Hume City Council | Victoria

Since 2017, the illuminate Challenge has been a powerful collaboration between illuminate Education Australia and Hume City Council in Victoria—one that has empowered hundreds of high school students across the region to become active contributors to their community’s future. This long-standing partnership has not only transformed student learning but has also become a vital part of the region’s economic development strategy.

Each year, students from all high schools in the Hume region come together to participate in the illuminate Challenge, working alongside the Council’s Economic Development Department and other local stakeholders. The challenge is designed to immerse students in real-world problem-solving, giving them the tools and confidence to tackle complex issues that matter to their community.

Themes are carefully co-designed with input from local government and community leaders. These themes have included co-designing adult learning opportunities, reigniting tourism in post-COVID Melbourne, building sustainable communities, and promoting digital inclusion. Students are not just learning about these issues—they’re actively proposing solutions that are shaping the region’s future.

The impact of this initiative is both immediate and long-lasting. Insights generated by students during the challenge are regularly fed into Hume’s regional economic development strategies, providing a fresh and authentic youth perspective that is often missing from traditional planning processes. In fact, the success of the program has created a queue of local stakeholders eager to collaborate with Hume City Council and illuminate Education Australia to bring student voice into their own strategic initiatives.

But the ripple effect doesn’t stop there.

Within schools, the illuminate Challenge has sparked a vibrant culture of innovation and peer leadership. Past participants often return to support new teams, drawn by the dynamic learning environment and the tangible impact they experienced. This peer-to-peer mentorship strengthens the learning outcomes and fosters a sense of ownership and pride among students.

Teachers, too, have embraced the program’s authentic, project-based learning model. The challenge aligns with the Australian Curriculum and supports the development of general capabilities such as critical thinking, collaboration, and ethical understanding. It also provides a platform for educators to assess student growth in real-world contexts, while building their own capacity to deliver engaging, future-focused learning experiences.

For Hume City Council, the illuminate Challenge has become a flagship youth engagement initiative—one that not only builds skills and confidence in young people but also strengthens the region’s social and economic fabric. It’s a model of how local government and education can work hand-in-hand to empower the next generation of leaders and innovators.

Our Hume partnership stands out as a shining example of what’s possible when student voice is not just heard, but actively integrated into community development. It’s a story of collaboration, creativity, and commitment to a better future—led by the young people who will inherit it.

For councils, schools, and community organisations looking to engage youth in meaningful, future-focused ways, the Hume City Council experience offers a compelling blueprint. When students are given the opportunity to lead, supported by passionate educators and visionary local leaders, the results are nothing short of transformative.