Welcome to the National Student Floristry Competition

The National Competition

WildFlowers Australia has hosted this prestigious National Competition in its present form since 2008. 

Each year we set a different theme. Students enrolled in Certificate III floristry courses at TAFE and PRIVATE floristry colleges nationally who are Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) are eligible to enter with the help of their teachers. 

Students research and make an arrangement to suit the theme, photograph it, write design notes and complete a simple research task. Teachers formally assess each entry and submit all the entries to WFA as digital folders.

This competition introduces students to the diverse range of products grown in Australia and harvested from Australian native and closely related South African species.

A set of competition documents is emailed to teachers across Australia in March/April.

WFA National Student Floristry Competition launch – 2026!

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WFA National Student Floristry Competition launch – 2026! *

Now established as a major event in the Floristry Colleges’ calendar, this competition has a big impact on students and their teachers.

Entries are received from a wide field of future florists around Australia who get valuable exposure to wildflowers through the competition as they explore the challenges of designing and making their entry.

Our 2026 theme is ‘Happy Birthday!’

Bring joy and happiness to a loved one for their birthday with a hand tied bouquet of seasonal flowers. The bunch to be spiralled stemmed, presented standing on the stems and finished with a ribbon or sustainable fabric tie. Students will stage their entry for a ‘Happy Birthday’ presentation.

Through this theme we want to encourage and emphasize a fundamental skill needed in the workplace which is included in the curriculum. A well photographed and staged hand tied bouquet standing on its stems will be a worthy addition to each student’s portfolio.

As in previous years, the 2026 competition will again support the growing interest in more sustainable floristry practices with students encouraged to use fresh, seasonal flowers. At least 75% of the total plant material used in the design must be wildflowers and foliages from Australian native species or botanically related South African species; the balance may be traditional/exotic or tropical flowers.

Students will also do a small research task as has been required in past years. This supports a key goal of the competition -  for students to learn more about their plant materials: origins, correct names (common and botanical), and uses in floristry.

Certificate III students from TAFE and private floristry colleges which are Registered Training Organisations across Australia may participate.  All entries will be digital. Details will be released to teachers and trainers in late April.

In the meantime, we welcome on board industry sponsors whose support is critical to the success of the Competition. For a sponsorship package, please contact us at management@wildflowersaustralia.com.au

Competition Winners

Thank You to our Wonderful 2025 Competition Sponsors

  • Main Sponsor - Sydney Flower Markets part of Sydney Markets

    Sydney Markets: Where History, Sustainability, and Fresh Produce Collide 

    Since the landing of the first fleet, Sydney Markets has been a vital part of the Australian food industry. Today, the modern markets comprise two locations, Flemington and Haymarket, which is the location of our iconic Paddy’s Markets. 

    Every day 6,000 workers and 2,000 traders work to bring fresh produce, flowers, and great community bargains to over 7 million people all over NSW and ACT. 

    Sydney Markets’ environmental sustainability program is recognised as a global leader in waste recycling, water conservation and green energy production. Sydney Markets is a recent recipient of a Green Globe Business Leadership Award in recognition of outstanding integrated sustainable practices.  

     Sydney Markets’ annual Fresh Awards program champions greengrocers, florists, wholesalers, produce growers, flower growers, providores, fresh content creators and Paddy’s retailers through a rigorous mystery shopping and industry awards program. 

     Sydney Markets is one of the largest food distribution centres in the Southern Hemisphere and each year Sydney Markets trades around 2.5 million tonnes of fresh produce with a value in excess of $3 billion. 9,018 solar panels are currently installed on-site.  This equates to removing approx. 2,500 cars from our roads where we are also now running on 11% renewable energy, which is the equivalent of powering 1,300 houses. 

  • Platinum - East Coast Wildflowers

    East Coast Wildflowers is one of Australia's leading suppliers of Australian native and South African wildflowers with an extensive range of high-quality seasonal flowers and foliages grown all year round at their own farms in the beautiful hinterland of the NSW Central Coast. In addition to the extensive field plantings, protected cropping (greenhouse crops) allows for flowering crops to be grown out of season to a very high quality.

    East Coast Wildflowers also source and supply from many other leading specialist growers and wild product harvesters from across Australia. Their extensive range includes many sought after and unusual products not commonly available.

    Don't hesitate to contact East Coast if you want to obtain specific products at orders@eastcoastwildflowers.com.au

  • Platinum - Sustainable Floristry Network

    The Sustainable Floristry Network is a new, independent education organisation for florists, based in Australia. We deliver CPD-accredited training on sustainability as it applies to florists across the globe. Our Flowers 2030 industry education program sets a new standard for floristry, based on sustainability principles, and has been designed to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. Our Member Florist program supports florists genuinely committed to creating a more sustainable industry through training and behaviour change.

    SFN
  • Silver - Helix Australia

    Helix Australia is the world leader in the breeding, marketing, and licensing of new and improved varieties of Waxflower and Boronia for both cut flower and landscape use. Waxflower is one of the major transition (filler) flowers used by discerning florists globally and Helix Australia’s varieties aim to enthuse both florist and consumer alike. Our superior varieties have been selected for flower size, unique colour range, extended vase life. We have developed both early and late flowering varieties to extend seasonal availability.

