Mayor's Telstra Innovation Awards

Council is proud to partner with Telstra for the biennial Mayor's Telstra Innovation Awards.

The awards challenge local secondary school students to come up with an idea for a new technology or a fresh and creative use of an existing technology, such as:

• a new app, new concepts in social media, a design and engineering project, gaming technology or robotics
• a smarter phone, watch or digital camera
• a new idea for transport, health, agriculture, cyber security, conservation, construction, energy or recreation
• the use of existing technology in a new way to solve a community, environmental or business challenge.

The possibilities are endless, and that is what makes these awards so exciting!

Submit your phase one entry

Enter now

Entry to phase one is now open and will close at 11:59 PM on Monday, 23 March 2026.

Applicants will be informed before the end of Term 1 if they have been selected to move through to Phase 2 of the awards program. Phase 2 involves working with industry mentors to further develop their concept.

Entry forms and resources

 Completed entry and consent forms must be submitted as part of your application.

Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Awards Big Ideas Challenge

The 2026 Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Awards Big Ideas Challenge is a fast-paced, hands-on day of listening, learning, and doing powered by City of Moreton Bay and Future Anything. It culminates in teams of students pitching their own innovative solutions to address a key community challenge in a 'Shark Tank'-style experience.

The event promises to be an engaging, real-world learning opportunity for young people in Years 9–12. Students will hear from some of Australia’s most inspiring changemakers and actively develop their enterprising thinking and human-centred design skills.

Register now

Upcoming key dates

Purpose of the awards

The awards aim to:

• nurture the knowledge of the young people in our region
• encourage students to be innovative and collaborative by encouraging teamwork between students
• highlight the importance of studying in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields building a knowledge-based economy in the region
• foster a culture of entrepreneurship amongst young people in the region by connecting them to opportunities, e.g., access to mentors in the business community and other support channels. 

This provides students with valuable experience and knowledge regarding entrepreneurship at a local level. It encourages students to take risks by making their own decisions to explore different opportunities.

This project directly aligns with Council’s Regional Economic Development Strategy 2020 - 2041 and two of the strategy’s four pillars - Industry Advancement and Knowledge, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

How the awards work

Entry is open to students from years 9 to 12 who are attending school in City of Moreton Bay council area.  Students can enter as individuals or as part of a team of two or three students.  Teams must consist of students from the same school.

Schools can have multiple teams enter and must appoint a school coordinator to act as a central point of contact. Each coordinator can look after a maximum of three teams; additional teams must have another coordinator.

The awards take place in phases.

In phase one (which opens in the first week of Term 1), students prepare their initial idea and submit their entry prior to the end of the term. Successful entries progress to phase two, where teams workshop their concepts with leading industry mentors throughout the early part of Term 2.

Students enter their final concepts for judging later in the term. Finalists are selected from the phase 2 entries and are invited to present a live pitch at the awards ceremony, which takes place late in Term 2.

For more information about the program, please email mayorstelstrainnovationawards@moretonbay.qld.gov.au.

Prizes and awards

Winning entries share over $10,000 in prizes.

Prizes are awarded to first, second and third-placing teams and their schools. One entrant will also receive the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

All finalist teams receive certificates.

Become a mentor

We need industry leaders who can help ignite imaginations. Professionals with the skills and expertise to help our student entrepreneurs build and develop an innovative technological concept.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor, complete an expression of interest or email mayorstelstrainnovationawards@moretonbay.qld.gov.au.

Past award winners

Winning teams for 2024

First place

Bray Park State High School Mitchell, An and Louise with their Project ‘LAM’

This innovative website uses AI technology to allow teenage boys to express themselves freely through a live chat AI tool. The tool then directs the young men to services where they can seek more specialised help.

Second place

Bray Park State High School Tyler, Corey and Omar with their Project ‘Project BrayGreen’

This project uses gamified recycling bins linked to an app to encourage students to recycle and earn points which can be redeemed for goods made from recycled materials.

Third place

Genesis Christian College Amelia and Talitha with their Project ‘Share 2 Care’

Locals are encouraged to donate excess fresh produce from home gardens to local foodbanks through an app that can arrange collection and distribution.

Emerging Entrepreneur Award

Bray Park State High School Makayla with her Project ‘Safe in Space’

This project uses a special space debris collector to remove space junk and recycle into medicine or on-sell to other space exploration companies or collectors.

Congratulations also to the finalists from Albany Creek State High School, St Benedict’s College and North Lakes College.

Winning teams for 2023

First place

Kimberley Chambers-Tatters from Genesis Christian College.

Innovation:  Telstra Shelter Assist (TSA).

Second place

Chloe Robinson, Helana Kranz and Isabella Ham from Grace Lutheran College, Caboolture.

Innovation:  Pet Tracker and Harness.

Third place

Ainsley Gilbert and Katara Mataroa from Albany Creek State High School.

Innovation:  Stall Spotter.

Emerging Entrepreneur

Corbon Boyle from Horizon’s College of Learning and Enrichment. 

Innovation: BiomeMaster.  

To read more about the winning teams visit Winners of the 2023 Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Awards announced!.

Awards 2023 wrap up

View the video transcript.