- Winning schools announced for the Minister's Innovation Challenge 2024
- Students recognised for developing innovative solutions to local problems
- Winners will share a $35,000 cash prize pool
Five schools have taken out prizes in the Minister's Innovation Challenge 2024.
The top five winning teams were named during an online exhibition and were recognised for their outstanding problem-solving skills and creative solutions to real-world problems.
Halls Head College won this year's top prize of $15,000 for their idea to support people without a home. The team designed the Freedom Cart, a purpose-built 'house on wheels' that is waterproof and features an insulated area for food storage, a retractable lock and fits on public transport and through regular doorways.
Exmouth District High School took out second prize and won $10,000 for their plan to reduce environmental issues caused by fish waste. Instead of going to landfill bins, a waste management system would grind, freeze and turn cut-offs into a fish-based fertiliser or burley, which is a product used to attract more fish.
The $5,000 third prize was awarded to Ballajura Community College for their solution to an ongoing issue with charging devices. The team's idea for a solar-powered charging station allowed students to charge devices during breaktimes and reduced interruptions to learning.
Esperance Senior High School won the fourth prize of $3,000 for their campaign to raise awareness about the risks caused by slipping off coastal rocks. The team's plan involved informing locals and tourists through billboards, t-shirts and local businesses that black moss appears harmless, but can be deadly when it is wet.
The fifth prize winner was Lesmurdie Senior High School, receiving $2,000 for a device that protects trees in their local community from the spread of dieback by bicycles. The Dieback Decimator disinfects bikes from dieback traces by providing a way for cyclists to clean their tyres before leaving the area.
This year, 40 teams from Western Australian public schools participated in the Minister's Innovation Challenge. The challenge forms part of the Career Learning Toolkit which addresses the need for career learning for secondary school students and was facilitated by Bloom: The Centre for Youth Innovation.
Comments attributed to Education Minister Dr Tony Buti:
"It is integral that students have rich learning opportunities that equip them with the necessary thinking and skills to navigate real-life issues.
"This challenge supports young people prepare to lead and innovate in our changing world and offers students the opportunity to connect with the local community as well as industry partners.
"Congratulations to the winners of this year's Innovation Challenge for their creativity and showcasing the bright ideas being fostered in our public schools."
