Western Australian secondary school students enjoyed first-hand experience with emerging primary industries technologies over the weekend at the WA Robotics Playoffs and Innovation Challenge.
Western Australian secondary school students enjoyed first-hand experience with emerging primary industries technologies over the weekend at the WA Robotics Playoffs and Innovation Challenge.
More than 350 students participated in the annual careers event at Curtin Stadium, supported by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), Murdoch University and Curtin University.
A total of 27 teams from 22 schools participated in the Robotics Playoffs, while 42 teams from 13 schools competed in the Innovation Challenge, including regional competitors from Bunbury Baptist College, John Paul College, Eastern Goldfields College and Mount Barker Community College.
The theme of this year’s WA Robotics Playoffs was REBUILT, reflecting the many technological functions in primary industries, including precision seeding, harvesting and spraying, automated material handling, warehousing and autonomous vehicles.
Teams were required to build robots to collect, transport and place game pieces on the field, before climbing and hanging from structures to score points.
The robots competed in teams of three and formed strategic alliances to compete in the finals.
The 2026 playoff winning alliance team were Alliance Captain Team 9991, Bunbury Senior High School, Curtin University Team 4788 and Carine Senior High School Team 9987.
The DPIRD Innovation Challenge featured three diverse primary industries scenarios requiring students to develop technological solutions.
Challenge 1 was on innovative insect management and how emerging technologies could be used to detect, deter or manage pests in WA horticulture crops.
Challenge 2 focused on smart cleaning systems in food processing, using technology to reduce water and energy consumption during food manufacturing cleaning processes while maintaining food safety.
Challenge 3 addressed animal health by exploring how emerging technologies could help producers identify sick or injured animals earlier.
Averley Secondary College won the event with their response to Challenge 3, followed by Bob Hawke College, which took on Challenge 2, and Lesmurdie Senior High School Team 5, which completed Challenge 1.
Cash prizes of up to $1500 were awarded to winning teams to purchase science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) equipment for their schools.
DPIRD Workforce Capability project manager Suzanne Hawkes said the Robotics Playoffs and Innovation Challenge was a great opportunity to expose secondary school students to the diverse career pathways in primary industries.
“STEM job opportunities continue to grow in WA’s primary industries, as new technology and innovations continue to emerge to improve production, profitability and sustainability,” she said.
“This is the fifth Robotics Playoffs and Innovation Challenge DPIRD has participated in, which has proven to be a valuable investment to help students, teachers and parents to consider primary industries STEM career opportunities.”
For more information about STEM careers in primary industries visit https://www.dpird.wa.gov.au/individuals/students/career-pathways/
