South West students shine at Scitech Challenge Days

Students from South West Regional PEAC edged out teams from 44 primary schools across Western Australia at Scitech’s annual Challenge Day.

Held at the Scitech Discovery Centre in October, students are challenged to put their science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills to the test.

The interschool competition brought together small teams of Year 5 and 6 students to tackle a series of hands-on challenges in mathematics, astronomy, engineering, and laboratory work.

This year’s event attracted 645 students and teachers from schools from the Wheatbelt, Goldfields, South West, Midwest, and Pilbara regions, as well as the Perth metropolitan area.  

Scitech Manager of Science Communication, Angharad Thomas, said Challenge Days are an opportunity for students to step out of the classroom and stretch their STEM muscles by engaging in hands on, teamwork-driven puzzles and activities.

“Each of the four challenges are designed to get students collaborating and using what they know, while also drawing on their critical thinking and creativity,” Ms Thomas said.  

“The idea is to harness the skills that teachers foster every day, but encourage students to extend themselves and see what they're capable of.”  

The highest scoring team overall was South West Regional PEAC, whose students travelled from as far as Margaret River and Manjimup to participate.  

South West PEAC Coordinator, Marlene Blackwood, said that despite the early start to travel to Perth, the students’ enthusiasm never wavered, and they embraced the day with energy and curiosity.  

“Living in regional areas often means limited access to large-scale STEM experiences and resources that metropolitan students can more readily engage with,” Ms Blackwood said.  

“The Scitech Challenge Day is not just about the competition, it’s about exposure, inspiration, and the chance to connect with real-world STEM pathways that may otherwise feel out of reach.  

“When our students learned they had achieved the highest score of the week, their excitement was absolutely contagious.”  

Special guests from the Department of Education and Catholic Education Western Australia joined Scitech staff to present certificates and prizes to the top-performing teams, adding to students’ sense of pride and achievement.  

First held in 2004, Scitech’s Challenge Days have become an annual highlight for schools across Western Australia, inspiring the next generation of problem solvers and innovators. 

For more information, visit the Challenge Day pages on Scitech’s website.