senior Program

Hackathons

Think. Solve. Build
Hackathons

Skills for learning, life and the world of work

Hackathons

TRIPOD secondary school hackathons help schools bring future-ready learning to life across Years 7 to 12.
Students tackle real issues, build practical responses, test their ideas and present what they believe should happen next.

Whether you start with one cohort or run a whole-school Hackathon, the model creates a shared experience that is active, relevant, curriculum-connected and memorable.

One big question. Same 5D model. Tailored to your year level.
THE 5D MODEL
Every TRIPOD Hackathon uses the same 5D model.
Drop In

Set the challenge. Build energy.

Decode

Understand the real problem.

Design

Collaborate on the strongest idea.

Develop

Build, test and improve.

Deliver

Present what you created.

Students do more than talk about problems. They work together to turn a big question into something they can build, test and share.

Why a Hackathon?

A Hackathon is an industry-style innovation sprint that connects curriculum to real-world problem-solving. Students investigate a meaningful challenge, build a visible response, test it, improve it and pitch what they created.

Future-ready learning

TRIPOD Hackathons give Years 7 to 12 students the opportunity to explore the big questions shaping their future, build real-world solutions and practise the Ethical and Intercultural Capabilities schools want to see in action.

We bring the whole experience:
  Expert facilitators
  All materials and student resources
  A Hack Box for each team
  Slides, prompts and activity guides
  Pre and post lesson support for teachers
  Student reflection activities
  A whole lot of action, energy and fun

Perfect for kicking off or wrapping up the year!

Choose a challenge for your students

What problem will your students solve today?

Offline, Not Alone

If online connection changes, how do young people still find belonging?

Years 7–8: Build a connection experience for students your age.

Years 9–10: Redesign how young people find belonging when online spaces change.

VCE & VM: Create a youth connection system for a real school or community audience.

Under 18. Not Invisible.

You may not have a vote yet, but how can you still create change?

Years 7–8: Make student voice visible on an issue you care about.

Years 9–10: Build an influence campaign that moves people to act.

VCE & VM: Create a stakeholder-ready advocacy prototype for a real decision-maker.

Human After All

When technology can do more than ever, what must humans become brilliant at?

Years 7–8: What makes humans brilliant in a world of smart technology?

Years 9–10: Redesign how young people discover and build future-ready skills.

VCE & VM: Challenge outdated careers education and build a new future-readiness model.

The New Australian Dream

If the old Australian dream no longer works for everyone, what should the new one look like?

Years 7–8: What does a good future life need?

Years 9–10: Build a life system that balances money, work, housing and wellbeing.

VCE & VM: Redesign the systems that help young people build security in a changing economy.

2035: Still Livable?

What must our community change now so young people can still thrive here in 2035?

Years 7–8: Build a future community that protects people.

Years 9–10: Redesign one local place to survive future pressure.

VCE & VM: Create a resilient community solution that balances cost, equity and implementation.

Your World. Your Hack.

What is happening in your school or community right now that students believe needs to change?

Years 7–8: Solve a real issue students recognise in their school world.

Years 9–10: Build a response to a current school or community challenge.

VCE & VM: Co-design a live brief connected to your students, community or pathways program.

Why schools choose Hackathons
Future-facing without being abstract

Students explore issues they are already thinking about: AI, identity, work, housing, climate, community, voice and belonging.

Strong wellbeing and belonging fit

Challenges explore connection, student voice, identity, respectful relationships, future pathways and the kind of school culture where students feel seen, heard and ready for what comes next.

A whole-school option: Human After All

One question. Every year level builds a different answer.

Years 7–8

Build a hands-on challenge that shows a human skill technology cannot fully replace, such as empathy, judgement, creativity or teamwork.

Years 9–10

Redesign a careers or skills experience that helps young people explore strengths, practise capabilities and see more than one future pathway.

VCE & VM

Create a new future-readiness model that challenges outdated careers education and shows how young people can prove what they can do.

Peer-to-peer learning can be built in, with older students testing, mentoring and showcasing with younger year levels.

Talk to us to design an option that fits your students, your priorities and your budget.

Pricing

Starting at $20 per student + GST.
Minimum numbers apply.

Flexible formats: 2 hours, half or 3/4 day.
Flexible delivery: One cohort or a whole-school Hack.

Talk to us to design an option that fits your students, your priorities and your budget.
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Program Information

  • This program is available for students from Years 7 to 12, including VCE and VCE VM where relevant.
  • Hackathons can be delivered as a 2-hour sprint, half-day or 3/4-day experience.
  • The challenge language, facilitation and final outcomes are tailored for Years 7–8, Years 9–10 and Years 11–12 / VCE VM.
  • The program can be delivered to one cohort, multiple year levels or as a whole-school Hack.
  • Peer-to-peer learning can be built in, with older students testing, mentoring and showcasing with younger year levels.
  • A gymnasium, hall or large open learning space will be required. Classrooms can be used for smaller groups.
  • Access to power points is required.
  • Access to a projector is required.
  • Student supervision by teachers is required throughout the session.
  • Expert facilitators lead the experience.
  • All materials and student resources are supplied.
  • Each team receives a Hack Box to support the challenge.
  • Slides, prompts and activity guides are included.
  • Pre and post lesson support for teachers and student reflection activities are included.
  • Challenges can connect to future-ready capabilities, student voice, real-world problem-solving, Ethical Capability and Intercultural Capability.
tripod logo

Years: 7-12

Curriculum Links

Curriculum links can be made across English, Humanities, Civics and Citizenship, Economics and Business, Health and Wellbeing, Design and Technologies, Digital Technologies and the Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social, Ethical and Intercultural Capabilities.

For Years 11–12 and VCE VM, the sprint supports applied skills including communication, collaboration, problem-solving, planning, initiative, enterprise, resilience and adaptability.

  • VCE VM Work Related Skills
  • VCE VM Personal Development Skills
  • VCE VM Literacy
  • VCE VM Numeracy
This program can be customised to meet your school’s desired learning outcomes.

Program Enquiry

Interested? Send us a message
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