The Minister's Innovation Challenge

The Minister's Innovation Challenge

Up to 40 teams of Year 8 students from WA public schools will participate in the Minister's Innovation Challenge 2026. Students will use design thinking to develop innovative solutions to local issues or problems.

The Minister's Innovation Challenge aims to ensure our young people are better prepared to lead and innovate in our changing world. It forms part of the Career Learning Toolkit, developed to address the need for career learning for secondary school students.

The challenge provides an opportunity for Year 8 students to engage in entrepreneurial education. Students are supported by a teacher from their school and a local industry mentor.

Schools can nominate a team of 6 to 8 Year 8 students to compete in the 6-week challenge. Nominations are now open; school staff can follow the nomination process on the Department's intranet, Ikon. The challenge takes place in Term 4, 2026.

Teams submit their final pitches online. The Minister for Education will announce the winning teams during an online exhibition. The 5 top-ranked teams will share a $35,000 cash prize pool.

Key dates and activities
Key dates and activities for the Minister's Innovation Challenge 2026
Dates Activities
22 July  The Minister for Education launched the 2026 challenge. Student team nominations open.
19 August Student team nominations close at 5 pm.
21 August Nominated teams are notified of outcomes.
8 September Professional learning and online resources are available for teachers with teams participating in the challenge.
12 October to 20 November The challenge starts and industry mentors support school teams over 6 weeks.
20 November Teams submit their final pitches and the challenge closes.
3 December The Minister for Education announces the 5 top-ranked teams at an online exhibition.
Become an industry mentor

Each team of Year 8 students is supported by an experienced industry operator.

Industry mentors can have either a:

  • track record in leading, or being a key player in, start-ups
  • background in innovation in a public company.

They will also have:

  • an interest in mentoring young people openly and respectfully
  • a Working with Children Check or National Police Clearance Check (or be willing to obtain one).

If you would like to be involved as an industry mentor, express your interest to Dr Lucy Halsall, Principal Consultant, Secondary, District High Schools and Post School Pathways by email at lucy.halsall@education.wa.edu.au or phone at (08) 6206 2039.

Participating schools and previous challenge winners

Find the details of the winning and participating schools from previous challenges. 

The winning schools for 2025 were as follows.

First place: Coodanup College 
Second place: Champion Bay Senior High School
Third place:  Lakeland Senior High School
Fourth place: Christmas Island District High School
Fifth place: Denmark Senior High School

Find out about the prize winners for the Minister's Innovation Challenge in 2025.

The following schools, listed by education region, participated in the Minister's Innovation Challenge 2025.

Goldfields

Esperance Senior High School

Kimberley

East Kimberley College

Midwest
  • Champion Bay Senior High School
  • Exmouth District High School
North Metropolitan
  • Bob Hawke College
  • Butler College
  • Christmas Island District High School
  • Clarkson Community High School
  • Ellenbrook Secondary College
  • Governor Stirling Senior High School
  • Joseph Banks Secondary College
  • Morley Senior High School
  • Ocean Reef Senior High School
  • Perth Modern School
  • Wanneroo Secondary College
Pilbara
  • Hedland Senior High School
  • Karratha Senior High School
South Metropolitan
  • Armadale Senior High School
  • Belmont City College
  • Canning Vale College
  • Cecil Andrews College
  • Coodanup College
  • Darling Range Sports College
  • Halls Head College
  • Hammond Park Secondary College
  • Harrisdale Senior High School
  • Kalamunda Senior High School
  • Kelmscott Senior High School
  • Lakeland Senior High School
  • Lesmurdie Senior High School
  • Lynwood Senior High School
  • Rockingham Senior High School
  • Roleystone Community College
  • Warnbro Community High School
  • Willetton Senior High School
  • Yule Brook College
South West
  • Dalyellup College
  • Denmark Senior High School
  • Mount Barker Community College
  • North Albany Senior High School
Wheatbelt

Narrogin Senior High School

The winning schools for 2024 were as follows.

First place: Halls Head College
Second place: Exmouth District High School
Third place: Ballajura Community College
Fourth place: Esperance Senior High School 
Fifth place: Lesmurdie Senior High School

Read about the Minister's Innovation Challenge winners in 2024.

The following schools, listed by education region, participated in the 2024 Minister’s Innovation Challenge.

Goldfields
  • Esperance Senior High School
  • Laverton School
Kimberley
  • East Kimberley College
Midwest
  • Champion Bay Senior High School
  • Exmouth District High School
North Metropolitan
  • Alkimos College
  • Balcatta Senior High School
  • Ballajura Community College
  • Belridge Secondary College
  • Bob Hawke College
  • Butler College
  • Christmas Island District High School
  • Clarkson Community High School
  • Duncraig Senior High School
  • Governor Stirling Senior High School
  • Joseph Banks Secondary College
  • Mount Lawley Senior High School
  • Ocean Reef Senior High School
  • Perth Modern School
Pilbara
  • Hedland Senior High School
South Metropolitan
  • Armadale Senor High School
  • Belmont City College
  • Canning Vale College
  • Cecil Andrews College
  • Darling Range Sports College
  • Halls Head College
  • Harrisdale Senior High School
  • Kalamunda Senior High School
  • Kelmscott Senor High School
  • Lakeland Senior High School
  • Lesmurdie Senior High School
  • Lynwood Senior High School
  • Piara Waters Senior High School
  • Warnbro Community High School
South West
  • Bridgetown High School
  • Bunbury Senior High School
  • Dalyellup College
  • Denmark Senior High School
  • Newton Moore Senior High School
Wheatbelt
  • Katanning Senior High School

The winning schools for 2023 were as follows.

First place: Bob Hawke College
Second place: Denmark Senior High School
Third place: Exmouth District High School.

Learn more about the winning schools.

The following schools, listed by region, participated in the 2023 Minister’s Innovation Challenge.

Kimberley
  • East Kimberley College
Midwest
  • Champion Bay Senior High School
  • Exmouth District High School
North Metropolitan
  • Balcatta Senior High School
  • Bob Hawke College
  • Butler College
  • Clarkson Community High School
  • Dianella Secondary College
  • Ellenbrook Secondary College
  • Hampton Senior High School
  • Joseph Banks Secondary College
  • Ocean Reef Senior High School
  • Wanneroo Secondary College
Pilbara
  • Karratha Senior High School
  • Newman Senior High School
  • Tom Price Senior High School
South Metropolitan
  • Baldivis Secondary College
  • Coastal Lakes College
  • Halls Head College
  • Harrisdale Senior High School
  • Lesmurdie Senior High School
  • Lynwood Senior High School
  • Warnbro Community High School
Southwest
  • Albany Senior High School
  • Bunbury Senior High School
  • Dalyellup College
  • Denmark Senior High School
  • Gnowangerup District High School
  • Manjimup Senior High School
  • Margaret River Senior High School