The Minister's Innovation Challenge 2025

Topic: Career development

Content Type

2025 participating schools and their projects

Teams worked with an industry mentor to identify and solve a local issue or problem. Teachers were supported to help students use design thinking to develop innovative solutions.

A summary of the problem statements and solutions developed by the school teams is listed below.

School	Problem statement	Solution
Armadale Senior High School	Microplastic pollution in Armadale is increasing as plastic waste, including litter from Armadale SHS, enters local waterways through drainage systems.	Awareness and innovative microplastic filtration.
Belmont City College	Residents in the City of Belmont report feeling unsafe when moving through public spaces at night.	The installation of a Cityscape Art Projector that transforms dimly lit areas into vibrant, welcoming spaces.
Bob Hawke College	How could we reduce perceived umpire bias so that players can have a safe and fair game?	SkyTrak uses shoe sensors and an overhead camera to track player movements and alert umpires to fouls via a mobile app.
Butler College	How might we connect teenagers with local businesses to increase casual job opportunities?	Jobless Juniors: A teen-focused employment expo in Butler designed specifically for students with no experience.
Canning Vale College	How might we help students sort waste correctly to improve how they recycle?	Bin of Brilliance (BOB), is an AI powered sorting system.
Cecil Andrews College	How might we design learning spaces that help lower secondary students feel connected and ready to learn?	An inclusive green space with plants, edible gardens, fragrance and affirmation walls that promotes wellbeing and belonging.
Champion Bay Senior High School	How might we reduce wind-borne litter for residential homeowners in Champion Bay so they have a cleaner community?	Ecolatch is a sturdy, reliable plastic bin clip, which has been engineered to keep bin lids closed during strong winds without having to remove it for collection.
Christmas Island District High School	How might we help drivers safely clear crabs from community roads during the annual migration so both crabs and people stay safe?	A simple, low-cost “Crab Sweeper” attachment that fits onto the front of a vehicle and gently guides crabs off the road without harming them.
Clarkson Community High School	How might we reduce the amount of rubbish being littered around Clarkson Community High School?	Shoot for the Planet - a custom-designed backboard that attaches to the school bin.
Coodanup College	How might we reduce instances of dogs overheating when taken for walks in hot weather?	Hotdog Lead is a heat-sensitive dog leash that changes colour to warn pet owners of hot surfaces and help prevent paw burns.
Dallyellup College	How might we encourage teenagers in Dalyellup to dispose of their rubbish responsibly so that litter around our school is reduced?	The Ziggity Bin rewards students for disposing of rubbish correctly, featuring separate compartments for efficient waste sorting.
Darling Range Sports College	How might we ensure students experiencing financial hardship have access to essential food, clothing, and support so they feel safe, valued, and able to focus on their learning?	A school pantry providing food, uniforms, and work-placement clothing through a discrete ticket system, ensuring students have access to essential items and support.
Denmark Senior High School	How might we help people in bushfire-prone areas prepare for evacuation more easily and effectively?	The ‘Blaze' bag and App with an emergency plan to support residents to be fire ready.
East Kimberley College	How might we increase young people's engagement in sport so that we can foster a stronger community?	A mobile sports equipment library housed in a shipping container, giving young people affordable access to sporting gear and increasing community participation.
Ellenbrook Secondary College	How might we improve awareness of local events for Perth youth aged 12-17 years old?	Convect, a youth-focused app that helps connect them with events happening across Perth and within their communities.
Esperance Senior High School	How might we help the Esperance Community feel shark safe while using the ocean for recreational activities?	Surfeillance uses AI-enabled, self-charging drones to detect sharks and alert beachgoers in real time through multiple communication channels.
Exmouth District High School	How might we minimise sun damage to vehicles for Exmouth vehicle owners so they can conserve car value and retain aesthetics.	Shademate protects cars from harmful UV rays.
Governor Stirling Senior High School	How might we empower young people to restore nesting opportunities for black cockatoos?	Students design and build sustainable nesting boxes from over 90 % recycled timber and promote sustainability through community education and engagement.
Halls Head College	Too many refundable 10-cent containers are incorrectly discarded due to a lack of dedicated collection bins in public spaces.	Smartbin. AI-powered recognition system to identify and collect eligible containers for change.
Hammond Park Secondary College	How might we improve the wellbeing and social interaction of teenagers 12-17 years old in Hammond Park so they can spend time together safely?	The Hammond Hangout is a youth precinct with indoor and outdoor spaces designed by teens to provide a safe, welcoming place to socialise.
Harrisdale Senior High School	How might we improve social connections for specialist classes so they can build more social skills and reduce schoolwork pressure?	A school study-group app that organises in-person study sessions, encouraging face-to-face interaction, collaboration, and social skill development.
Hedland Senior High School	How might we help dog owners in the Pilbara keep their dogs cool and comfortable, during the extreme summer heat?	Pilbara Pups Take Control is a temperature-responsive kennel that activates fans and misters when a dog's body temperature rises.
Joseph Banks Secondary College	Students are becoming disengaged from school because they feel disconnected from the curriculum and the school community, leading to lower academic achievement and a reduced sense of belonging.	A school-wide website that integrates extracurricular clubs into learning, increasing student ownership, engagement, and community connection.
