11 September 2025
Nikitha Balram, from Perth Modern School, has shown off her outstanding geographical knowledge, ranking first among Western Australian Year 7s in the 2025 Australian Geography Competition.
Nikitha was one of eight students recognised as WA’s best in the national competition, a contest for Australian secondary school students that assesses their geographical knowledge and skills.
Nikitha Balram with her prizes.
Held annually since 1995, this year’s competition was held online, with students answering multiple-choice questions.
Outstanding students at each year level won prizes, including books, special certificates, and medals for those who ranked first in Australia.
Two high-performing WA Year 11 students, Rob Davison and Ava Pierce, were also selected to compete in Geography’s Big Week Out, a mix of stimulating and hands-on geography activities, focussing on fieldwork.
The competition is a joint initiative of the Royal Geographical Society of Queensland and the Australian Geography Teachers’ Association, that aims to encourage student interest in geography and reward excellence.
For more information, visit the Australian Geography Competition website
These students came first, or equal first in Western Australia, in their respective year levels in the 2025 Australian Geography Competition:
Year 7
- Nikitha Balram, Perth Modern School
Year 8
- Hashim Rasool, Willetton Senior High School
Year 9
- James McNulty, Duncraig Senior High School
- Josiah Yek, Christ Church Grammar School
Year 10
- Mihin Henkanaththegedara, Harrisdale Senior High School
Year 11
- Rob Davison, Hale School
Year 12
- Phoebe Gong, Rehoboth Christian College
WA’s highest scoring Year 11 students who participated in Geography's Big Week Out were:
- Ava Pierce, Carine Senior High School
- Rob Davison, Hale School
2025 top WA prize winning schools:
- St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School
- Willetton Senior High School