Blacktown Big Ideas Challenge 2025

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: