Mayor's Telstra Innovation Awards

Council is proud to partner with Telstra for the Mayor's Telstra Innovation Awards.

The awards challenge local secondary school students to come up with an idea for a new technology or a fresh and creative use of an existing technology such as:

  • a new app, new concepts in social media, a design and engineering project, gaming technology or robotics
  • a smarter phone, watch or digital camera
  • a new idea for transport, health, agriculture, cyber security, conservation, construction, energy or recreation
  • the use of existing technology in a new way to solve a community, environmental or business challenge.

The possibilities are endless and that is what makes these awards so exciting!

At the conclusion of the 2024 awards, the Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Awards will begin operating on a biennial basis. 

The next iteration of the awards will take place in 2026.

2026 Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Awards - Key dates

Phase one - January to April 2026
Tuesday 27 January Entries open 
Monday 23 March Phase one entries close at 11:59 PM
Monday 30 March
 Teams through to phase two announced
Thursday 2 April Final day of Term 1
Phase two - April to June 2026
Monday 20 April First day of Term 2
April to May Mentoring sessions x 4
Monday 1 June Phase two entries close at 11:59 PM
Monday 8 June Pitch night finalists announced
Final pitch - June 2026
Thursday 18 June Live pitch and awards ceremony
Friday 26 June Final day of Term 2

How the awards work

Entry is open to students from years 9 to 12 who are attending school in City of Moreton Bay council area.  Students can enter as individuals or as part of a team of two or three students.  Teams must consist of students from the same school.

Schools can have multiple teams enter and must appoint a school coordinator to act as a central point of contact. Each coordinator can look after a maximum of three teams, additional teams must have another coordinator.

The awards take place in phases.

In phase one (which opens in the first week of Term 1) students prepare their initial idea and submit their entry prior to the end of the term. Successful entries progress to phase two, where teams workshop their concepts with leading industry mentors throughout the early part of Term 2.

Students enter their final concepts for judging later in the term. Finalists are selected from the phase 2 entries and are invited to present a live pitch at the awards ceremony which takes place late in Term 2.

For more information about the program please email mtia@moretonbay.qld.gov.au.

Prizes and awards

Winning entries share over $10,000 in prizes.

Prizes are awarded to first, second and third-placing teams and their schools. One entrant will also receive the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

All finalist teams receive certificates.

Become a mentor

We need industry leaders who can help ignite imaginations. Professionals with the skills and expertise to help our student entrepreneurs build and develop an innovative technological concept.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor, complete an expression of interest or email mtia@moretonbay.qld.gov.au.

Resources and entry forms

Resources and materials for 2026 will be uploaded in late 2025.  We encourage schools to use the 2024 materials as a guide for what to expect in 2026. 

Purpose of the awards

The awards aim to:

  • nurture the knowledge of the young people in our region
  • encourage students to be innovative and collaborative by encouraging teamwork between students
  • highlight the importance of studying in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields building a knowledge-based economy in the region
  • foster a culture of entrepreneurship amongst young people in the region by connecting them to opportunities, e.g., access to mentors in the business community and other support channels. 

This provides students with valuable experience and knowledge regarding entrepreneurship at a local level. It encourages students to take risks by making their own decisions to explore different opportunities.

This project directly aligns with Council’s Regional Economic Development Strategy 2020 - 2041 and two of the strategy’s four pillars - Industry Advancement and Knowledge, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Past awards

The City of Moreton Bay’s Telstra Innovation Awards showcases Moreton Bay’s brightest young entrepreneurs.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 Awards.

Winning teams for 2024 

First place

Bray Park State High School Mitchell, An and Louise with their Project ‘LAM’

This innovative website uses AI technology to allow teenage boys to express themselves freely through a live chat AI tool. The tool then directs the young men to services where they can seek more specialised help.

Second place

Bray Park State High School Tyler, Corey and Omar with their Project ‘Project BrayGreen’

This project uses gamified recycling bins linked to an app to encourage students to recycle and earn points which can be redeemed for goods made from recycled materials.

Third place

Genesis Christian College Amelia and Talitha with their Project ‘Share 2 Care’

Locals are encouraged to donate excess fresh produce from home gardens to local foodbanks through an app that can arrange collection and distribution.

Emerging Entrepreneur Award

Bray Park State High School Makayla with her Project ‘Safe in Space’

This project uses a special space debris collector to remove space junk and recycle into medicine or on-sell to other space exploration companies or collectors.

Congratulations also to the finalists from Albany Creek State High School, St Benedict’s College and North Lakes College.

Winning teams for 2023

First place

Kimberley Chambers-Tatters from Genesis Christian College.

Innovation:  Telstra Shelter Assist (TSA).

Second place

Chloe Robinson, Helana Kranz and Isabella Ham from Grace Lutheran College, Caboolture.

Innovation:  Pet Tracker and Harness.

Third place

Ainsley Gilbert and Katara Mataroa from Albany Creek State High School.

Innovation:  Stall Spotter.

Emerging Entrepreneur

Corbon Boyle from Horizon’s College of Learning and Enrichment. 

Innovation: BiomeMaster.  

To read more about the winning teams visit Winners of the 2023 Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Awards announced!.

Awards 2023 wrap up

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View the video transcript. 

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