Students at Northlakes High have the opportunity to participate in a variety of debating, public speaking, and external writing competitions that English staff co-ordinate. Some external competitions students might look into are listed here:
- Poetry Slam
- Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Award
- Write Now Short Story Competition
- GOATS Festival Writing Competition
- Write 4 Fun Poetry and Short Story Competition
- Henry Lawson Festival of Arts Verse and Short Story Competition
- Monash Literature Festival Short Story Competition
- Gippsland Short Story Competition
- Wyong Shire Council Writing Competitions
- NAIDOC Week Writing Competition
- Newcastle Herald Newspaper Competition