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Since it began, new and exciting ideas for practical, physical sustainability have come thick and fast from the Game Changer Challenge.

Now in 2026, teams are being tested with the wicked problem of ‘Creating fairer and more connected communities, where people, planet and place thrive together.’

With its focus on connection and opportunity for all, NSW Department of ����vlog���� Secretary, Murat Dizdar, says he is intrigued to see what students come up with.

“Equity and opportunity are not abstract ideals in public education—they are our daily work,” Mr Dizdar said.

“The Game Changer Challenge gives students the chance to lead that work, bringing fresh thinking and real solutions to some of the most complex challenges facing our communities.”

“Students who take part in Game Changer already have impressive tools at hand that they can build upon as they tackle this problem.

“They are at the heart of their community simply by being part of their local school and this year’s problem will extend them as they work with their peers to come up with innovative solutions.”

The multi award-winning Game Changer Challenge is one of the marquee offerings of NSW Department of ����vlog����’s ground-breaking Inspire program, which is available in all NSW public schools and provides an unmatched high potential and gifted education opportunity across the creative, physical academic and emotional domains.

With such a broad-ranging and civics-oriented wicked problem, the Game Changer Challenge has introduced four Areas of Inquiry for 2026.

Teams will be asked to choose one of the following, allowing them to target their focus without narrowing their thinking:

• Active citizenship and participation

• Living well together: community, belonging and wellbeing

• People, place and planet

• Technology, systems and the future of connectivity

As with last year, all teams will participate in the first and second phases where they produce an online portfolio and then participate in the design sprint to produce a video pitch.

A new ‘test and refine’ process has been introduced between qualifying and the Grand Final for the top 20 teams before they head to Parramatta in November.

In 2025, the Game Changer Challenge had a record number of participants, with nearly 3,000 students embarking on a design thinking journey.

This year’s wicked problem is inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Number 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries.

For more information on this year’s Game Changer Challenge head to our website page.