2026 Student Award

The annual Millinery Australia student award is open to hat lovers worldwide.

The theme for this year’s Student Award is ‘CURIOSITY’

Whether you are a student of millinery, enrolled in a fashion-related course, a high school, college or university student, or taking workshops for your own enjoyment, you are still welcome to enter our competition, as long as you have completed an online or in-person millinery class in the past 12 months.

Anyone can enter, regardless of skill level, materials experience or areas of interest, including costume, bridal, street fashion, couture fashion or racing millinery.

This year’s theme ‘CURIOSITY’ is a versatile theme that could be interpreted in many different ways and entrants are welcome to explore the theme as they wish.

Interpretation could include inspiration from a wide range of sources, such as art, culture, history, literature, film and personal experiences.

Each entry must: 

  • have been created exclusively for this competition
  • not have previously featured in any social media campaigns or print media
  • be the student’s own original design            
  • be made entirely by the student

Entry Guidelines: 

  • one entry per student
  • students are only eligible enter the competition three times in total (three consecutive years)
  • student members of Millinery Australia will be offered the opportunity of a two hour online or phone mentorship with a Fellow Member of Millinery Australia which must be used within 12 months
  • if you’re not a member of Millinery Australia you may join here to be eligible for a discounted entry fee
  • terms and conditions and hat information form are binding and form part of the competition entry

DETAILS:

Registration Open

  • Monday, March 9, 2026 at 9am

Registration Close

  • Friday, April 24, 2026 at 5pm

Entries Due

  • By close of business Friday, May 15, 2026 – late entries will not be accepted
  • All entries must be mailed – there is NO courier or local drop off option
  • Address will be provided to entrants upon registration

Judges: Michele Cameron, Lynette Lim and Fiona Cooper

Judging: May 21, 2026

Winners:

  • Announced at the Millinery Australia Gala Evening Friday, July 3, 2026
  • Results will be announced by static posts on Millinery Australia’s social pages
  • No ‘live’ feed from Gala

Prizes:

Prizes are not transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash

Prizes must be claimed within 12 months (from July 2026)

FIRST PLACE

  • $150 donated by Millinery Australia
  • $300 donated by Georgia Skelton
  • $250 curated bundle of goods from Hatters Millinery Supplies
  • Photograph of winning design on a model taken by Richard Shaw
  • First choice of Education Experience
  • Certificate 

SECOND PLACE

  • $100 donated by Millinery Australia
  • Second choice of Education Experience
  • Certificate

THIRD PLACE

  • $50 donated by Millinery Australia
  • Third choice of Education Experience
  • Certificate

MARY LOCK ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD

  • $200 donated by Michele Cameron of M & M Millinery
  • Workroom Experience with Michele Cameron
  • Certificate

EDUCATION EXPERIENCES

  • TBA

IMPORTANT LINKS:

MORE INFORMATION:

Millinery Australia Design Award HERE

Millinery Australia Gala Evening HERE

Millinery Australia memberships HERE

G O O D  L U C K !