Stories of Success and Impact | Moree Plains, NSW
Moree Plains, NSW | June 2022
Primary school students from across the Moree Plains spent one week tackling a real community challenge — and left with ideas that earned a $10,000 NSW government grant.
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Moree Plains, NSW
Presented in association with the University of New England’s SMART Region Incubator
In June 2022, primary school students from across the Moree Plains came together for one week for the illuminate Community Challenge. Their mission was to cultivate problem-solving and enterprising skills – and to shape their local region.
With the support of their mentors, students explored the core values they believed should define their community. From there, they proposed a range of solutions aimed at bringing those values to life – including initiatives to create safe spaces, promote healthy living, and celebrate the region’s connection to local Aboriginal culture.
As the Challenge drew to a close, students showcased their ideas to the community. Their presentations struck a chord. Local organisations pledged support for further exploration of the most promising concepts. The proposals put forward by Gravesend Public School students caught the attention of their local representative – leading to a $10,000 NSW government grant to turn their ideas into reality, with specific mention made of the depth of financial understanding shown by the students.
In the aftermath of this collaborative effort, the potential for positive change in Moree Plains shines brighter. These students are not only imagining a better future – they are actively working to shape it.
“[The illuminate Challenge] addresses many current real world issues and skills through effective and engaging curriculum. The students learn about understanding community values, solving real world problems, financial literacy, pitching an idea and working as part of a team; all vital skills for todays workplace and tomorrows. The students came up with an idea and developed it into a business because the illuminate team listened and supported them and their school community got behind them.”
Jackie Todd, Learning Leader, Gravesend Public School
Key Outcomes
- 10,000 NSW government grant secured following the student pitch
- Multiple local organisations pledged support for student proposals
- Financial literacy specifically noted by community representatives as exceptional
- Students from multiple primary schools across the Moree Plains region
- Returned two years later, with Year 1 students involved for a high-challenge learning environment.