Details for Teachers

As consumers, we can have an enormous impact in creating a fairer society and a more sustainable future for our planet. This year the Mercy Youth Awards encourages students to think about the choices they make when purchasing products. The competition will encourage students to learn about the supply chain of products and services and educate them about the facts of what constitutes a good supply chain.

1. Introduction

The Mercy Foundation Youth Awards is a competition open to high school students across Australia from Years 7 – 12. Each year, the Mercy Youth Awards encourages students to gain an understanding of social justice issues in Australia and how we can work to address these issues. This year our focus is on ethical and sustainable supply chains. This unit can be incorporated into parts of the syllabus including Science, English, Art and RE Studies.

2. Competition Details

The theme for 2024 is what is an ethical supply chain? Students are challenge is to:

1) Create a visual representation, such as a cartoon, artwork, collage or photo, that shows ‘what is an ethical supply chain?’ Students may wish to explore the supply chain of a product such as chocolate, fashion, sports balls or digital devices. Websites such as www.fairtrade.net/products and www.ethical.org.au. are helpful, as are other links on the Links and Resources page. Students are asked to take a photo of their creation and upload it with their entry form on our website (NB no faces in the photo).

2) Each entry must include a written paragraph (no longer than 100 words) that explains the photo.

3) AND fill out the Ethical Supply Chain quiz on the online entry form.

3. Important Notes:

•  Only one entry per person
• An entrant is an individual student
• Strictly no faces to feature in the image
• No brand names or logos

4. Judging

The judging committee comprises staff and Board members of the Mercy Foundation and a special guest judge. Entries will be assessed according to the accuracy of quiz answers and the content, creativity, originality, effort and quality of both the photo and written content.

The school that submits the most entries will win $250. Please encourage your students to participate!

5. Entries

1. Entries must consist of a photograph uploaded with the online entry form. The online entry form is available on our website www.mercyfoundation.com.au
2. Photographs should be a maximum of 2MB and in the format of a JPEG, GIF or PNG. JPEG is the preferred format. A PDF will also be accepted.
3. Photos should be saved using student’s name and school e.g. SmithH_SydneyHigh.jpeg
4. If for any reason they are unable to use the online entry form, please contact us by email youthawards@mercyfoundation.com.au or call 02 9911 7390.
5. By submitting an entry, the student acknowledges that they have read and accepted the Terms and Conditions for the Mercy Foundation Youth Awards 2024. The Terms and Conditions are available on our website www.mercyfoundation.com.au
6. The photo and entry must be the student’s original work created for the competition.
7. The Mercy Foundation will acknowledge all entries received. It is your responsibility to ensure that we have received your entry.
8. Photographs may be exhibited at a public event later this year. More information will be provided closer to the event.
9. The closing date is 5 August 2024.

For more information, please call the Mercy Foundation on 02 9911 7390 or email youthawards@mercyfoundation.com.au