Last week, 140 students from across Western Sydney flocked to TAFE NSW Mount Druitt to compete in the Greater Western Sydney Regional F1 in Schools STEM Challenge.

The world’s foremost student competition for science, technology, engineering and mathematics saw 34 teams from 12 local schools take on the challenge set by Re-Engineering Australia of developing the world’s fastest miniature F1 car.

Held in TAFE NSW Mount Druitt’s specialist CAD design lab, the multifacet challenge provided students with access to real-world technology like 3D CAD/CAM/CAE engineering design software and taught them about coding, computational fluid dynamics and finite element analysis.

TAFE NSW Engineering teacher, Matthew Snape said, “Between 2013 and 2015, employment in STEM occupations grew by 16.5 per cent, which is 1.6 times higher than the growth rate in non-STEM jobs[1].

“The F1 in Schools STEM Challenge gives students the opportunity to learn a broad range of real-world skills as well as exposing them to current and relevant industry technology.

“Many students and parents don’t always have information about potential STEM careers and F1 in Schools STEM Challenge allows them to not just see what is out there, but to actually experience it first hand.”

Much more than building a car, the challenge aims to develop student’s skills in problem solving, project management, communications, presentation, teamwork, innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurialism, aiding in the transition through high school.

Re-Engineering Australia Founder and CEO, Michael Myers said, “The F1 in School STEM Challenge is one of the largest STEM programs in the world and Australia has approximately 22,000 students involved with the competition each year.

“The program mimicks the world of a Formula One team and gets the groups of students to follow a path of engineering and manufacturing disciplines getting them to design, analyse, test, make and race. It’s wonderful to have the event organised by TAFE NSW Mount Druitt as it shows students the potential of further study in these areas.”

Separated into three classes, Cadet, Development and Professional, students were judged on their proficiency in everything from their car’s design to their marketing presentation.

Please see the full list of Greater Western Sydney Regional F1 in Schools STEM Challenge winners below:

To find out more about studying Engineering, Manufacturing or Technology at TAFE NSW visit www.tafensw.com.au or call 131 601.

Media contact: Emma Cawley, TAFE NSW Media and Communications Business Partner, mobile 0412 478 415