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Creativity on display for Victorian Preps

By McPherson Media Group

Jul 17, 2026

Prep students at public schools across Victoria are being encouraged to enter a competition for a chance to have their design feature on the front of next year’s Prep bags. Photo by Megan Fisher

The Victorian Government has launched a design competition for its Prep Bags program, inviting current Prep students at Victorian public schools to submit artwork based on this year's theme, ‘My Year of Prep’.

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Entries for the competition will be open from Thursday, July 16 until Sunday, August 9.

Submissions can be hand-drawn or digitally designed artwork, with the winning design to be featured on the front of next year’s Prep Bags.

This year’s bags included five free books selected by a panel of experts, a jigsaw puzzle, colouring activities, resources to support the transition from kinder to school, and a free holder for a youth myki card.

Since 2019, the Books in Prep Bags initiative has provided more than 2.2 million free books to Prep students and their families.

Education Minister Ben Carroll said these programs helped with cost-of-living pressures for families and ensured no child missed out.

“Next year’s Preps will carry a bag of free books thanks to Labor, designed by a student sitting in a Prep classroom today,” Mr Carroll said.

“The first day of school is a huge milestone for every family — that’s why we’re helping with the costs and now putting kids’ creativity front and centre.”

Prep students across more than 1300 schools receive their bags on the first day of school each year.