Western Australian public schools can register from today for the 2026 Minister’s Innovation Challenge, a six-week programme that pairs Year 8 students with an industry mentor to design solutions to problems in their own communities.
Up to 40 schools will take part, working through design thinking processes to identify a local issue and prototype a response.
“As Education Minister and a former teacher, I know how important it is to give students opportunities to think critically and creatively,” Education Minister Sabine Winton said.
“This Challenge encourages students to work collaboratively to tackle issues that matter to their local communities, while developing skills that will serve them well into the future.”
“I want students to challenge themselves to think big and pursue innovative solutions that could have a lasting impact.”
The five top-ranked teams share a $35,000 prize pool, with winners named by Winton in December. Expressions of interest close on August 19th, and the Challenge starts in the first week of Term 4. Teams will then submit their innovation pitches by November 20th.
The programme is coordinated by Bloom: The Centre for Youth Innovation, a WA youth-led non-profit that runs entrepreneurial programs for young people. Bloom delivers the professional learning to participating teachers and assigns the industry mentors who support each school through the six weeks.
Now in its fifth year, the Challenge has grown into one of the larger structured entry points into entrepreneurship for WA public school students. The State Government links participation to career learning, and teachers involved in past years report that students build industry connections and work-related skills through the process.
Last year’s top prize of $15,000 went to Coodanup College for the Hotdog Lead, a dog leash using temperature-sensitive colour technology to warn owners when their dog is at risk of overheating.
Second place and $10,000 went to Champion Bay Senior High School for a 3D-printed clip that keeps bin lids shut to stop wind-borne litter, and Lakeland Senior High School took third with Quenda Quest, a conservation game about protecting quendas.
“I encourage public schools across WA to submit an expression of interest and give their Year 8 students the chance to be part of this exciting program,” Winton added.
