The department’s annual design-thinking challenge has won the ‘Event or Virtual Event of the Year’ category at the Mumbrella Publish Awards presented last night in Sydney.

The award recognises stand-out events or virtual events delivered over the past year, focusing on the impact for audiences and integration of partners to create success.

The Game Changer Challenge provides students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to solving a real-world ‘wicked’ problem, translating learning from the classroom into a real-life context.

It has been delivered as a virtual model throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2021, a total of 480 students participated in eight virtual events, with 95 students taking part in the virtual ultimate final.

The challenge connects with industry partners and experts to enhance the learning outcomes for students participating in the challenge, with opportunities including industry mentorships, bespoke classroom resources and an innovative incubation program to help develop winning team’s ideas into real products or solutions.

The department was shortlisted in two other categories at the awards with the Game Changer Challenge also recognised in the ‘Best Sustained Initiative for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion’ and the Education LIVE video series shortlisted in the ‘Best Use of Video’ category.

The popular video series was a staple at the height of the pandemic and learning from home period, with thousands of students across the state tuning in each day to watch videos presented by more than 70 of Australia’s leading educators, artists, zookeepers, athletes and industry experts.

The Mumbrella Publish Awards are designed to celebrate the industry’s big thinkers, initiatives, and achievements.