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Jobs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are growing twice as fast as non-STEM occupations.

Research shows we need to reach students by age 15 to influence their long term participation in STEM.

The Australian STEM Video Game Challenge seeks to:

ENGAGE students in STEM subjects

ENABLE students to develop real-world skills

EMPOWER more students to choose STEM careers.

Teams of 1-4 students design and develop a video game based on a given theme

Team mentors support students with curriculum-aligned resources

Entries are judged by teachers and industry experts

Exciting prizes for winning entries

The 2026 challenge

2026 theme

Ocean

This year we want you to take a deep dive into the ‘ocean’.

Important dates for the 2026 challenge

  • Team registrations close at 9pm (AEST) Friday 7 August, 2026
  • Submissions close at 9pm (AEST) Wednesday 9 September, 2026
  • Judging commences Friday 18 September, 2026
  • Online winner announcement and showcase Tuesday 24 November, 2026
Challenge information

Teaching resources

We want to make it easy for you to get involved in the Challenge!

We have designed teacher resources to guide you through all the essential components of creating a submission with a 10-week unit plan, lesson plans and activities.

The secondary student resources are designed to support students working autonomously and follow a similar design to the secondary teacher resources.

Primary teachers Secondary teachers Secondary students

Prizes for winners

A custom hoodie featuring artwork from your game.

This year's prize sponsors:

2025 Winners

Take a look at winning entries to inspire your team and learn about the challenge.

Platinum sponsors

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