Blog Archives
The Catcher
A netting system designed to sit across rivers and catch rubbish and pollutants before they spread further — placed carefully in the most littered, polluted stretches, and clear of areas where boats need to pass.
The team is turning clean waterways into a community event with a local river clean-up day in Shepparton, complete with a BBQ and games afterwards. It’s hands-on environmental action made fun and social, encouraging the whole community to pitch in.
Taste Twister
A flavour strip for your tongue that makes healthy food taste like anything you want: pizza, chocolate, vanilla, you name it. If healthy food can taste like anything, why wouldn’t you choose it?
The team is bringing real flavour to healthy eating with a fortnightly cooking class in the GSSC kitchen, run by a local chef or cook. Students learn life skills and how to make genuinely delicious, healthy meals with local businesses donating ingredients and cooks donating their time over lunch.
The Wise Owl
A robotic owl perched in the classroom, ready with a question or a fun fact at the push of a button, and a reward when you get it right. The goal: make everyday learning feel a little more like a game.
The team’s real-world version brings the same excitement to arriving at school: a student-only mural or artwork, built one contribution at a time, but only by students who arrive before the bell. It’s a creative, visible incentive for turning up on time and early.
Friday Funday
What if school felt like something to look forward to? Picture a weekly festival: rides, food, a bouncy castle, even a robotic unicorn talent show. Earned by racking up points for attending school, participating in class, and turning up on time.
The team scaled their big dream into something schools can actually run: students earn points across the week for attendance, participation and respect, and cash them in for a Friday reward. Think donuts at lunch, an inside movie session, or games. Same spirit, achievable and affordable.
Mile Time
A wearable that ties screen time to activity, track your steps and earn your scroll time. No movement, no phone access. The more you move, the more you can use your phone later in the day. It’s a simple trade: get active first, get your screen time second.
They are taking their idea off the wrist and into the community with a screen-free community activities day in a Shepparton communal space. Phones stay at home while locals come together for sports, games, stalls and trivia — including a trivia round dedicated to the risks of too much screen time and why staying active matters.
Bloody Good Basket
This team acknowledges that periods aren’t taboo, but also recognises the financial burden they can pose. They’re on a mission to destigmatise periods and improve accessibility to vital sanitary products like pads, tampons and wipes in their community, through attention-grabbing, vibrantly packaged baskets placed in public spaces and bathrooms throughout Shepparton — making essential items available at no cost.
The team will partner with the Mooroopna Community Centre, placing their first basket in the Food Share Hub — integrating menstrual hygiene products seamlessly into a space where locals already access free food and community support.
Luna Help Co
Luna Help Co provides monthly help and information packs to those who register, including essential items like pads, tampons, information, chocolates and other comforting items to support wellbeing.
The team will collaborate with local women’s groups and Ballarat Community Health to launch a local version of the packs, ensuring accessible support for women in their community.
End the Stigma
End the Stigma is a not-for-profit concept that travels to schools and community groups to educate young people on menstrual and mental health, pairing information with practical resources.
The team will bring their message to local primary schools, running a presentation and activity day to build awareness of periods and mental health early, while kids are still new to experiencing these things.
Free Period Products
This team’s moonshot is free menstrual products for everyone, aiming to reduce period poverty and eventually take the idea national. Their focus is on making sure no one has to worry about the cost of period care.
The team will run a stall at the Sunday markets, handing out free period products and information brochures, and will approach supermarkets and companies to donate stock.
Stay a Day
Stay a Day proposes a safe space for young people who don’t feel comfortable at home, giving them somewhere to go and connect with others. The team’s focus sharpened around a dedicated quiet room at school for students who feel uncomfortable in certain situations, including girls on their period during PE, who could opt for this space instead of participating.
The team will pilot a dedicated quiet room at school as an alternative space for students, starting with PE-period accommodations for girls.
