Local students changing the game to solve wicked problems

FOURTEEN teams of local students are battling to win the NSW Government’s 2024 Game Changer Challenge.

In a bid to solve the wicked problem of ‘Make life better for all without harming the planet’, seven schools, including three teams from Alstonville Public School, will have their ideas tested. The school has entered each year since 2018 and, in 2023, won the Impact and Awareness Award at the Game Changer Grand Final.

Over the next few weeks, 120 teams across NSW will progress through the five virtual semifinals.

Local semifinalist schools include Alstonville PS and South Grafton PS, with three teams each, Bangalow PS, Evans River CS and Kingscliff PS, with two teams from each school. Byron Bay PS and Grafton PS also have a semifinal team.

In the challenge, students solve a real-world wicked problem by learning and using design thinking methodology. This human-centred approach to solving complex problems focuses on empathy and collaboration.

The program highlights the creativity and passion of students throughout the state as they tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing our world today.

The industry expert judging panel was impressed with the enthusiasm and deep understanding shown by students in the 400 submissions. Organisers say the judges were also inspired by the passion, creativity, and commitment to solving this year’s problem.

The 2024 wicked problem is powered by UNICEF Australia and inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Nine to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation.

The 2024 online event concludes with a pitch to a panel of Game Changer Challenge industry partners and experts.

The top 20 teams will progress to a live grand final event, which will be held across three days in Sydney in November.

For more information, visit education.nsw.gov.au/schooling/schooling-initiatives/game-changer-challenge