What is the Game Changer Challenge?

Entering its fourth year, the design thinking challenge is open to all 2,200+ public schools across the state and centres on exploring solutions for a real-world, wicked problem.

This year we introduced a dual-stream, student-led, step-by-step challenge where all teams start the challenge together by working through a design thinking resource called the playbook.

Registrations for this year's Game Changer Challenge have now closed and our judging panel is selecting the best team video pitches to take part in one of 8 virtual heats held across NSW.

Challenge streams

This year we are offering two streams for our teams to choose from.

Create

Advocate

Teams who select the Advocate stream will undertake action research, creating social change through Implementation Thinking and persuading others by answering: "How might we rethink the use of single-use plastics in our community?"

The challenge

1. Registrations are closed for 2021

Thank you to the more than 600 teams who registered for this year's challenge.

2. Virtual heats

Teams with the best pitch ideas will be selected to compete in a one-day intensive virtual workshop where they will learn and apply the processes they need to undertake in solving the wicked problem.

A total of 96 teams will compete across 8 virtual heats with each team pitching their ideas live to our judging panel to determine who will participate in the ultimate challenge final.

3. Ultimate challenge final

What is design thinking?

Design thinking is a human-centred approach to solving complex problems. Empathy and collaboration are at the heart of design thinking.

The five-step process starts by encouraging problem solvers to walk in the shoes of those experiencing the 'problem' to gain a deeper insight into the challenges and issues they face (empathy).

This knowledge is then used to develop a clear problem statement (define), work on solutions (ideate), turn these solutions into tangible products (prototype) and then see whether the solution will work (test).

Design thinking is not a linear process. With each stage you make new discoveries that require you to rethink and redefine what you have already done.

Design thinking brings our head, heart and hands together to find innovative solutions to complex problems.

This process can be used over and over again, for small or complex problems.

Video - Game Changer Challenge 2021 promo

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