In a showcase that truly sparked circuits and ignited imaginations, Brisbane Catholic Education’s (BCE) 2025 STEM ‘Make a Difference’ (MAD) Competition celebrated the brilliant minds of students who dared to solve for good (Wednesday, 17 September). From simple solutions that prevent gutter pollution from reaching Australian beaches and rivers, to virtual games that support the brain function of people with Alzheimer’s, BCE students have created inventions that will truly ‘Make a Difference!’
At the 2025 STEM MAD Showcase, BCE students competed for top awards across five categories: Primary, Secondary, Future is STEM, People’s Choice, and the coveted Executive Director Award.
Winning projects from across the 120 plus school teams include: - Primary STEM, proudly sponsored by Australian Catholic University (ACU) and BCE - Family Press, St Joseph’s School, Bardon.
- Secondary STEM, proudly sponsored by Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and BCE - Apollo, Assisi Catholic College, Upper Coomera.
- Future is STEM Award, proudly sponsored by Edtech Group and BCE – SQUIBBS Quantum Elite, Marymount College, Burleigh Waters.
- People's Choice Award(s) - TECR – Turtle Eggs Conservation Robot, St Mary’s School, Laidley, and Natures Fortress, St Finbarr’s School, Ashgrove and Our of the Sacred School, Heart Waiben.
- Executive Director's Award, proudly sponsored by BCE – Project Melatron, St Mary’s College, Maryborough.
Taking out the Primary STEM category St Joseph’s School Bardon’s project The Family Press impressed judges with its empathy-driven design and practical application. St Joseph’s School, Bardon student Edith said, “the idea started when my great grandfather Stanley moved into an aged-care facility more than an hour away”. Using AI, the Family Press generates a newspaper of what families has been up to each week, creating an easy way generations can stay connected. BCE Lead Education Advisor Rochelle Smith said the event attracted nearly 50 schools and over 100 student teams, making this year’s competition BCE’s biggest competition yet and you’re invited! “The standard of projects at this year’s BCE STEM MAD Student Showcase has been nothing short of exceptional,” she said. “Our students continue to amaze us with their creativity, critical thinking, and commitment to ‘Making a Difference’. “Their work is a powerful reminder that science, technologies, mathematics and faith can walk hand in hand.” Rochelle said the recent City-Country STEM partnership between St Finbarr’s School, Ashgrove, St Thomas More College, Sunnybank, and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Waiben was a powerful example of how STEM MAD could bring together diverse communities in meaningful ways. The partnership sees students tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing Zenadth Kes (also known as the Torres Strait Islands). “This collaboration not only bridges city and country but also reflects a deep respect for and connection to First Nations perspectives,” Rochelle said. “It’s a beautiful expression of our shared Catholic identity, students designed by God, designing for good, with and for their communities. “I would like to congratulate all teams, you didn’t just build solutions; you’ve built hope for the future.” Rochelle also thanked sponsors, Australian Catholic University, Queensland University of Technology, Edtech Group, for their generous support of this year’s competition. “Also, a big thank you to our keynote speaker Dr Karl Kruszelnicki who inspired our students to see themselves as part of the solution to the world’s emerging issues,” she said. The Primary STEM, Secondary STEM, Future is STEM, and Executive Director’s Award winners will receive bursaries to attend STEM MAD National in Adelaide in November. For more information about the STEM MAD National competition click here. For more information about the City to Country partnership click here. About BCE’s STEM MAD Competition: The STEM MAD Showcase is a celebration of student learning designed to acknowledge and promote STEM learning initiatives that address ‘real-world’ problems and demonstrate the values of Catholic Schools; encouraging students to ‘Make A Difference’ (MAD) in the world by acting for justice and the common good. 
St Joseph's School, Bardon students take out the Primary STEM category. ©Brisbane Catholic Education (2025).
©Brisbane Catholic Education (2025).
©Brisbane Catholic Education (2025).
©Brisbane Catholic Education (2025).
©Brisbane Catholic Education (2025).