WWF-Australia Nature Photography Competition 2026 – Terms and Conditions
I. Introduction and Binding Agreement
Your participation in any capacity (either as an Entrant, Voter, and/or Winner) in the
WWF-Australia Photography for Nature Competition (the “Competition”) constitutes
your full and unconditional agreement to these Terms and Conditions.
This document is a binding legal contract between you and World Wide Fund for Nature
Australia (ABN 57 001 594 074) of Level 3, 45 Clarence St, NSW, 2000
(“WWF-Australia”).
WWF-Australia reserves the right to amend or cancel the Competition or these Terms and
Conditions at any time where reasonably required for operational, regulatory, or integrity
reasons, subject to applicable law. These Terms and Conditions were last revised on
4 September 2026.
The Competition is a game of skill. Winners are determined on the merit of their Entries,
first through public voting to shortlist finalists and then by a judging panel that selects
the final winner(s). No element of chance is involved, and no winner is determined by any
random draw or lot at any stage.
II. Eligibility
All Entrants must:
- be an ordinarily resident in Australia;
-
be the photographer who personally took the submitted photograph, and either owns the
copyright in the submitted photograph, or has the owner’s written permission to
enter it and to grant the licence in these Terms and Conditions;
-
be aged eighteen (18) or over at the time of entry, unless entering through the Wild
Youth Category in accordance with the paragraph below; and
- comply with these Terms and Conditions.
Entrants under 18: Entrants who are under eighteen (18) years of age may
only be entered into the Wild Youth Category by a parent or guardian. The parent or guardian
must submit the Entry through their own account and, in doing so, agrees to these Terms and
Conditions on behalf of the child. For the avoidance of doubt, the parent or guardian is
the contracting party for the Entry.
WWF-Australia Personnel and families:
WWF-Australia Personnel and their immediate family members may enter the Competition,
participate in public voting and donate to WWF-Australia as other Entrants. However, their
Entries will not be eligible to progress to the judging stage or win the WWF-Australian
Photographer of the Year award or any other awards. For this purpose:
- WWF-Australia Personnel means members of the WWF-Australia Board,
Governors, WWF-Australia employees, and service providers or other parties (including
their employees or agents) involved in administering the Competition or have access to
submitted photographs or Competition data; and
- immediate family member means a spouse, de facto partner, child,
stepchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling or stepsibling of a
WWF-Australia Personnel.
III. Entry and Submission Requirements
Entry period
The entry period commences on 7 September 2026 and closes on
30 September 2026.
Categories
The Competition has five (5) categories. The four Nature categories are open to Entrants
aged eighteen (18) or over. The Wild Youth category is open to Entrants aged under
eighteen (18):
- Wildlife: native or wild animals in their natural environment;
- Wild Places: natural scenery and landscapes;
- Wild Around You: nature captured in everyday or urban settings, such as
gardens, balconies and local parks;
- Wildly Funny: humorous or light-hearted images of animals or nature.
- Wild Youth: photos of any of the above themes taken by Entrants under
18 years old at the time of entry. Additional eligibility requirements apply for
Entrants based on the age (see clause II Eligibility above).
Each Entrant may submit one (1) or more photos per category, as permitted by the
competition platform and specified in the competition materials. Entry is free. It is the
Entrant’s responsibility to select the category that best fits their photograph.
WWF-Australia may, acting reasonably, reallocate an Entry to a more appropriate category
or reject an Entry that does not fit any category. This includes reallocating a
child’s Entry to the Wild Youth category, subject to the consent of the
child’s parent or guardian.
All dates, voting rounds, and progression thresholds are indicative only and may be
extended, shortened, suspended, or otherwise amended by WWF-Australia in accordance with
these Terms and Conditions where reasonably required due to participation levels, technical
performance, or operational considerations.
Ethical Nature and Wildlife
-
Entries must depict animals and nature in a manner consistent with WWF-Australia’s
values. No animal may be baited, lured, restrained, distressed, harmed or disturbed in a
way that risks its welfare in order to capture an image. Animals in photos must appear
free from real or perceived harm.