Kalamunda Senior High School	How might we increase the use of native food plants in Kalamunda gardens by promoting their affordability and sustainability?	Residents receive native seedlings, soil, and recipe cards, then contribute part of their harvest to a community growers' hub to continue the cycle.
Karratha Senior High School	How might we reduce the amount of needles in playgrounds and sandpits.	A handheld magnetic needle-removal device designed to safely collect needles from hard-to-reach locations.
Kelmscott Senior High School	How might we improve public transport safety so all people can travel with confidence?	An app that provides travellers with immediate online support when they feel unsafe while using public transport.
Lakeland Senior High School	How might we raise awareness of quenda welfare in the school community to encourage their protection and reduce harmful human impacts?	Quenda Quest, a fun, interactive conservation game that teaches players how to protect quendas by exploring habitats, avoiding dangers, and learning real-world conservation tips through play.
Lesmurdie Senior High School	How might we remove gumnuts from pathways in the City of Kalamunda to improve walkway safety in a sustainable manner?	Organise community events to collect gumnuts from pathways, which are then converted into mulch and sold locally.
Lynwood Senior High School	How might we address the health of the Canning River and increase community engagement for residents?	Smart kayaks and paddleboards monitor water quality while residents enjoy the river, with results shared through public warning systems.
Morley Senior High School	How might we reduce litter and the amount of waste sent to landfill so that students and maintenance staff can enjoy a cleaner, more comfortable school environment?	A four-section Containers for Change bin that tracks contributions from each school house, promoting recycling through competition and rewards.
Mount Barker Community College	How might we protect the native forests and bushland in the Plantagenet Shire from the spread of dieback?	A targeted brochure and website provide local information and prevention strategies to raise awareness of dieback disease.
Narrogin Senior High School	How might we improve local infrastructure for the community including homeless individuals so that they can be better accommodated and sheltered from harsh weather?	Homeless people supported to build a mini home.
North Albany Senior High School	How might we create welcoming and safe spaces for 13–15-year-olds in North Albany that support social connection?	Work with stakeholders to improve existing facilities and advocate for a dedicated youth space designed for 13–15-year-olds.
Ocean Reef Senior High School	How might we modernise helmets for e-rideable users so they feel comfortable and on-trend while staying protected?	CapShield is a stylish, lightweight helmet using non-Newtonian gel and micro-suction technology for comfort and impact protection.
Perth Modern School	How might we help students feel safe and confident as they arrive at their bus or train stop in the city to explore and engage in social and cultural activities?	City Quest is a board game that teaches students practical transport safety skills through real-life travel scenarios.
Rockingham Senior High School	How can we provide supplementary feeding for little penguins without disturbing their natural behaviour or environment?	A penguin-safe feeding box provides food during low fish availability while minimising environmental and behavioural impacts.
Roleystone Community College	How might we control invasive weeds in Roleystone so homeowners can have tidy and safe gardens?	A community tool library and mobile phone weed identifier app to help homeowners remove unwanted weeds.
Wanneroo Secondary College	How can we engage young people with the natural features of Lake Joondalup using technology as a tool for reconnection?	A QR-code-based app combines quizzes, geocaching, and rewards to encourage exploration and learning about the local environment.
Warnbro Community High School	How might we make water fountains for high school students more hygienic, so they can safely and confidently access drinking water?	Filtain is a redesigned water fountain with protective barriers, filtration, and optional vitamin-enhanced water to improve hygiene.
Willetton Senior High School	How might we reduce tyre damage caused by worn roads to improve the driving experience?	The All-Rounder Tyre uses multi-walled carbon nanotube technology to improve durability, longevity, and performance on rough roads.
Yule Brook College	How might we support conservation efforts for black cockatoos in our local community so their populations can recover?	TrackaToo is an AI-enabled tracking device that monitors movement, behaviour, and habitat use to support conservation efforts.

2025 winners

The challenge took place over 6 weeks in Term 4 and culminated in an online exhibition where the Minister for Education announced the 5 top-ranked teams.

Below are the videos of the final pitches from the challenge winners in 2025.

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First place 2025

Coodanup College considered how they might reduce instances of dogs overheating and burning their paws while they are walking in the heat and developed the Hotdog Lead.

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Second place 2025

Champion Bay Senior High School developed a clip that attaches to bins to allow the lids to stay shut and prevent wind-borne litter in residential areas in their town.

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Third place 2025

Lakeland Senior High School developed Quenda Quest, a fun, interactive conservation game that teaches players how to protect quendas by exploring habitats, avoiding dangers, and more.

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Fourth place 2025

Christmas Island District High School designed a simple, low-cost “Crab Sweeper” attachment that fits onto the front of a vehicle and gently guides crabs off the road without harming them.

The Minister's Innovation Challenge 2024 The Minister's Innovation Challenge 2023

The Minister's Innovation Challenge 2025

Topic: Career development