Introduction

Students will create or use technology in a way that is beneficial to the community. Examples include web sites, databases, voting systems, social engineering, GPS mapping of youth activities, etc. The technology can be an electronic device, software, web based, etc.

This initiative by the Central Victoria IT Cluster (incorporating EComCV) and the Y Service Club of Bendigo will assist students to increase their technology and work skills.

The competition is open to students from primary to tertiary level. There will be one round of the competition each year. The competition will close at the end of October for all students. There are three categories in to which entries can be submitted, as follows:

1. Hardware-electronics, robotics, computer hardware, control systems, etc.
2. Software-web sites, database applications, programs, etc.
3. Telecommunications-mobile applications, networking, GPS applications, etc.

Bonus prizes are available for entries that meet a sustainability need in the community.

The criteria of the competition will include the need to make the application of technology user friendly.

Students will gain valuable 'real world' work experience, and develop skills that are highly sought after in the employment market.

Further details are available from Colin Lambie on (03) 5442 5906 or 0417 561 903 or email

Entries are to be emailed to Colin Lambie

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Potential Sponsors

Bendigo Community Telco
Multimedia Victoria
Central Victorian IT Cluster
Y Service Club of Bendigo
Bendigo Sustainability Group
Encyclopaedia Britannica
City of Greater Bendigo
Bendigo IT
Bendigo Senior Secondary College
Bendigo Bank
The Advertiser
Bendigo Y Service Club - Women
Y Service Club of Kangaroo Flat
Crusoe College

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Prizes for Students and Schools

Prizes for Year 11/12 students will be presented during October and the rest will be presented in November.

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Staged Approach and Mentoring / Technical Assistance

Students are encouraged to start development of a project / entry that may be submitted partially complete in this round of the competition and further developed in later rounds of the competition.

Two sponsors are prepared to help students develop their ideas from concept to practical application. Bendigo Community Telco may assist students by providing access to SMS, mobile phone equipment. Bendigo IT may provide students with advice and assistance developing a computer network or Internet based application. Students are to send an email to Colin Lambie with details of project idea and assistance sought.

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Participation by Community Groups

Community groups and clubs are asked to email Colin Lambie with information required about how technology could help their group. The information will be passed to students or to schools, then to students.
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Competition Rules

1 To be eligible to enter, students must attend a school that is based in the Loddon Campaspe Mallee region. Students are required to include name(s), year of study and school when submitting entry. If relevant details not provided, entry may be judged in higher level section.

2 Entries may not qualify for a prize if the judges consider that a minimum standard has not been reached - this has not happened yet.

3. It is expected that schools will encourage students to participate.

4. To be eligible for judging in the competition:
(a) Web sites must be live. FREE hosting is available at Vicnet and Bendigo Community Telco - contact Bryan Pedersen, (03) 5454 5000. URL must be sent to Colin Lambie before the due date
(b) All other entries must be submitted to Colin Lambie before the due date.

5. The criteria for judging the winning entries will include:
(a) presentation,
(b) ease of use,
(c) originality
(d) ease of updating,
(e) meets community need
(f) navigation (web site)
(g) speed of downloading (web site),
(h) Accessibility - caters for universal access (web site),
(i) active features.

6. Judging is expected to take place in early October for the Year 11/12 entries and early November for the rest. Awards to Year 11/12 students will be presented around mid October. Awards to the remaining students will be presented around mid November.

7.1 Participants hereby release, indemnify and keep indemnified the organisers, judges and sponsors, its officers, servants and agents against all liabilities, claims, actions, suits, demands, losses, costs (including legal costs on a solicitor and own client basis), taxes or expenses arising out of or in any way connected with the “Technology Competition”, including, without limitation, any third party claim, action, suit or demand.

7.2 You shall not:
(a) Use any unauthorised software, hardware and or use or connect to any unauthorised software or hardware in an unauthorised manner.
(b) use Internet Services for any illegal, unauthorised or dangerous purpose including, without limitation, unsolicited commercial e-mail.
(c) publish any material for which You are not the Intellectual Property Right owner or are authorised to publish or is defamatory.

7.3 You acknowledge that the “technology competition” organisers do not and cannot monitor or control the content and information accessed via the Internet and shall not hold the organisers responsible in any way for any content or information accessed via the Internet.

7.4 The “technology competition” organisers or associates may, whilst being under no obligation to do so and at its sole discretion, without notice or giving any reason or incurring any liability for doing so:
(a) delete any material found on its equipment and/or refuse to accept or publish any material which is in its opinion unauthorised; illegal or possibly illegal; unlawful; obscene; infringes any Intellectual Property Right of any third party; defamatory; excessive in volume; uncollected for an excessive period; in an unauthorised area; or dangerous.
(b) take action as it deems appropriate if it suspects that malicious, illegal or unacceptable usage of Internet Services is occurring or has occurred.
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