-
Images depicting animals affected by external or environmental factors (including the
impacts of habitat loss, extreme weather events or human activity) may be accepted where
they are submitted for awareness or educational purposes and are not the result of harm
caused by the Entrant.
-
WWF-Australia may, in its absolute discretion, refuse or disqualify any Entry that
raises animal welfare, legal, ethical, cultural or reputational concerns.
Submission Consent
-
This is a nature photography competition. Entries should focus on nature, wildlife and
the environment rather than on people, and people should not be the main subject of an
image.
-
By submitting photo(s) to the Competition, the Entrant consents to their Entry being
used and stored by WWF-Australia for promotional purposes. This consent is also collected
on the entry form at the time of submission.
-
Any person in the image must be depicted in a safe, respectful and dignified manner.
Where a photo includes a child (anyone under eighteen (18) years of age), the Entrant
confirms that they have obtained the consent of that child’s parent or guardian.
WWF-Australia may decline or remove any image that does not meet these requirements.
Photograph Requirements and Warranties
-
Each photograph must be a genuine, original photograph taken by the Entrant. Images that
are generated by or materially created or altered using generative artificial intelligence
are not permitted. WWF-Australia may, in its absolute discretion and at any stage,
request verification, review an Entry using image-analysis tools, and reject or
disqualify any Entry it reasonably believes has been generated or materially altered
using generative artificial intelligence.
-
Minor post-processing (such as cropping and exposure or colour correction) is
acceptable. Where minor post-processing has been applied, WWF-Australia may require the
Entrant to provide a copy of the original, unedited image file (including metadata where
available) to verify the Compliance with these Terms and Conditions.
-
The Entrant warrants that the Entry does not infringe any third party’s rights,
that they have obtained all necessary consents, including the consent of any identifiable
individual in the photograph (or, for a child, their parent or guardian), and any
permission needed to photograph on a private property.
WWF-Australia’s rights
-
WWF-Australia may, in its absolute discretion, determine that an Entry is non-compliant
with these Terms and Conditions. Where reasonably practicable, WWF-Australia may (but is
not obliged to) notify the Entrant and require the Entry to be amended, corrected, or
resubmitted within a specified timeframe.
-
If the Entrant fails to comply within that timeframe, or where the non-compliance is not
capable of remedy, WWF-Australia may reject, suspend, or remove the Entry without
further notice.
IV. Voting and Judging Process
The Competition will be conducted in a public voting stage and a judging stage, as
detailed below:
A. Public Voting Stage
- Period: Public voting will open from 1 October until 1 November 2026,
conducted across three rounds set out below.
- Free votes: Voters may cast one (1) free vote per Entry per 24-hour
period, subject to authentication requirements.
- Support WWF‑Australia (thank‑you votes):
-
Anyone who supports WWF‑Australia’s conservation and regeneration work
with a voluntary donation during the Public Voting Stage can receive additional
“Thank‑you” votes for their favourite Entries. These votes are a
discretionary acknowledgement only. They are provided at no additional cost, have no
cash value, cannot be sold, transferred or exchanged, and give the donor no
advantage. Donors may use them or leave them unused.
-
Thank‑you votes are available only for the limited period of the Public Voting
Stage and may be varied or withdrawn at any time. Further details are set out in the
competition materials as a guide only.
-
All donations are voluntary, final and non‑refundable, and are applied to
WWF‑Australia’s charitable purposes. Once cast, a vote is final and
cannot be amended, reversed or reallocated.
- No self-directed thank-you votes: Entrants are welcome to donate to
WWF-Australia, including a donation in their own name (for example, to help set a
fundraising benchmark). The limit applies only to votes: an Entrant must not direct any
thank-you votes to their own Entry, or arrange for someone else to do so. An
Entrant’s single free vote per 24-hour period is unaffected. WWF-Australia may use
reasonable technical measures to enforce this and may disqualify any vote or Entry that
breaches this rule.
The Public Voting Stage will be conducted in three (3) rounds, with votes reset to zero at
the start of each round:
- Round 1 (1–14 October 2026): the top twenty (20) Entries in each
category, or the top fifty per cent (50%) of Entries in that category (whichever is
fewer), will progress to Round 2 and are expected to be announced on 15 October 2026.
