Picture this: a world where students are creating better ways to recycle, developing programs to support people with disabilities, building entire operating systems and designing robots from the future — it may sound like a stretch, but this is exactly what students from all over Australia are doing every year. Welcome to the Young ICT Explorers competition, an annual event encouraging secondary school students across the country to solve real-world problems using technology.
Since 2015, Haileybury has been an active participant in the Young ICT Explorers competition, and the reasons behind Haileybury’s involvement are as varied as they are compelling. At its core, the competition represents a national platform for showcasing innovative applications of technology in addressing real-world challenges. For Haileybury students, it offers a unique opportunity to delve into an array of technological solutions, hone their programming skills, and contribute meaningfully to solving pressing societal issues.
The success of Haileybury in the Young ICT Explorers competition is a combination of talented students and supportive staff. Led by teachers Damian Del Vecchio and Gerard O’Dwyer, and through programs like Curious Minds, students engage in hands-on learning experiences that foster creativity, collaboration and critical thinking skills.
In March 2024, Milana (Year 9) was awarded the top prize in the 2023 Young ICT Explorer’s competition Years 7–8 division with her project titled Purple. By harnessing cutting-edge AI technology, Purple addresses the mental health needs of adolescents in Australia, offering a confidential and supportive platform for seeking assistance. Purple analyses user data to suggest suitable experiences from outside providers.
The app also uses brand new technology from Soul Machines to present Violet — your very own virtual friend that users can talk to through their microphone and camera.
“The inspiration for my project came from a personal interest in creating an AI app to help my generation deal with challenges being thrown at them. I’ve found that personally, I don’t find it very comfortable to go to adults or speak out when I feel pressure at school and in other areas of my life,” Milana shared.
“The anonymity and security of the app provides other people facing struggles in life with an outlet, knowing their data is safe and that there is no other person on the other side of the screen judging them.”
Initial submissions to the competition are judged on creativity, quality and completeness, complexity and documentation. Short listed teams from each state will then be invited to a virtual judging round where students present their project to a panel of industry experts.
Reflecting on her journey, Milana’s dedication to technology and innovation shines through. “As a previous Captain of STEM at my campus and a huge technology enthusiast, I’ve been interested in coding ever since I was 7, working my way through beginner coding challenges and slowly leaning into other programming languages as I moved forward. I joined DigiTech Explorers as soon as the opportunity came in Year 7.
“I’ve always known I wanted to be a doctor, and through my development of Purple my interest in the medical field has only increased. After Haileybury, I look forward to attending university and indulging myself in the study of medicine and endocrinology so I can become a specialist in the field one day.”