Industry partnerships
The Game Changer Challenge has a demonstrated reputation for bringing together a peer group of world-leading technology, media and innovation partners and offering them a unique opportunity to engage directly with and mentor our society’s future innovators and leaders.
With a range of engagement options for partners, the GCC offers significant opportunities to have a real impact on the next generation of designers, innovators and leaders and the teachers who mentor them.
Video - Industry partnerships at Game Changer Challenge (duration 1:44)
Sophie
We are at the Game Changer Challenge, we're on the final day, we've just announced the winners and it's been an incredible 3 days.
Amanda
Today is one of my favourite days of the year. We get to see these kids come up with some of the most incredible ideas you've ever heard to save the planet and it gives you hope for the future.
Megan
I've been really impressed with so many of the ideas that students have come up with and how they will impact the world and particularly their world and their local area.
Also, the feedback they've given us about their experience in using Canva. We've got representatives here today who are listening to the students and taking their ideas back to the product team to continue to develop it better for student use.
Sophie
Collaboration, leadership, teamwork, solutions and outcomes.
They're all skills that employers are looking for. I think these will all really benefit them as they go forward.
Robert
Students are already able to do things like prototype with not just AI, but computer vision and other impressive technologies. They're doing that in such a deep way and that's what I'm really taking away, that we can talk to our students and young people, like people that have a really sound idea of what their future is all about and are able to really think these things through at a high level.
Shahe
I think opportunities like this are hugely important where they can be heard by real decision makers and people from the industry and also receive advice and mentoring. Keep iterating those ideas in ways that might actually work. I think they'll go away feeling super excited that they might actually be able to create real change.
Amanda
It has been so much fun, and I cannot encourage you to be a part of the Game Changer Challenge more strongly. Everybody should be a part of this. Everybody should be inspired by these incredible young people because the world is in safe hands.
[End transcript]
Be part of a team that
Helps close the equity gap for regional and rural schools
Supports teachers and develops cross-curricular resource aids
Led the introduction of design thinking methodologies into classroom settings
Helps turn winning, game changing ideas into a reality
Supports students to achieve real social impact in their schools and broader communities.
Partner benefits
Receive a personalised media kit with photos, suggested copy and digital assets to promote and publicise your involvement across your brand’s channels
A unique opportunity to connect with our executives and award-winning service-delivery teams
Join a peer group of media, innovation and mentorship experts
Access opportunities to engage with deeply-involved, motivated NSW public school students
Ask the Experts
Ask the Experts is a dedicated area at the grand final where students are encouraged to break out of their teams and learn alongside other students by engaging with industry partners to receive advice on their idea and learn skills. This is a less-structured approach to exchanging ideas and receiving advice that speaks to the openness of design thinking and finding inspiration in all interactions. By encouraging students to speak about their ideas, it also helps strengthen pitching and prototyping skills.
During the idea exchange experts can:
Introduce the new technology or skill
Educate students on how to use the technology or skill
Try out what they have learnt and receive feedback
Apply the technology or skill to the GCC
Principal Design Partner: Canva
In 2025, the department selected Canva as the Principal Design Partner for the Game Changer Challenge, recognising Canva’s deep alignment with the Challenge’s purpose and its proven capacity to support large-scale, student-centred innovation. As an established platform used widely across NSW public schools, Canva was chosen for its ability to seamlessly integrate design thinking, collaboration and creative communication into authentic learning experiences.
This partnership ensured that all participating teams had access to high-quality, accessible design tools and resources that supported every stage of the Challenge, from ideation through to final presentation. Canva’s role as Principal Design Partner strengthened the Challenge’s design integrity, enabled consistent and professional student outputs, and reinforced the department’s commitment to equipping students with contemporary, real-world skills in creativity, communication, and digital literacy.
Canvanauts for a Day
As part of the 2025 partnership, Canva awarded the Canva Force for Good Award to the Sustainable Sloths from Oakhill Drive Public School. The team’s prize was a Canvanauts for a Day experience, providing students with a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how a global technology company works.
Hosted at Canva’s Sydney headquarters, the experience immersed students in Canva’s culture, mission, and creative processes. The day included a guided office tour, opportunities to meet and learn from Canva designers, engineers, and educators, and hands-on design workshops where students worked directly with Canva experts. Students also participated in interactive design thinking activities, shared feedback with Canva’s product teams, and took part in informal conversations about creativity, leadership, and future pathways in technology and design. The experience concluded with shared reflections, team keepsakes, and recognition as official “Canvanauts for a Day,” making it a memorable and inspiring extension of their Game Changer Challenge journey.
Our partners
Contact
Contact the Business Engagement team at be@det.nsw.edu.au for more information, or if you would like to get your organisation involved!