STEM MAD Success
STEM MAD is a national competition run by Catholic Network Australia that involves teams of students applying STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) knowledge and principles in projects to Make A Difference (MAD) in the world by acting for justice and the common good.
The challenge sees students, working together as a team of four, develop solutions that align with the call-to-action in the Papal Encyclical Laudato Si’: On care for our common home. This year, six teams entered the primary school competition, representing three schools: St John’s School, Silkwood; Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School, Waiben; and Waiben’s STEM Country-City Partners in Brisbane, St Finbarr’s Primary School, Ashgrove.
Students are judged on the following criteria: design process, innovation, STEM disciplinary understanding and skills, making a difference, communication, and teamwork. Unique to our CEDC competition is that each team has to take part in a live ‘Shark Tank’ session where judges ask them a series of questions about their pitch and projects. Each team also submits a pitch video up to 2 ½ minutes long. The teams are supported by their teachers who guide them in their STEM projects.
The 2026 STEM MAD winners are:
1st: Waipi Rescue: a project on tackling the issue of illegal fishing boats in the Torres Strait. Students: TK Campbell, Meleisha Gela, Luka Hytten, Nika Rajabzadeh – Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School, Waiben and St Finbarr’s Primary School, Ashgrove (partnership).
2nd: TSI Pest Control: a cane toad trap solution. Students: J’Varni Sabatino, Walter SeeKee, Amber Zhu and Lucas Sky – Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School, Waiben and St Finbarr’s Primary School, Ashgrove (partnership).
3rd: Fire Stick Team: Students: Ruby Faulks, George Naylor, Gabriella Andrejic and Jorji Tanti – St John’s School, Silkwood.
These students are now eligible to compete in the national competition to be held in Sydney on 26 November, as part of a showcase of student innovation and commitment. This is the second year in a row in which students from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School, Waiben will have excelled on the national stage. We congratulate them, Principal David Graham, and their teachers on achieving such a great result and showing to the whole country the excellence and innovative thinking that results from the world-class education that we offer here in Far North Queensland.