The top 10 innovative ideas from the region’s youth have been announced as part of the 2021 Mayor's Telstra Innovation Awards.
From an app to reduce food waste, a bushfire reconnaissance drone and even a water membrane creation to combat house fires, the students from six local high schools have gone above and beyond to create new, technological ideas for real-world situations.
The top ten finalists feature teams from Bundaberg Christian College, Bundaberg State High School, Kepnock State High School, Shalom College, St. Luke’s Anglican School and Gin Gin State High School.
Competition judge Cr Steve Cooper said it was pleasing to see so many students had come together to research, create and share their ideas.
“The calibre of entries in this year’s competition is outstanding and it is fantastic to see these innovative and original technological ideas coming from our younger generation,” he said.
“The thought process behind these concepts is amazing and I can tell there has been a lot of research involved in the creation of prototype ideas to tackle real-world issues.
“Congratulations to the top 10 finalists, I look forward to seeing what the next phase of the competition holds.”
The top 10 finalists include:
- Waste Legends – Epic Waste- Bundaberg Christian College
- Eco Companion- Bundaberg Christian College
- Pawfect Pets- Bundaberg State High School
- Production Bubble- Gin Gin State High School
- Izvan Okvira- Kepnock State High School
- Kepnock Crocodiles- Kepnock State High School
- Happy Goldfish – ACSUM- Shalom College
- The Foo’d Fighters – FAF- Shalom College
- Cyborg Fireballs- St. Lukes Anglican School
- EcoMoo- St. Lukes Anglican School
The finalist teams will now move on to the next stage of the competition, with mentoring to begin with local businesses in the coming weeks.
This stage will give the teams an opportunity to further develop their technological idea or concept with help from some of the best entrepreneur and technical experts in the region.
Finalists will participate in a series of six mentoring sessions to be held at varied locations, focusing on practical skill and knowledge development specific to the start-up, entrepreneur and technological space.
Bundaberg Region Mayor Jack Dempsey said he was thrilled to see students getting so invested in the competition.
“These awards are a great opportunity to get the youth of the region thinking about technology and how it can be used to assist in issues, not only experienced in our region, but also within the nation and world,” he said.
“The possibilities are endless and that is what makes this competition so exciting.
“I would like to wish the top 10 finalists good luck as they head into Phase 2 of the Mayor's Telstra Innovation Awards.”
Bundaberg Regional Council is proud to partner with Telstra to deliver the Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Awards in 2021 exclusively to high schools within the Bundaberg Regional Council Local Government Area.
To find out more about the awards click here.
