Calling all creative croc stars—here’s your chance to sink your teeth into a career-making opportunity! The Cairns Hatchlings, presented by Yahoo, is diving headfirst into the industry’s talent pool to spotlight the next big names in marketing, advertising, and media across the Asia Pacific. And the best part? You’ll score a fully sponsored trip to Cairns during the Cairns Crocodiles festival from May 13-15, 2025.
Enter the Cairns Hatchlings now!
Self-professed Hags – named in honour of their newfound hero Jane Caro AM – young and emerging talent Abby Clark and Laura Murphy, formerly of Mediabrands Content Studio, left the conference last year with minds swimming in a wealth of inspiration.
“Cannes in Cairns was not just a convention of brilliant minds collaborating to strengthen the future of our industry. It was one that gave us tools to talk about hard issues like ageism, sexism, mental health and ethics, and to be brave enough to do it in the first place,” the pair said in an article written for B&T.
“Amongst the official agenda found online, the hidden agenda of platforming traditionally sidelined and routinely ‘feminine’ issues on the mainstage as issues for all was a dear diary moment for these young hags”.
The brand new Cairns Hatchlings initiative is taking that experience to the next level in 2025, offering participants the chance to chomp down on real-world challenges across seven competition categories—Audio, Design, Digital, Marketing, Media, PR, and Video. Finalists will fly to Cairns for a high-stakes live competition where they’ll create show-stopping work in just 24 hours.
But don’t worry—it’s not all work and no play! Between sessions, finalists will soak up wisdom from masterclasses led by industry legends, enjoy jaw-dropping keynote speeches, and snap up networking opportunities with top creatives.
Key Dates and Entry Information
Cairns Hatchlings – 15 May 2025
- Entries Open: 6 November 2024
- Workshops between Monday, 10 – Friday, 14 February 2025
- On-Time Deadline first-round submissions: Thursday, 27 February 2025
- Late Deadline first round submissions: Thursday, 6 March 2025
- Finalists announced: Thursday, 27 March 2025
- Second round brief: Monday 12 May 2025 (Cairns Convention Centre)
- Live pitches (24hr round): Tuesday, 13 May 2025 (Cairns Convention Centre)
- Film category judging (48hr round): Wednesday, 14 May 2025 (Cairns Convention Centre)
- Awards Ceremony: Thursday, May 15 2025 – Cairns Convention Centre
The Hatchlings initiative represents a commitment to fostering creativity and innovation among the next generation of marketers and creatives in the Asia Pacific region. By providing a platform for emerging talent to shine, the Cairns Crocodiles Festival not only celebrates current achievements but also invests in the future of the industry. With its unique blend of competition, community engagement, and networking opportunities, The Hatchlings promises to be a transformative experience for all involved.
Enter the Cairns Hatchlings now!
So, are you ready to jump out of the swamp and into the spotlight? Enter the Cairns Hatchlings now, and you might find yourself in the company of some truly snappy talent.
Remember, in the creative jungle, it’s survival of the brightest—so don’t wait. Grab this chance by the tail, and get ready to croc and roll!
