Student challenges and activities

Australian STEM Video Game Challenge: Ever wanted to design and build your very own video game? All you need is a couple of friends and a great idea. The challenge is divided into categories for Years 5-8 and Years 9-12.

Upper Primary and Secondary (Year levels 5-12)

Code.Comp: Learn about computer programming and take part in a different challenge each week, as you compete against your peers. Even your teacher can join this comp.

Upper Primary and Secondary (Year levels 5-12)

Computational and Algorithmic Thinking (CAT): This is a one-hour competition where you’ll have to use your problem-solving skills to perform procedures and answer questions. There are four papers: Upper Primary, Years 5–6; Junior, Years 7–8; Intermediate, Years 9–10; Senior, Years 11–12. 

Upper Primary and Secondary (Year levels 5-12)

FIRST Robotics Competition: Get your team together to design, build, and program a robot; then drive it to compete against robots created by other teams. Suggested ages: 14-18 years. 

Middle and Senior Secondary (Year levels 9-12)

Google Code-in: Discover what it’s like to work on an open source project, as you complete bite-sized tasks and compete against other students from around the world. Limited to students ages 13 to 17.

Middle to Senior and Secondary (Year levels 8-12)

National Computer Science School Challenge: Learn about computer programming and take part in a different challenge each week, as you compete against your peers.

Secondary (Year levels 7-12)

OzCLO: Work in a team of four to complete a two-hour language analysis challenge. The winners from each region then compete at a national level. Achievements are recognised at the Junior level (years 9-10) and the Senior level (years 11-12).

Middle and Senior Secondary (Year levels 9-12)

Robogals: Are you a girl with an interest in engineering, science, and technology? See Robogirls sites around Australia and beyond to find out about competitions as well as workshops and events.

Primary and Secondary

RoboCup Junior Australia: Work as a team to program your robot to compete against others in a game of soccer, a dance routine, or a rescue mission. There are competitions right across the country – check out their website for dates and details.

Primary and Secondary 

Tech Girl Superhero: Are you Australia’s next Tech Girl Superhero? Work in teams to create an app that solves a problem in your local community.

Female students in Years 4-12

Young ICT Explorers: In this competition you develop a technology project of your choice and then present it to a panel of judges. Projects are submitted in two categories Years 3-6 or Years 7-12.

Primary and Secondary (Year levels 3-12) 

The Australian DT Challenges are free in-classroom activities designed to guide students and teachers through the Year 5-6 and 7-8 bands of the Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies. (Teachers have to sign their students up and then they log in.)

Primary and Secondary (Year levels 5-8)

Bebras Australia Computational Thinking Challenge: Work alone or create a team to complete a set of 15 technology problem-solving tasks online.

Primary and Secondary (Year levels 3-12)

Code Club: Learn how to program by making computer games, websites, and animations.

Middle - Upper Primary (Year levels 4-6)

CS Unplugged: This website features over 30 different activities on data, algorithms, procedures, intractability, cryptography, interacting with computers, and community.

Primary and Secondary 

Hour of Code: Use computer coding to program droids, make a game, create a galaxy, draw pictures, or go on an adventure.

Primary and Secondary (Year levels F-12)

VEX Robotics competition: Use robotics and technology to explore STEM in a range of competitive events, workshops, camps and conferences.

Primary and Secondary (Year levels 1-12)

Scope IT Education: Scope IT offers three different courses: Creative Coding, Bits and Bytes, and Digital Lifestyle.

Primary and Junior Secondary (Year levels F-8)