The NSW Department of Education’s award-winning design thinking competition, The Game Changer Challenge, has kicked off its 2024 program announcing a new Wicked Problem for primary and secondary students to solve.
The 2024 Wicked Problem challenges students of all ages to “make life better for all without harming the planet”.
The challenge, inspired by the United Nations sustainable development goals, poses the question; can you design a future where everyone, no matter where they live, can access and benefit from modern, sustainable, and resilient technologies and infrastructure?
The 2024 Wicked Problem has been created in a new groundbreaking partnership with UNICEF Australia; a first for the challenge since its inception in 2017.
UNICEF Australia Chief Executive Tony Stuart said the Game Changer Challenge recognised the power of young voices to drive change.
“We are thrilled to be part of the Game Changer Challenge, a program that fosters an environment of ‘blue sky thinking’ creativity and ‘anything-is-possible’ solutions to changing the planet,” Mr Stuart said.
The Game Changer Challenge offers teachers and students valuable workshops, research, and design thinking resources through an engaging fast paced program of activities.
The challenge also introduces participating teams to some of Australian industry’s brightest minds through a mentoring program during the Challenge’s grand final.
In 2023, 26 partners came on board to nurture the team’s ideas, help them develop solutions and deliver a pitch to leading creators, analysts, and problem solvers.
NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar said industry partner mentors could inspire participants to pursue a career in emerging skills industries that utilise design thinking.
“The Game Changer Challenge exposes participants to careers of the future that match their skillset,” he said.
“We are proud to partner with UNICEF, a social welfare agency that has children and young people at the centre of its operations.
“Every day they are saving lives in less developed nations through immunisation, disease prevention and treatment programs and also playing a key role in education.
“We are excited to welcome UNICEF to an already stellar line up of partners who bring this challenge from the classroom into the business world.”
