Announcing the winners of the 2025 Eco Challenge!
On behalf of the Reef Guardian School program, we extend our sincere appreciation for all the inspiring submissions we received for the 2025 Eco Challenge. In total 165 students contributed to 72 submissions across the 8 Challenges.
The participation prize of a GoPro Hero 13 Black Creative Edition has been won by a student (name withheld for privacy) from Elliot Heads State School. All students who participated were allocated a number from 1 to 165 and the winner drawn at random using Wheel of Names | Random name picker. Congratulations to the winner - we hope this prize encourages you to create more content to inspire positive behaviour changes for protecting the Great Barrier Reef.
The originality and creativity of the Challenge submissions made judging tight and resulted in multiple Winners for Challenge 1, with several Highly Commended Certificates awarded across other Challenges. You will find the awards for each Challenge in the Primary School, Middle School and Senior School tables below.
| Primary School awards: | Award | Student - School |
| Challenge 1 – Protected species design | Winner | Kovi - Slade Point State School |
| Challenge 1 – Protected species design | Winner | Leearni - Slade Point State School |
| Challenge 1 – Protected species design | Winner | Lily - Slade Point State School |
| Challenge 1 – Protected species design | Winner | Ava - Good Counsel Primary School |
| Challenge 1 – Protected species design | Winner | Maggie - Slade Point State school |
| Challenge 1 – Protected species design | Winner | Angella - Slade Point State school |
| Challenge 1 – Protected species design | Highly Commended | Barney - Magnetic Island State School |
| Challenge 1 – Protected species design | Highly Commended | Victoria - Good Counsel Primary School |
| Challenge 1 – Protected species design | Highly Commended | Mia - Good Counsel Primary School |
| Challenge 1 – Protected species design | Highly Commended | Noah & Jack - Good Counsel Primary School |
| Challenge 2 – Turtle Compass | Winner | Jack - Good Counsel Primary School |
| Challenge 3 – Micro-museum | Winner | Edward & William - Regent Park State school |
| Challenge 4 – Great 8 Brochure | Winner | Ruby - Good Counsel Primary School |
| Challenge 5 – Water Quality News Reel | Winner | Ella & Harper - Good Counsel Primary School |
| Challenge 5 – Water Quality News Reel | Highly Commended | Mason, Milla, Kyla & Jasmine - Elliot Heads State School |
| Challenge 6 – Drain Art | Winner | Caelan, Leonard, Isabella, Lily & Mason - St Patrick's Bundaberg |
| Challenge 6 – Drain Art | Highly Commended | Chloe & Bell - Elliot Heads State School |
| Challenge 7 – Fishing & Zoning Activity | Winner | Year 4 - Magnetic Island State school |
| Challenge 8 – Protect the Reef skit | Winner | Reef Guardian Leaders - Kalkie State School |
| Challenge 8 – Protect the Reef skit | Highly Commended | Azadeh, Khansa, Nadia, Alale and Zaena - Wisdom College |
| Challenge 8 – Protect the Reef skit | Highly Commended | Reef Guardian Team - St Patrick’s Bundaberg |
| Middle School awards: | Award | School |
| Challenge 4 – Great 8 Brochure | Winner | Pippa & Leila - Bundaberg North SHS |
| Challenge 6 – Drain Art | Winner | Japleen, Shatakshi, Yashraj, Nida & Maanvi - Heritage International Public School |
| Senior School awards: | Award | School |
| Challenge 1 – Protected species design | Winner | Anita, Sejal, Asmit & Paridhi - Heritage International school |
| Challenge 1 – Protected species design | Highly Commended | Phu - Bundaberg North SHS |
| Challenge 2 – Turtle Compass | Winner | Byron & Ben - Bundaberg North SHS |
| Challenge 3 – Micro-museum | Winner | Ankita, Kamakshi, Narayani, Mahak & Aayushi - Heritage International school |
| Challenge 4 – Great 8 Brochure | Winner | Benjamin - Bundaberg North SHS |
| Challenge 5 – Water Quality News Reel | Winner | Hariom, Astitiva, Aarushi, Urmi & Harsh - Heritage International school |
To our winners – congratulations! Your entries stood out for their originality, environmental messaging, and compelling storytelling. You’ve set a strong example for others to follow.
To all participants – thank you! Your commitment to protect and care for the Great Barrier Reef and surrounding ecosystems was exhibited in the array of colour, creativity and originality of your submissions.
To all teachers, parents and communities - The Eco Challenge has been a success because of you! We acknowledge and thank you for your vital support, and the encouragement and guidance provided to students throughout the Eco Challenge.
As we reflect on this year’s challenge, we encourage you to continue your eco journey—through school initiatives, local projects, and by sharing your knowledge with others. The Reef needs champions like you!