- Round 2 (16–23 October 2026): the top ten (10) Entries in each
category, or the top fifty per cent (50%) of Entries in that category (whichever is
fewer), will progress to Round 3, and are expected to be announced on or around 24
October 2026.
- Round 3 (25 October–1 November 2026): the top three (3) Entries
in each category, based on eligible votes, will progress to the Judging Stage as
finalists and are expected to be announced on or around 2 November 2026.
- Ties: If two or more Entries are tied for the final shortlist position
in a category, all tied Entries will progress. Where progressing all tied Entries is not
practicable, the tie will be resolved by the earliest submission time (the Entry
submitted first advances).
- Wildcard finalist: WWF Australia may, acting reasonably and having
regard to the published judging criteria, select up to one (1) additional wildcard
finalist in each category to progress to the Judging Stage.
- Integrity: WWF-Australia may investigate and disqualify votes, Entries
and winners where fraud, manipulation, or misuse is suspected.
B. Judging Stage
The judging stage will run from 3–4 November 2026. A judging panel appointed by
WWF-Australia will assess the shortlisted finalists against the published judging criteria
and select:
- the winner of each category (“Category Winner(s)”); and
- the overall winner (“WWF photographer of the year”).
The judging panel’s decisions are final.
C. Change of Rounds
All progression thresholds, round durations and dates are indicative only and may be
amended, extended, shortened, suspended or cancelled by WWF-Australia where reasonably
required. WWF-Australia will communicate any material changes through the official
Competition platform.
D. Fundraising Milestones and Recognition
WWF-Australia may recognise Entrants who raise donations for WWF-Australia and reach
fundraising milestones during the Competition with minor recognition items, such as digital
badges. These items are discretionary, have no cash value, cannot be sold, transferred,
redeemed or exchanged, and provide no additional votes, influence or other advantage in the
Competition. Recipients may choose to share their recognition, including on social media.
The applicable milestones, recognition items and recognition period will be set out in the
Competition materials and may be varied or withdrawn by WWF-Australia.
V. Prizes
The number, description and approximate retail value of each prize, including any prizes
donated by WWF-Australia’s partners, will be published in the official Competition
materials. Prizes are non-transferable and non-exchangeable and cannot be redeemed for
cash. If a prize becomes unavailable, a prize of equal or greater value may be substituted.
VI. Winner Notification and Prize Claim
A. Announcement
WWF Australia may announce Entries progressing through the Public Voting Stage in
accordance with the timetable in section IV(A). The announcement will be made on the
competition platform, its website and other WWF Australia channels during the Competition.
Following the judging process, the five Category Winners and the WWF-Australian
Photographer of the Year are expected to be announced by 6 November 2026 through the same
channels. Winners will also be notified via the provided contact details.
For Wild Youth entries/winner(s), notification will be sent to their parent or guardian.
B. Publication
By entering, Entrants agree that, if they win, WWF-Australia may publish their first name,
State or Territory and winning Entry for a reasonable period after the Competition. For a
winner who is under eighteen (18) years of age, WWF-Australia will publish first name, age
and State or Territory only, subject to prior consent of the winner’s parent or
guardian. WWF‑Australia is not obliged to publish any Entry and may decide, in its
editorial discretion, whether and how to publish or promote any Entry.
C. Calendar Inclusion
WWF-Australia may seek to include the winning Entry in its 2027 calendar. To enable
publication, the WWF-Australia Photographer of the Year winner must provide any
confirmation, image approval, consent or other information reasonably requested by
WWF-Australia by 5.00 pm AEDT on 9 November 2026. WWF-Australia may select one of the
Category Winners or another eligible Entry if the winner cannot be contacted, does not
respond by the deadline, or if the winning Entry is technically unsuitable for printing or
does not comply with these Terms and Conditions.
D. Claiming a Prize
A winner must confirm their details and claim their prize within fourteen (14) days of
being notified, in the manner set out in the notification.
