Need a Lift?

Need a lift? Youth Photography Competition runs every year in the lead up to Mental Health Month.

The competition invites young people aged 12-24 years who live, work or study in the Northern Sydney area to submit a photo that they find uplifting.

Images of finalists are showcased all over Northern Sydney during October to help uplift our communities during Mental Health Month. Members of the public will also have the opportunity to participate in the People’s Choice Vote across the month where you can view all entries and vote for your favourite photo!

Need a lift? Youth Photography Competition is OPEN for 2025.

Submissions are open from 1st July 2025 to 1st September 2025.

Enter 2025 Need a Lift! Youth Photography Competition

  

Terms and Conditions

  1. Entry is open to young people aged between 12 and 24 years of age who live, study or work in the Northern Sydney region which includes all suburbs within the areas of Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai, Northern Beaches, Ryde, Mosman, North Sydney, Willoughby, Lane Cove and Hunters Hill.
  2. Valid entries must include an original photo uploaded in JPG, JPEG or PNG format along with a description of 'why this is uplifting?' in 50 words or less in the comment box. Maximum digital file size is 16MB. The person entering the photographic competition MUST be the photographer.
  3. The competition opens on Monday 1st July 2025 and closes on Monday 1st September 2025 at 11.59pm.
  4. One entry per person. Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified.
  5. Any entry considered to be unsuitable for the competition will be disqualified.
  6. Photos may be re-sized or cropped if required. Minor adjustments to enhance the image's clarity, such as brightness, contrast, or colour correction, are allowed. However, significant manipulations, including but not limited to adding, removing, or altering elements within the photo, are discouraged.
  7. By entering this competition, you acknowledge that your photo and caption may be displayed throughout Northern Sydney and on social media during Mental Health Month - October 2025.
  8. There will be 6 prizes awarded with a total prize pool of $1300. Prizes will be in the form of Mastercard Gift Cards to the value of: $350 for Overall Winner, $250 for Runner Up, $250 for People's Choice and $150 for 3 age category winners - 12-15, 16-18 and 19-24 years old.
  9. A single entry is only eligible for one prize.
  10. The winners of Categories 1-5 will be judged by representatives from the sponsoring & organising agencies and announced in early November 2025. The Peoples’ Choice award will be based on PollUnit votes (likes) and also announced in early November 2025. The decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
  11. Any photograph submitted into the competition becomes the property of Northern Sydney Local Health District. By entering this competition, you agree that your photo and accompanying description can be used by Northern Sydney Local Health District and any of the partner organisations.
  12. Permission to reproduce entries for publicity purposes related to the competition, sponsors, publications, websites and promotions will be assumed.
  13. By entering this competition, you consent to being contacted about future event photography opportunities.
  14. Entrants are strongly encouraged not to include identifiable images of people under the age of 18. Photographs that are entered into the competition with an identifiable person under 18 will require consent from that person's guardian at time of entry. Any photographs submitted without this consent will be disqualified.
  15. Any photographer that is revealed to be cheating in the competition will be immediately disqualified from winning the competition. Please note fraud detection is applied to all entries and an entry may be disqualified if alerted of potential fraud.
  16. By entering this competition, entrants are hereby agreeing to and complying with above terms and conditions.

Previous winners

Check out local winners from previous years below.

Winner of 19-24 years category. There is peace that is found when surrounded by rolling valleys, vast plains and towering mountains. More than a memento of this trek, this photo serves a reminder that the world is so much bigger than myself – there is always something new to explore, to see, to learn.

2024 Need a Lift Competition Winner - Cindy, 24. Winner of 19-24 years category. There is peace that is found when surrounded by rolling valleys, vast plains and towering mountains. More than a memento of this trek, this photo serves a reminder that the world is so much bigger than myself – there is always something new to explore, to see, to learn.

(JPG, 422KB)
Overall Winner. Nothing is more uplifting and peaceful than a glorious sunset and just sitting back and letting play out. That is what I like to think this photo represents in that it shows the true beauty of sunsets.

2023 Need a Lift Competition Winner - James, 24. Overall Winner. Nothing is more uplifting and peaceful than a glorious sunset and just sitting back and letting play out. That is what I like to think this photo represents in that it shows the true beauty of sunsets.

(JPG, 199KB)
Winner of 19-24 years category. The unique wildlife of the Australian bush uplifts me and always finds wonderful ways to surprise me. Here, a wallaby embraces her albino joey. I love the expression knowing it is safe in its mothers arms. A rare and heart-warming sight indeed!

2022 Need a Lift Competition Winner - Kevin, 24. Winner of 19-24 years category. The unique wildlife of the Australian bush uplifts me and always finds wonderful ways to surprise me. Here, a wallaby embraces her albino joey. I love the expression knowing it is safe in its mothers arms. A rare and heart-warming sight indeed!

(JPG, 292KB)

 

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