Over 300 incredible entries. 1 powerful message.
This year, the 2025 Child Rights Art Competition, delivered by Children’s Rights Queensland (CRQ) in partnership with the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC), invited children and young people from across the state to share what it means to be loved, respected, and have their rights upheld, through the universal language of art.
The result? More than 300 moving, bold, and heartfelt submissions from artists as young as two years old to young adults aged 25. The competition sparked powerful conversations in homes, classrooms, and communities across Queensland, bringing to life the QFCC’s vision: "Every Queensland child is loved, respected and has their rights upheld."
🖍️ Why Art?
Children and young people have unique perspectives and big ideas. Art allows them to express their thoughts, hopes, and experiences in ways words sometimes can't. This competition gave them a space to reflect on their rights and creatively show the world how they imagine safety, love, belonging, fairness and hope.
🌟 Meet the Winners
Submissions were judged across four age categories. Here’s the list of 2025 winners:
Birth to 5 Years
🏆 First Place: Goodstart Early Learning Tallai – A collaborative work titled "Our House of Rights".
🥈 Second: Bribie Island Kindy – “We grow with love, trust and respect.”
🥉 Third: Eugine, 4 – "The hug that stretches across Queensland”.
6 to 11 Years
🏆 First: Evelyn Lewsey, 9 – "The Road to Rights".
🥈 Second: Genevieve Sebastian, 11 – "The World Through a Child's Eyes"
🥉 Third: Kikandrya Gautama, 9 – "Queensland Kids Nature"
12 to 16 Years
🏆 First: Ella Park, 14 – Different. A deeply personal digital illustration on racial identity and belonging in Australia.
🥈 Second: Mikayla Dunne, 15 – "Comfort and Stability". A serene coastal embrace showing the mutual respect between child and caregiver.
🥉 Third: Mali Ardle, 14 – "From little things big things grow". A personal reflection on names, growth, and opportunity.
17 to 25 Years
🏆 First: Sarah Flohr, 18 – "Through the Eyes of a Child". An oil painting where heart-shaped balloons mirrored safe, grounded places for children.
🏆 Tied First: Jacynta Ahwang, 17 – "A World for All Children".
🥉 Third: Zoe Fisher, 17 – "A Strange Self in a Sweet Disguise". Exploring identity, pressure, and the courage to be yourself.
👏 Highly Commended
12 more artists were recognised with Highly Commended awards, with selections made by a guest judge. These works showed strong creative vision, compelling messages, and a deep understanding of the theme. You can explore their artwork here.
💬 Why It Matters
Every child has the right to feel safe, be heard, and grow with dignity. These artworks powerfully remind us of the world children envision and the world they deserve. This competition did more than showcase talent, it sparked community conversations, classroom discussions, and reflections in homes about what it truly means to support and uphold children’s rights.
To every young artist who entered: thank you. Your voices matter. Your art made us feel, think, and imagine a better world.
📸 See the Winning Artworks
Visit the 2025 Child Rights Art Competition webpage to view the full gallery of winning and highly commended entries.
The 2025 Child Rights Art Competition was made possible thanks to the support of our partner, the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC), and the incredible commitment of families, educators, and communities across the state.
Let’s continue to listen to children, uplift their voices, and build a future where every right is realised.
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