Big Ideas On the Road
Powered by Future Anything, the Big Ideas Challenge is a fast-paced and hands-on day of listening, learning, and doing, culminating in teams of students pitching their own innovative solutions to complex local issues.
In 2022, Future Anything took the Big Ideas Challenge on the road along Australia’s East Coast.
Over a thousand students in Years 6-10 heard from some of Australia’s most inspiring changemakers as they shared stories of their own entrepreneurial journeys.
Over the course of these fast and fun days, students developed their entrepreneurial thinking and human-centred design skills by ideating, prototyping and then pitching real world solutions to the problems that matter to them and their communities.
Bending the Future, from Townsville to Sydney
The Roadshow kicked off with the Townsville Big Ideas Youth Challenge, led by Smart Precinct NQ and supported by James Cook University and a host of local partners and supporters.
The Roadshow then moved on to New South Wales with events in Sydney and Parramatta and a special event held in partnership with the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta.
Queensland students were next up to flex their enterprise thinking muscles with Big Ideas Challenges in Logan, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Mackay.
Collaborating with others with cool ideas
A massive 94% of students who participated in the Big Ideas Roadshow said they would recommend the event to others, with 80% saying they felt like they learned more about entrepreneurship and problem solving, 81% feeling that they benefited from working together with people who also have cool ideas, and 75% saying they’re excited to take their idea out of the classroom and into the real world.
Students said they picked up practical skills relating to entrepreneurship, communication, collaboration, and innovation with a student from Immanuel Lutheran College commenting “[I learned] how to work with new people under pressure”.
Other students added “[I learned] how to develop an innovative idea from the roots to make change” and “[I learned] how a big idea can become reality with hard work and support.”
Never create boundaries
The young people also felt that they built broader life skills that will set them in good stead for the future.
One student said “[I learned that] the only regret you’ll ever have is not trying”, while another added “[I learned to] think big and never create boundaries. Explore and learn.”
Building enterprising mindsets across Australia
The events were hosted by Future Anything with schools in each region invited to participate in the Challenges at no charge, thanks to the support of many host schools and partners, including QUT, City of Parramatta, Western Sydney University and more.
Nicole Dyson, CEO and Founder of Future Anything said “It was brilliant to be able to share the Future Anything Big Ideas Challenge experience with so many young people in 2022. Students and teachers from over 80 schools along Australia’s East Coast prototyped thousands of innovative ideas, many of which really do have the potential to bend the future.”
Nic added “More importantly than the social enterprise ideas they generated, our young innovators were supported to unlock their personal passions, build enterprising mindsets and understand their own potential to make meaningful change in their own lives and communities. ”
Future Anything is seeking partners to bring the Big Ideas Challenge Roadshow to new regions in 2023. If you’d like to explore bringing the event to your school or region in 2023, contact Nicole Dyson, Founder & CEO, Future Anything at hello@futureanything.com
