Powered by Future Anything with generous support from Blacktown City Council, the Blacktown Big Ideas Challenge is a fast-paced and hands-on day of listening, learning, and doing. It culminates in teams of students pitching their own innovative solutions in a 'Shark Tank'-style experience.

It's set to be an engaging and real-world learning experience for young people in Years 7-10. In addition, students will hear from some of Australia’s most inspiring changemakers, as well as explicitly developing their enterprising thinking and human-centered design skills.

This year’s theme revolves around ‘Cooling our Cities’, with a focus on urban heat and students designing spaces in the city to address this. Students will tackle the mission: “As an entrepreneur, design a smart city concept that reduces urban heat and creates more a sustainable future."

TICKETS & WHO SHOULD ATTEND

This event is open exclusively to schools located in the Blacktown City Council LGA.
The event is designed for school groups of students in Years 7-10 (students may not attend individually).
Up to 30 FREE student tickets are available for schools located in the Blacktown City Council LGA.
If you require additional tickets, please indicate this when registering and we will let you know if additional tickets become available.

KEY TIMINGS:

8.15am - 8.45am - Schools/students arrive & register
9am (PROMPT) - EVENT STARTS
9am - 10:30am: Session 1
10:30 - 11am: Morning Tea
11am - 12:30pm: Session 2
12:30–1:00pm Lunch break (participants should bring their own lunch)
1:00 - 2:30pm: Session 3
2.30pm: EVENT ENDS
Break times are subject to change. A detailed agenda will be shared with all registered schools closer to the time.

VENUE & TRANSPORT:

The event takes place at Bowman Hall, 35 Campbell St, Blacktown NSW 2148. Participating schools are required to organise and manage their own transport requirements for students and supervising staff/parents attending the event. Travel by public transport is encouraged. A transport subsidy may be available for eligible NSW Government schools. Contact Council on 02 9839 5169 for more information.

PERMISSIONS & SUPERVISION:

Each participating school should manage risk assessment & parent permissions according their own policies, and ensure a suitable level of staff supervision for their students attending the event. While participating teachers/parents will not be required to formally facilitate the sessions, their engagement in the activities will increase teachers’ skills and confidence in unlocking students’ enterprising mindsets in their classrooms. IMPORTANT: All students will be required to have a caregiver complete Future Anything's Media Permission Form.

WHAT STUDENTS NEED TO BRING:

Their own refillable water bottle
Lunch, and morning/afternoon tea (if required) as no catering is provided.
Students are required to wear their school uniform
Completed Media Permission Form here (fillable PDF).
A dash of enthusiasm, an open mind and a willingness to engage with others.

THIS EVENT IS GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY: