Maha Sinnathamby's
Ideas & Imagination
Award
Reimagine Springfield as a Futuristic City
Ideas & Imagination Promo Video
The Challenge
Reimagine Springfield as a Futuristic City.
Each year, the Maha Sinnathamby Ideas & Imagination Award calls all young innovators and thinkers!
Springfield is on a mission to become a cutting-edge, sustainable city, and we need your brilliant ideas! The Maha Sinnathamby Ideas & Imagination Award challenges young innovators to envision Springfield’s future – a city that’s smart, connected, and thriving.
Got a game-changing idea for technology, the environment, community, or something completely new? We want to hear it! Help us build a better Springfield for everyone.
Are you prepared to inspire change and be part of something transformative?
Express your interest for the 2026 challenge below and let your imagination guide us into the future!
Challenge Details
Delivery Mode
The Ideas & Imagination award will be delivered in person at the Pitch & Showcase Day Awards located at UniSQ D101 Auditorium, 37 Sinnathamby Blvd, Springfield Central.
Key Dates:
- Kick-Off Information Session Bus Tour – Wednesday, 5 August – 3:30pm – 5pm
- High School Hackathon Workshop – Saturday, 15 August – 9:00am-4pm
- Primary School Hackathon Workshop – Saturday, 15 August – 9:00am-12pm
- QUT Webinar (Virtual) – Wednesday, 19 August – 3:30pm-4:30pm
- Submission due – Monday, 31 August – 11:59pm
- Shortlist notified – Wednesday, 2 September
- Pitch & Showcase Day – Thursday, 10 September – 9am-12pm
- Winner Announced – Thursday, 10 September
Themes
Sustainability
Consider ideas for a cleaner city and a greener future. Think renewable energy, solar panels, wind turbines, waste management, new ways of recycling and composting, urban green spaces, green rooftops, and more!
Health and Wellbeing
Consider ideas that can contribute to a society where individuals lead healthier and more fulfilling lives. Should we consider more community health centres? Should we build more bike lanes?
Innovation & Smart Economy
Innovative ideas or business concepts that will supercharge the city. Think augmented reality tourism! Or how can technology improve traffic? Or maybe we need urban farming in Springfield?
Creativity
This is about giving you the creativity to come up with any idea that may not exactly meet the other themes or maybe an idea that takes all themes into consideration!
Who Can Get Involved
- Primary School and High School Students
- Individuals or a team of up to Four
Categories
- Lower Primary School (Year Prep-3)
- Upper Primary School (Year 4-6)
- Lower High School (Year 7-9)
- Upper High School (Year 10-12)
Prizes
Lower Primary School
Upper Primary School
Lower High School
Lower High School
Workshops
Kick off session and Hackathon workshop is available for both primary and high school students and covers a glimpse into what the award is all about.
Kick Off Session Bus Tour
- Date: Wednesday, 5 August 2026
- Time: 3:30pm – 5:00pm
- Location: Level 10, 145 Sinnathamby Blvd, Springfield Central
High School Hackathon Workshop
- Date: Saturday, 15 August 2026
- Time: 9:00am – 4:00pm
- Arrival: From 8:30am onwards
- Location: Mater Education Hub, 95 Southern Cross Circuit, Springfield Central
Primary School Hackathon Workshop
- Date: Saturday, 15 August 2026
- Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
- Arrival: From 8:30am onwards
- Location: Mater Education Hub, 95 Southern Cross Circuit, Springfield Central
Pitch & Showcase Day
- Date: Thursday, 10 September 2026
- Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
- Arrival: From 8:30pm onwards
- Location: UniSQ D101 Auditorium, 37 Sinnathamby Blvd, Springfield Central
Kick Off Session Bus Tour
- Date: Wednesday, 5 August 2026
- Time: 3:30pm – 5:00pm
- Location: Level 10, 145 Sinnathamby Blvd, Springfield Central
High School Hackathon Workshop
- Date: Saturday, 15 August 2026
- Time: 9:00am – 4:00pm
- Arrival: From 8:30am onwards
- Location: Mater Education Hub, 95 Southern Cross Circuit, Springfield Central
Primary School Hackathon Workshop
- Date: Saturday, 15 August 2026
- Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
- Arrival: From 8:30am onwards
- Location: Mater Education Hub, 95 Southern Cross Circuit, Springfield Central
Design Thinking #2
- Date: Monday, 11 August 2025
- Time: 3:00pm – 5:00pm
- Arrival: From 3:00pm onwards
- Location: Mater Education Hub, 95 Southern Cross Circuit, Springfield Central
Pitch & Showcase Day
- Date: Thursday, 3 September 2026
- Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
- Arrival: From 8:30pm onwards
- Location: UniSQ D101 Auditorium, 37 Sinnathamby Blvd, Springfield Central
Pitch Day Finals
- Date: Wednesday 10 September 2025
- Time: 9:00am– 12:30pm
- Location:UniSQ, Media Studio
Streaming live in the Atrium
Workshops
Kick Off session
- Date: Wednesday, 30 July 2025
- Time: 3:30pm – 4:30pm
- Location: Level 10, 145 Sinnathamby Blvd, Springfield Central
Design Thinking #1
- Date: Monday, 4 August 2025
- Time: 3:00pm – 5:00pm
- Arrival: From 3:00pm onwards
- Location: Mater Education Hub, 95 Southern Cross Circuit, Springfield Central
Primary School Design Thinking
- Date: Thursday, 21 August 2025
- Time: 3:30pm – 4:30pm
- Arrival: From 3:00pm onwards
- Location: Level 10, 145 Sinnathamby Blvd, Springfield Central
Design Thinking #2
- Date: Monday, 11 August 2025
- Time: 3:00pm – 5:00pm
- Arrival: From 3:00pm onwards
- Location: Mater Education Hub, 95 Southern Cross Circuit, Springfield Central
Design thinking #3
- Date: Thursday, 21 August 2025
- Time: 3:00pm – 5:00pm
- Arrival: From 3:00pm onwards
- Location: Mater Education Hub, 95 Southern Cross Circuit, Springfield Central
Pitch Day Finals
- Date: Wednesday 10 September 2025
- Time: 9:00am– 12:30pm
- Location:UniSQ, Media Studio
Streaming live in the Atrium
Useful Documents
Essential Forms
ideas & Imagination Award 2024 Video Recap
Brought to life by Springfield City Group and their delivery partners
Maha Sinnathamby's
Ideas & Imagination Award
Reimagine
Springfield as a futuristic city
Contact Us
For further information about the Ideas & Imagination Award, get in touch with us at:
