The Naval Historical Society of Australia (NHSA) aims to promote knowledge of and interest in Australia’s rich naval history. This essay competition is named in honour of John Jeremy, long-standing Vice President of the NHSA, naval architect, shipbuilder, historian, author, editor, yachtsman, photographer and an inspiration to all who knew him.
The Naval Historical Society is looking for original thinkers who, through their work or studies can promote discussion around Australian naval history and its implication for the future of Australia.
Entries should be uploaded via the submission form by Friday 16 October 2026, at 12pm.
Divisions
Professional – Includes Journalists, Professionals, Defence Officials, Academics and Naval personnel.
Non-professional – An adult, mature age student, retiree or person employed in organisations (Defence or otherwise) in which the nature of their employment does not provide a professional advantage in writing an essay.
Senior Students – Students aged 16 to 18 years of age.
Prizes
| Prizes | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place |
| Professional | $1,500 | $500 | $200 |
| Non-Professional | $1, 500 | $500 | $200 |
| Senior Students | $1,500 | $500 | $200 |
Highly Commended Entries
At the organising committee’s discretion, additional non-monetary awards are proposed which include book prizes, naval history cruises and ship or establishment visits subject to RAN approval.
Topics
- Australia has maintained a navy for 125 years. Describe and demonstrate how its primary roles have changed over this period.
- Australia has always sought overall protection of a great power. In a naval context discuss the advantage and disadvantage of this concept and looking forward should this option be challenged?
- Select a member of the RAN from any time in history and provide a summary of his or her contribution to the navy and propose what should be done to preserve their memory?
- Describe the implications of introducing new technologies into the RAN addressing the capacity for self-reliance and continued support.
- Why does Australia need a navy when a drone will do? Discuss the impacts of drone technology and AI in future naval operations.
- With the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines into the RAN is the logical next stage a supporting nuclear industry, and then, nuclear-armed ships?
- Rapid industrialisation and population growth has led to climate change on the earth’s environment. Discuss how climate change is impacting the maritime environment and potentially the naval operations.
- In addition to warfighting the RAN assists communities in Australia and regional neighbours in times of crises and natural disasters. How can our response in this important role be improved?
- In a rapidly changing environment with many competing demands, how can the RAN best preserve its history and historic artefacts and are these important to future generations?
Entries must be previously unpublished and must be the original work of the author/creator.
Winning entries will exhibit original ideas and be a catalyst for considered debate on issues of importance to Australia.
Evidence found by the judging panel demonstrating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or plagiarism will result in disqualification.
ESSAY LENGTH
Professional and Non-Professional, entries should be 2,500 to 3,000 words in length.
Senior Students, entries should be 1,200 to 1,500 words in length.
ASSESSMENT
Our grading system is proprietary. Essayists may be asked to discuss their entry with a member of the Naval Historical Society’s organising committee. We use various means to identify plagiarism, contract cheating, the use of AI and other forms of fraud. Our determinations in all such matters are final.
Essays will be judged on knowledge and understanding of the relevant material, the competent use of evidence, quality of argumentation, originality, structure, writing style and persuasive force. The very best essays are likely to be those which should be capable of changing somebody’s mind. Essays which ignore or fail to address the strongest objections and counter-arguments are unlikely to be successful. Contestants are advised to answer the question as precisely and directly as possible.
POLICY REGARDING USE OF AI
Contestants are welcome to make use of large language models (LLMs) and other related tools in order to develop their thinking on the subject of their essays, and to stress test their arguments. Such online tools should be used for research support and as a thought partner, but certainly not as a substitute for the human author.
Bear in mind that the kind of essay that will be produced by AI will generally be inferior – and markedly less original – than an essay produced by a human author who is engaging creatively and critically with automated tools.
The Society’s own examination techniques, and the assessment tools we ourselves have developed, are carefully designed to recognise and reward original thought and expression.
FORMAT OF ENTRIES
Submissions should be emailed to office@navyhistory.au and have the following three components or risk rejection:
a. Cover page. The name of the author, a short biography and contact details, including indication of which category the essay is submitted to. Use the template provided. The author’s name should not appear on the essay itself.
b. Essay Length. Number of words. The length must fall within the prescribed parameters. Both a Microsoft Word and PDF version must be submitted in A4 sized in Times New Roman font at size 12 with 1.5-line spacing. Footnoted references in Chicago Style (do not include a bibliography or reference list, no hyperlinked references).
c. Division. The division in which the entry is submitted must be identified. Authors may nominate their essay for consideration in more than one division. However, a prize will only be awarded under one single division.
d. The title of the essay should be clearly outlined on the top of the first page of the essay (without any details of the author). All entries must have a title.
e. The word count (excluding footnotes) is to be noted on the first page, immediately under the topic heading.
f. It is strongly recommended that essays are carefully proofread prior to submission.
AWARDING OF PRIZES
Prize winners will be selected by the Naval Historical Society Committee acting on the recommendation of the judging panel.
A monetary prize will be awarded to the authors of essays in each division. Winners may be invited to attend an event to announce the results of the competition in November 2026.
The NHSA may determine not to award the prize in any division.
PUBLICATION OF ESSAY
The winning essays and honourable mentions will be published in The Naval Historical Review which is published quarterly by the NHSA.
It is a condition of entry to the competition that entries will not have been published elsewhere. Once submitted, essays may not be submitted for publication elsewhere without prior approval of the NHSA.
CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES
The closing date for entries is Friday 16 October 2026, at 12pm.
SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES
Entries (essay & cover page) should be sent in PDF format via the submission form or emailed to office@navyhistory.au.
ENQUIRIES
All enquiries are to be directed to Walter Burroughs at Naval Historical Society of Australia via office@navyhistory.au.
Express your interest
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