Young coding champs stand up to bullies

Queensland’s youngest coding champions have been honoured at an awards ceremony in Brisbane for creating outstanding digital solutions to tackle bullying and cyberbullying.

Education Minister Grace Grace, representing Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, congratulated the winners of the second annual Premier’s Creating Queensland’s Future coding competition.

“Queensland students are embracing digital literacy,” Ms Grace said.

“This year we received 215 entries from across the state – almost four times the number of entries received in 2017.

“We know that students who engage in coding and robotics are learning the skills and knowledge they need to participate successfully in a technology-based global economy.

“The Premier’s Creating Queensland’s Future coding competition is an opportunity for students to showcase their skills.

“The theme for this year’s coding competition was ‘Stand up to cyberbullies’, which supports our commitment to providing safe and respectful learning environments for students.”

Ms Grace said the competition asked students to demonstrate their understanding of coding and robotics to create a digital solution for cyberbullying.

“It was great so see so many creative and innovative ideas, with winning entries ranging from games and websites to interactive quizzes and apps,” she said.

“Queensland’s future is in good hands with students creating innovative, with digital solutions like these from our students.

“Entries were received from all over Queensland including, from as far north as Atherton in Far North Queensland to Moonie on the Western Downs.”

A winner, runner-up and team entry from each category received framed certificates and shared in $6000 of robotics or electronics prize kits.

The competition included four age group categories – Years 3 and 4; Years 5 and 6; Years 7 and 8; and Years 9 and 10. Students could enter as individuals or as team.

A full list of winners can be found below. More information about the Premier’s Creating Queensland’s Future can be found at:

http://advancingeducation.qld.gov.au/codingcounts/Pages/codingcompetition.aspx

Media contact: Emma Clarey – 0439 578 472

Premier’s Creating Queensland’s Future coding competition winners

Years 3 to 4 Individual Category Winner

Mariah Smith, Springfield Central State School

Years 3 to 4 Individual Category Runner Up

Micole Devinuwara, St Joseph's Primary School

Years 3 to 4 Team Category Winner

Team PJ, Paul Cheuk; Joshua Thillainathan, MacGregor State School

Years 5 to 6 Individual Category Winner

Aaron Wei, Indooroopilly State School

Years 5 to 6 Individual Category Runner Up

Jude Riley, Cooran State School

Years 5 to 6 Team Category Winner

Gotcha Back – Stand up to bullies, Jett Pitt; Lachlan Bangham, Eumundi State School

Years 7 to 8 Individual Category Winner

Isabella Clacherty, Ferny Grove State High School

Years 7 to 8 Individual Category Runner up

Blair MacKenzie, Varsity College

Years 7 to 8 Team Category Winner

Bully Blocker, Joshua Whitmore; Rohan van Klinken, Kelvin Grove State College

Years 9 to 10 Individual Category Winner

Charmaine Chan, Redeemer Lutheran College

Years 9 to 10 Individual Category Runner up

Ashleigh Pomeroy, St Margaret's Anglican Girls School

Years 9 to 10 Team Category Winner

Isabel and Eloise, Isabel Crockett; Eloise Walker, St Margaret's Anglican Girls School