An entrepreneurship program for school students is aiming to equip young people with the skills and traits needed for the 'jobs of tomorrow'.
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The Upstart Challenge is returning to Ballarat in 2021 and is calling on schools to register to be involved.
The challenge takes students through a journey learning critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and effective communication skills while developing an idea to address community and world problems.
Upstart co-founder and director Heather Kelly said she looked forward to working with Ballarat's teachers and young people to empower the next generation.
"Future-proofing our young people has always been at the heart of our mission at Upstart, and living through a global pandemic has highlighted further why entrepreneurial education is so important," she said.
Teachers deliver the program with ready-made resources in schools and shortlisted student teams join the Upstart Accelerator and live pitch event.
Future-proofing our young people has always been at the heart of our mission at Upstart, and living through a global pandemic has highlighted further why entrepreneurial education is so important.
- Heathy Kelly, Upstart co-founder
Shortlisted students work with industry mentors and pitch their ideas to positively change the world, with a chance to win cash prizes as part of the process.
Student pitches last year included ideas for a community-based physical activity program called Sports For Kids, a rescue watch to prevent drowning deaths and an electricity generator using the current of water.
Loreto College Year 10 student Beth Wright won the challenge with her idea to create an app that scans barcodes on beauty products and provides information about the environmental impact of the product.
Ms Kelly told The Courier last year the program was a way of giving a voice to young people and showing them what they said was listened to by adults.
Victorian government and Buninyong Bendigo Community Bank funding means the program is subsidised for schools in the Ballarat region.
Schools are encouraged to register for an information session on May 5. To find out more, or register a class visit upstarthq.com.au/upstart-challenge/.
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Rochelle Kirkham
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
