HackED delivers innovative solutions to community challenges

Western Australian secondary students put their creativity and entrepreneurial skills to work to develop new business ideas and tackle a range of community challenges during HackED 2016.

The event, led by SPUR, WA’s new location and innovation hub, powered by Landgate, was held at the Midland Town Hall yesterday and involved more than 120 secondary students from 12 schools. A team from Geraldton Grammar School also travelled to Midland for the event this year.

The students used data made available through WA’s Whole-of-Government Open Data Policy to develop their applications, websites and other creative projects.

SPUR General Manager Jodi Cant said the students impressed sponsors and judges with innovative solutions to some tough challenges and new business ideas.

“Governor Stirling Senior High School won the Best Hack prize for developing a bike safety game and John Calvin Christian College was awarded the Innovation prize for an idea to build a shark experience hotel,” Ms Cant said.

History featured strongly as a theme; Joseph Banks Secondary College worked on a historical sites app, Swan View Senior High School took out the MRA prize for an Aboriginal heritage map app; and Morley Senior High School came up with an idea for an interactive museum using augmented reality.

First time entrants Cecil Andrews Senior High School won Best Collaboration for their work on an historical walk game app.

Ms Cant thanked HackED 2016 sponsors Telstra, City of Swan, Bankwest, Esri Australia, NGIS, Ajilon, the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority (MRA), the Spatial Industries Business Association (SIBA), the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI) and Group Map.

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Note to editors

Landgate is Western Australia's primary source of land information and geographic data, providing the accuracy government, business and individuals rely on.

SPUR is the new location and innovation hub for Western Australia, powered by Landgate. Visit spur.wa.gov.au for further information.

Contact: Karen McPherson, Media and Ministerial Adviser

Phone: +61 (0)8 9273 7514 +61 (0)407 420 255

Email: karen.mcpherson@landgate.wa.gov.au