Illuminate Challenge 

Now That's Smart Thinking

Illuminate - Wee Waa High School Challenge Monday 5th - 9th September, 2022 Following the successful primary schools illuminate the day in Narrabri on Tuesday 30th August, the illuminate education team made their way to Wee Waa High School (WWHS), this time for a week-long challenge. 

Students in Year 7 and 8 from WWHS participated in the challenge, supported by the fabulous Stage 4 staff and made possible with the contributions from local community members for mentoring and pitch deck judging. Similarly to illuminate the day, the week-long illuminate challenge is based on problem solving and design thinking. 

To start the week, the students were posed the task of building an idea that would help the Wee Waa township be a community that works together. Students reflected on values and ideas they cared about in their school and town community to come up with solutions for the task. Each team was given a hypothetical $5000 to start their idea. 

Throughout the week, students practiced skills in public speaking, writing, presenting and sharing ideas. Ideas blossomed, collaboration increased and perseverance was tested.

The students appreciated the support from community mentors - thank you to Ethan Towns (Former WWHS and UNE PDH Student), Roxanne Whitton (Wee Waa Newsagency), Ali Smith (freelance journalist), Kim Rozendaal (Rotarian and KR Property Real Estate Agent) and Tennille Palmer (new local cafe owner). These fabulous mentors were pivotal in providing positive support and encouragement for the team's ideas over the week. 

Key to the successful end of the week was the reflection that took place each and every day. Adam (illuminate Education Founder) guided the students through this process to ensure that teams were consistently adjusting and improving their idea to ensure it was the best it could be for the Wee Waa community. 

Both the University of New England's Smart Region Incubator and Illuminate Education would like to extend their gratitude to Wee Waa High School for bringing the program to life - what a fabulous opportunity for Stage 4 students in Wee Waa. 

Written by Phoebe Wood, University of New England's Smart Region Incubator