One hundred and twenty students from six Sydney schools have mined large data sets to find innovative solutions to real-world problems in the inaugural Data Hack High competition.

Using problems and data provided by industry partners, Data Hack High exposed students to new skills and concepts in data analysis, data science and data visualisation.

The winning entries included an app that allows students to monitor and select the most comfortable seat in a classroom, an advocacy campaign tailored to high school students to reduce vaping, and an integrated electric vehicle road trip itinerary taking in some of NSW’s most picturesque destinations.

Lisa Wark, Deputy Principal, Cheltenham Girls High School highlighted the benefit of the event for teachers and students around the state, particularly as it involved industry partners.

“It is hard for us to keep current in the technology space as it’s moving so rapidly,” she said.

Data Hack High gave students the opportunity to work face to face with mentors and data professionals from industry partners and government, delivered alongside professional learning for teachers in data analytics.

Students were challenged with problems associated with vaping, indoor environment quality, netball participation, EV road trips and high temperatures in schools, with solutions to be found through data analysis.

Teams had to provide an innovative solution that addressed the real-world challenge, using an app prototype, UX/UI, system design or advocacy campaign.

Data Hack High aligns with the new Enterprise Computing 11–12 syllabus and gave students transferable skills in data science and data visualisation to help them with their senior schooling, and career and further education pathways, as well as being a key element of the NSW Digital Skills and Workforce Compact to increase industry participation in delivering education programs.

Stuart Coggins, Cloud Strategy Director at Oracle noted that industry partners have plenty to gain from being involved.

“We do this for a living and helping students understand what we do, and how data is so powerful and useful in our lives is really beneficial,” he said.

The inaugural Data Hack High was contested by students from Blacktown Girls High School, Cheltenham Girls High School, Gymea Technology High School, Miller Technology High School, Sydney Secondary College and The Ponds High School.

Data Hack High was by supported by GovHack, Oracle, Netball NSW, Western Sydney University, Institute of Applied Technology Digital, NSW Health and NSW Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

Data Hack High 2025 will expand to include students across all of NSW.