- Forty selected public schools to start 2024 Minister's Innovation Challenge today
- Six-week challenge aims to prepare young people to lead and innovate in a changing world
- Teams of Year 8 students will use design thinking to develop innovative solutions to local issues or problems, supported by their school and a local industry mentor
The 2024 Minister's Innovation Challenge kicks off today, with 40 public schools from across the State selected to participate.
The six-week challenge tasks Year 8 students to work in a small team, identify a real world problem that confronts their local community, and come up with a sustainable solution.
Students are supported by their school and a local industry mentor, in this immersive journey of critical and creative thinking and innovation learning.
Last year's first place winners from Bob Hawke College created an app-based solution to relieve heavy traffic and congestion at a local netball centre.
Five winners will be announced and showcased at an online exhibition on 27 November.
As stated by Education Minister Dr Tony Buti:
"The Minister's Innovation Challenge gives Year 8 students the chance to build on important skills and come up with creative solutions to issues that we face in the world.
"These critical thinking skills are also vital for the workplace, so participating students are getting insight into life after school while working with their peers and learning together.
"I'm excited to see what these young minds can do this year and look forward to the exhibition, after the six-week challenge concludes."
