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The Margaret Parkes Federation Awards were an additional contribution by the Henry Parkes Foundation to the development of citizenship in young people during the Centenary of Federation year.

Made possible by the generosity of Parkes' great grand-daughter Margaret Parkes, the awards were designed to encourage students to explore their local, state and/or federal political structures by researching and reporting on an issue of their own choosing.

Prizes were awarded for group research projects for Primary years 5-6 and Secondary years 9-10. The competition was advertised in the Education Journal Inform and through material circulated to all schools in NSW.

Entries were judged by a committee from the NSW Parliamentary Education Unit and the NSW Centenary of Federation Education, History and Civics Unit, with all participating schools receiving a commemorative certificate from the Henry Parkes Foundation.

Primary school award-winners
First ($300 to the students; $300 to their school): St Ives North: Dylan Campbell, James Shepherd, Class 6DB - 'Confusion in the car park'.
Second ($200 to the students; $200 to their school): St Brigid's Raymond Terrace: Class 6W - 'Research into the effects of crime on the community and local structures assisting in crime prevention'.
Third ($100 to the students; $100 to their school): St Ives North: Isabelle Whitehead, Kim Cooling, Kitty Chan, Emma Paver - 'Let's sort out our scraps'.

Secondary school award-winners
Equal first ($300 to the students; $300 to their school): Catherine McAuley College Grafton: Anna Dougherty, Michelle Everson, Leigh McNamara, Year 10 Geography - 'The promotional events and issues of Grafton'; and Sarah Maunsell, Courtney Hackett, Year 10 Commerce - 'The Development of Reconciliation in Grafton and its surrounding areas'.
Second ($200 to the students; $200 to their school): Merewether High: Jessica Fedder, Jane Gallagher, Year 10 Commerce - 'No High School for Medowie: Well not yet!'
Third ($100 to the students; $100 to their school): Strathfield Girls High: Nisha Advani, Resha Patel, Year 10 Commerce - 'Provisional Licensing issues'.