Flowers looking up to the sun" (Nature � The world around us)
A young girl face-to-face with a wooly, white alpaca.
Michael Vella - "Cute..." (Human connections)
Torch light shines through an arched rock formation at night.
Teresa-Maree - "Untitled" (Between 13 - 18 years)

Terms and conditions

Just so you know what will happen when you submit your image, please read the following Terms and Conditions. We've tried to keep them short and sweet, but we do need you to consent before you submit your artwork.

For more information please email Ivy Baddock.

  • All personally identifiable information (PII) submitted through the submission webform will be used solely for the purposes of this competition. This data will be securely retained throughout the submission period and for 30 days thereafter. After this time, all submitted PII will be destroyed.
  • It is a condition of entry that entrants give permission for their artwork to be reproduced by SCHN. This includes digital and print reproduction.
  • Entries must be uplifting and aim to cheer up children, young people and staff in hospital. Entries not fitting the selection criteria will not be accepted.
  • Entries must be the original work of the entrant. The entrant confirms that the work submitted does not infringe the copyright, moral rights or other rights of any third party.
  • Entries must be taken on a smartphone; the use of the available filters or effects are at the discretion of the entrant.
  • Physical photographs will not be accepted. Images that are emailed will be ineligible for consideration.
  • Entries must be submitted via this webform.
  • Entries must be labelled according to this syntax: firstname lastname_artworktitle.jpg
  • Selected entries will be displayed on the SCHN website.
  • Entries will be judged based on merit, aesthetic quality and how well they fit the criteria. The Judgesâ€� decision will be final.
  • Entries will be judged by representatives from the SCHN Arts in Health Committee, members of SCHN and the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation executive and a patient representative.
  • One People’s Choice winner will be chosen by popular vote.  
  • Judges cannot submit entries.
  • Each entrant can enter up to five entries.
  • Framed and printed winner and finalist entries will be returned to participants once the display has finished.