E. If a Prize is Not Claimed
If a winner cannot be contacted, does not respond, does not claim their prize within that
period, or is found to be ineligible, WWF-Australia may (acting reasonably and on merit)
award the prize to the next-highest-ranked eligible finalist, as determined by the judging
panel. The replacement winner will also have 14 days from notification to provide their
details and claim their prize. Any prize that remains unclaimed will be dealt with in
accordance with applicable law.
VII. Communications, Privacy, and Data Use
A. Communications
By participating, Entrants and Voters consent to receiving transactional and operational
communications necessary for administration of the Competition.
Entrants and Voters who provide consent at entry will also receive promotional
communications from WWF-Australia about its regeneration and conservation initiatives,
campaigns and fundraising activities. Each communication will identify WWF-Australia as
the sender and can be opted out of at any time using the unsubscribe facility included in
each communication.
B. Privacy and Data Protection
- Collection and use: By entering this Competition, you acknowledge and
agree that WWF-Australia may collect your Entry (including images), any associated
intellectual property, and personal information such as your name and contact details,
and will handle it in accordance with WWF-Australia Privacy Policy:
wwf.org.au/about-us/privacy-policy.
- Storage and retention: Entries and associated data are held securely
using WWF-Australia’s own platform and its third-party service providers.
WWF-Australia will keep this information only for as long as reasonably necessary for
purposes including administration, promotion, reporting and legal requirements, expected
to be at least 12 months after the Competition. It will then take reasonable steps to
destroy or de-identify it, unless the law requires otherwise.
- Overseas handling: Where a service provider stores or accesses the
information outside Australia, WWF-Australia will take reasonable steps to ensure it is
handled consistently with the Australian Privacy Principles.
VIII. Intellectual Property and Publicity
By submitting an Entry, the Entrant grants WWF-Australia a perpetual, royalty-free,
non-exclusive licence to use, reproduce, publish, and adapt the Entry’s information
and images for promotional, fundraising, and awareness purposes. This includes the right
for WWF-Australia to sublicense its partners and service providers to use and display
winning and finalist Entries for those purposes, subject to WWF-Australia’s
approval. For an Entrant under eighteen (18) years of age, this licence is granted by
their parent or guardian on their behalf.
IX. Prohibited Conduct
You agree not to engage in any activity that compromises the integrity, fairness, or
proper operation of the Competition. WWF-Australia reserves the right, in its sole and
absolute discretion, to determine violations of these rules.
The following conduct is strictly prohibited:
- Automated Participation: The use of any automated system, script, bot,
macro, or any other device to automate the process of submitting Entries or casting votes
is forbidden.
- Data Extraction: The use of any automated tool or software to harvest,
copy, or extract any data or content from the Competition website is strictly prohibited.
- Malicious Interference: Any attempt to disrupt, damage, tamper with, or
place an undue burden on the technical infrastructure of the Competition, including its
website, servers, and networks, is forbidden.
- Fraudulent Activity: Any form of fraudulent participation is
prohibited, including but not limited to, the use of fraudulent accounts, trading outside
of the official donation mechanism, or any other deceptive practices intended to unfairly
manipulate the Competition.
- Consequences of Violation: Any violation of this section may result in
immediate action by WWF-Australia, including, but are not limited to:
- voiding of all votes associated with the prohibited conduct.
- disqualification of the associated Entrant from the Competition.
-
permanent banning of the responsible individual(s) from any future competitions.
-
pursuit of all available legal remedies, including reporting such activity to law
enforcement.
X. Limitation of Liability
To the extent permitted by law, WWF-Australia excludes all liability for loss, damage, or
injury arising from participation in the Competition. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions
excludes, restricts or modifies any right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded,
including under the Australian Consumer Law.
XI. Governing Law
These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of New South Wales, and the
Commonwealth of Australia. The courts of New South Wales have exclusive jurisdiction.
XII. Severability
If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid or unenforceable,
the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.
Important Fundraising Information
The WWF-Australia Photography for Nature Competition is a fundraising initiative
conducted by WWF-Australia (ABN 57 001 594 074). Votes cast by payment are treated as
voluntary donations and are not refundable. Paid votes are treated as voluntary donations.
Funds raised through the Competition support WWF-Australia’s regenerative conservation
work across Australia to create a world where people live in harmony with nature.
