High school students with an entrepreneurial streak will be invited to invent the future of health care at Griffith’s Logan campus on Tuesday.
Fifty-six students from eight schools in the region will take part in the inaugural GLO@Logan Entrepreneurial Innovation Health Challenge.
In teams of four, the year nine students will be encouraged to come up with ideas that could lead to novel solutions to problems in the health, disability and aged care sectors, using the latest technologies.
“The focus on encouraging and mentoring students to understand entrepreneurship will boost their chances of success, whether in self-employment or as an employee for a firm or organisation that wants to improve wellbeing and opportunities for everyone,” Professor Evan Douglas, an expert in entrepreneurship at Griffith Business School, said.
A range of mentors will guide students on the day, helping them to nurture and progress creative and innovative ideas towards an effective and meaningful outcome.
The top ideas on the day will be brought forward to days two and three of the Challenge at Mabel Park State High School where five finalists will engage with the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) hub and have the opportunity to use drones, 3D printers and robotics.
“Students have the chance to generate an innovative technology with the potential to improve disability, aged and health care in Australia,” Celeste Alcaraz, Innovation Project Officer at Griffith’s Logan campus, said.
Entrepreneurial mindsets
“We hope their entrepreneurial mindsets will be stimulated and encouraged with a view to social or commercial enterprises, thus increasing the capabilities and employability going forward.”
Griffith University Logan has linked with ENABLE, a strategic leadership coalition of state high schools across Logan, for the initiative.
Mentors from Griffith Business School, Griffith Health, LifeTec, Substation 33, The Independent Social Enterprise Network Logan, Global Sisters and Griffith Enterprise will work with the students.
National award-winning maths teacher Stacey King will attend on day one to support the students, along with James Novak, Advance Queensland Digital champion and Griffith University lecturer; and Paul Finger, Principal Education Advisor, Australian Curriculum, Science Technology and Mathematics; and key STEM/design teachers from Logan State High Schools.
The challenge is also supported by the Logan Office of Economic Development, Logan City Council and Regional Development Australia.