  • Silver - Wafex

    Wafex is a family owned business and Australia’s leading flower company, with offices in Australia, Kenya, Ecuador and the USA. We produce large volumes and many varieties of Australian native flowers at our own flower farms and support small and large growers throughout Australia that provide Wafex with a range of products and seasonal flowering times. Wafex owns leading Wholesaler Tesselaar Flowers, supplying Australian florists with offices in Melbourne, Brisbane & Perth.

    Contacts:

    Perth 08 9278 9800 Melbourne 03 8378 9900

    sales@wafex.com

  • Silver - Wildflower Industry Network of NSW Inc.

    Wildflower Industry Network of NSW Inc. (WIN) aims to grow and promote the Wildflower Industry in NSW. WIN members are specialist growers of Australian native flowers and foliage, as well as selections from South African Proteaceae. WIN supports the interests of growers and others with a commercial interest in wildflowers throughout NSW by fostering exchange of commercial and technical information, promoting and initiating technical research whilst supporting collective action on industry issues.

    Contact De-Arne O’Toole: farm@banksiaman.com

  • Silver - Flowers Magazine

    Flowers magazine is the essential guide for the National Australian flower and foliage industry. Both printed and e-magazine subscriptions are available, as well as a Business Directory.

    Contact Allison at editor@flowersmagazine.com.au

  • Silver - Koch & Co

    Koch & Co. have professional florists covered with their extensive range of sundries to supplies and accessories. They know the fine details make all the difference when it comes to making the ultimate floral arrangement for weddings, events, storefronts and more. Their range includes florist supplies such as floral foam and wire, flower stands, glues and adhesives. Koch & Co. also offer a wide range of florist hardware such as flower bowls and guards, florist scissors and pots.

    Delivery Australia-wide covering Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney as well as most country areas.

  • Silver - What Cut Flower Is That?

    WhatCutFlowerisThat? The essential care and handling guide for cut flower professionals. 2nd edition. 2022. Published and printed in Australia by the authors. Download or purchase your print copy via their website.

  • Bronze - International Protea Association

    The International Protea Association represents all links in the value chain of global commercial protea production. It offers researchers, propagators, farmers, marketers, breeders and educators an open forum of communication and friendship to promote and expand the industry for the benefit of all.

    The IPA has over 100 members, representing protea farmers, marketers and researchers from Australia, Chile, China, Columbia, Ecuador, France, Holland, Israel, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, USA and Zimbabwe.

    IPA recently hosted the very successful conference Protea Conference 2025 - the XX INTERNATIONAL PROTEA ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE & XV INTERNATIONAL PROTEA RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM in Temecula, California. 

  • Bronze - Premium Greens Australia

    Premium Greens Australia is the sales and marketing arm of the Cedar Hill Group based on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. We specialise in Australian native flowers and foliage for both export and domestic markets. Our products are world renowned for freshness, quality and their special form and style for designers.

  • Bronze - AusFlora Pacific

    Ausflora Pacific is a family-owned business with over 40 years of experience in growing and producing Proteaceae plants. We take great pride in the quality of the stock we cultivate and dispatch to our customers. Our extensive range includes cut flowers and plants from the Proteaceae family, featuring South African natives such as Leucadendrons, Leucospermum, as well as the Australian native Waratah. All our plants are propagated and grown in our own nursery, giving us a deep, hands-on understanding of each species from start to finish. This expertise allows us to consistently deliver quality products to our clients. 

  • Grower Sponsors

    Marick Nursery, NSW

    Kalympa Wildflowers, VIC

    RipeMooVine, VIC

    Wyndham Flower Farm, NSW

  • Student Florists

    Are you a student florist who would like to learn more about the competition?

  • Industry Sponsors

    Industry sponsors play a key role in supporting the competition. Find out how this competition can promote your business to the next generation of florists.

Previous Competition Themes

Silvia Slosarova 2010 Competition

Fiona Perry 2023 Competition

The Competition provides a great showcase of ideas for using wildflowers to convey many messages through beautiful flowers and foliages.

These include:

2008 - Romance and eternal love

2009 - New baby, new life

2010 - Wedding vows

2012 - A table arrangement - suitable for a country wedding

2013 - Celebrating the centenary of Canberra

2014 - Happy birthday

2015 - 'Lest we forget', a floral tribute, wreath

2016 - A presentation sheaf for the Rio Olympics

2017 - Table centerpiece for a special occasion or event

2018 - A hand tied winter bouquet, created with seasonal flowers, suitable for a wedding, or as a presentation bouquet

2019 - ‘Welcome little one’ - celebrating the arrival of a new baby

2020 - ‘Recovery’, after the challenges of drought and bushfires that sadly impacted so heavily on the wildflower industry during 2019 and 2020

2021 - ‘Circle of light’ - corona

2022 - ‘Hope and joy’ – a fascinator

2023 - ‘In sympathy’ - a hand tied casket spray/sheaf (no floral foam)

2025 - ‘Thanks Mum’ - a curved arrangement in a base medium