On the last day of Term One, 12 students from Year 12 participated in the Just Start It Hackathon held at Irene McCormack Catholic College. It was a very successful day with two of our teams taking home prizes.
Below is a reflection from event organisers, Lainey and Steve, from Just Start It.
It was a wonderful Hackathon. Just Start It was overwhelmed with the way the day ran and the outcomes.
The students involved from Irene McCormack Catholic College, Joseph Banks Secondary College, Peter Moyes Anglican College, Butler College, Ashdale Secondary College and Wanneroo Secondary College were an absolute delight to work with. Everyone arrived hungry to learn and give, and boy oh boy did student teams give. The teacher teams were pretty cool too – and it was awesome to see teachers get their turn to share knowledge and their ability to invent amazing concepts.
Students enjoyed mixing with other students and sharing ideas and brainstorming. There was a lot of creativity in the room.
City of Wanneroo brought their growth issues to the table. Teams set to task to find innovative solutions to the challenges.
The mentors on the day were – Paul Moro from Datacom, Amy Blundell from Satterley Estate, Morgyn Hastings from Morgyn Enterprise Solutions, Ty Sedgman, Megan Gobey from the Inventors Hub, Kathryn Raat from West Coast Music School, David Young from Seqta and the City of Wanneroo Youth Team set to pushing the students to drill down into questions and challenges at hand.
Hosts Irene McCormack Catholic College could not have been more hospitable – with endless snacks, yummy lunch, chill out spaces and an incredible library venue with state of the art equipment and internet access to boot. Rob Marshall, Nancy Bonfiglio, Adele Baker, Ned Bryant, Rob Blair, Mery Jones and team thank you so much for letting us play in your amazing Library Space.
There were many solutions. Many concepts pitched. We were honoured to be joined by Mayor Tracy Roberts to judge the pitches.
One team came up with an app that would allow people to house share driving down living costs and housing issues.
One team pitched an International Science Invention Competition to be run out of and hosted by City of Wanneroo in order to put Wanneroo on the map, drive innovation, collaborate with inventors across the globe and showcase the beauty of the region.
There was a team that suggested online job ready courses for those wishing to move to Perth and become work ready, and the same platform would facilitate placement in work prior to arrival.
There was a team that suggested a Compare The Market type app for groceries and goods to help those battling to put food on the table.
3rd place of $30 gift vouchers from JB High Fi was a team who suggested that the City up their exposure through Social Media by releasing a Gaming Wall via Projectors on a key wall within the city. Politicians could play Frogger against locals and utilise an interactive floor panel as the remote controllers. This would gain great visibility, elevate profile and make for quite an inviting space.
The Peter Moyes winners created an Amphitheater on the beach made of multicultural stalls selling their wares, foods, music and culture against the backdrop of the ocean. They won 2nd prize and won $40 JB HI FI Vouchers.
Another Peter Moyes Team pitched 3d art amplified onto walls around Wanneroo with interactive maps and hunts attached. Winning themselves $50 JB Hi Fi Vouchers.
There were balloon towers built, balloon towers popped. There was laughter. There was energy. But most importantly there was learning. Learning for today, and learning for the future.
Thank you all so much for being there.