The Minister's Innovation Challenge 2024

The Minister’s Innovation Challenge aims to ensure our young people are better prepared to lead and innovate in our changing world. It forms part of the Career Learning Toolkit developed to address the critical need for career learning for secondary school students.

The challenge provides an opportunity for a broad range of Year 8 students to engage in entrepreneurial education. Students are supported by a teacher from their school and a local industry mentor, who will provide advice and valuable insights.  

Schools can nominate a team of 6 to 8 Year 8 students to compete in the 6-week challenge, which takes place in Term 4 of 2024.  

Teams submit their final pitches online and the 5 top-ranked teams will share a $35,000 cash prize pool. The Minister for Education will announce the winning teams during an online exhibition.  

The challenge will be delivered online by Bloom The Centre for Youth Innovation (Bloom).

Key dates and activities

Key dates and activities for The Minister's Innovation Challenge 2024

Dates	Activity
17 June 2024	Launch of the Minister’s Innovation Challenge. Student team nominations open.
2 August 2024	Student team nominations close.
13 August 2024	Nominated teams are notified of outcomes.
7 October to 15 November 2024	The challenge starts and industry mentors support school teams over 6 weeks.
27 November 2024	The Minister for Education announces the 5 top-ranked teams at an online exhibition.

Become an industry mentor  

Industry mentors are key to the success of the challenge. Each team of Year 8 students receives support from an experienced industry operator.  

Industry mentors can have either a: 

• track record in leading, or being a key player in, start-ups 
• background in innovation in a public company.

They will also have: 

• an interest in mentoring young people openly and respectfully 
• a Working with Children Check or National Police Clearance Check (or willing to obtain one). 

If you would like to be involved as an industry mentor, express your interest to Dr Lucy Halsall, Principal Consultant, Secondary, District High Schools and Post School Pathways by email at lucy.halsall@education.wa.edu.au or phone at (08) 6206 2039.  

Find out about the Minister's Innovation Challenge 2023

Check out the winning and particpating schools in last year's challenge.