A community’s close calls with bushfire and seeing young people miss out on important experiences have inspired this year’s Game Changer Challenge winners.

The Problem Pulverisers from Redhead Public School, on Awabakal Country south of Newcastle, were named 2026 Game Changer Challenge Primary Champions with their prototype to help keep essential roads open when a bushfire threatens.

“Our idea was just roadside firefighting sprinkler systems to allow firefighters to use them and people to evacuate,” team member Ruben Villain said.

It is a familiar problem for their community, with residents in their Lake Macquarie community left with the difficult choice of whether to evacuate very early or risk being isolated without help when a fire occurs, as there is only one access road.

“We’re overwhelmed," fellow Problem Pulveriser Tomas Peden said. "We came here to just have some fun and give it a go, and we came here, had some fun and actually won it.”

The team intends to keep working on their concept, with plans to approach their local council and water body and also look for grants.

WIKYD, from Blacktown Girls High School, on Darug Country, were awarded the Secondary Champion for their platform ‘CrediYouth’, a system where young people in their area who experience financial barriers can earn credits through volunteer work in order to access opportunities.

The team has been encouraged to start making their idea a reality, starting with their school before branching out into the wider Blacktown community, having refined their website to be more user-friendly - although the team also has plans in that space.

“Currently it’s a website and we want to make it into an app so it’s more accessible to more users and the youth, because when it’s an app it’s easier than signing into a website every time,” team member Yashika Bhardwai said.

If they can move‘CrediYouth’ from concept to reality, WIKYD has high hopes that it can create genuine change in young peoples’ lives.

“I think 10 years from now, if CrediYouth becomes a real thing," team member Devika Arun Pai said. "I see a more connected community, with so many different groups; companies, organisations, schools, young people, a network that’s truly sustainable."

NSW Department of Education Secretary, Murat Dizdar, presented the awards to the 20 grand finalists selected for the grand final event, held over three days from 10–12 November at Parramatta.

“Reaching the Game Changer Challenge grand final is an outstanding achievement, and every team should be incredibly proud of the creativity, commitment and persistence that has brought them here,” Mr Dizdar said.

“These students have taken on some of the most complex challenges facing our communities and our world – challenges that would daunt many adults. They have demonstrated remarkable empathy, curiosity and determination, working collaboratively to turn ambitious ideas into potential solutions.

“This year’s challenges have showcased the extraordinary possibilities of young minds – from creating native bee corridors and finding innovative ways to save lives during bushfires, to ensuring young Australians have a voice in decisions that affect their future, even before they are old enough to vote.

“The Game Changer Challenge is a wonderful demonstration of what happens when we give students the opportunity to think boldly, challenge convention and make a difference.”

Returning schools made a big impact at this year’s grand final, with Parramatta High – which won the Secondary competition in 2025 – given the Canva Force for Good Award, while Auburn Girls High School were awarded a new prize for 2026 from the University of Technology Sydney for their platform that gives young people a place to raise issues in their community and provide input into decision making processes.

Primary champions in 2024, Pacific Palms Public School, received the UNICEF Voice of Impact Award for their app to support young people experiencing poverty, while the recipients of last year’s Teamwork Award, South Grafton Public School, were this year presented with the Prototype Award for continuing to refine and develop their concept to be used within their community.

Inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10, the 2026 challenge was aimed at creating solutions to reduce inequality within and among communities.

Teams explored innovative ways to address inequalities and discrimination and empower individuals and communities to achieve sustainable development to make the planet better for all.

Game Changer Challenge is supported by Principal Design Partner Canva, Industry Partners Unicef, HP, Winc Education, Museum of Australian Democracy, Intel, Education Perfect, Hayes Group, Apple, Sydney Water, Woolworths, ABC Education, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Times, Google for Education, Tomra Cleanaway, Compnow, Arludo, Taronga Zoo, KPMG, UTS Apps Lab and event partner Novotel.