Events

The health and safety of our communities within Australia are the highest priority to the Science and Engineering Challenge. Where current health advice enables our events to run safely, we will be following procedures as outlined in the Risk Assessment. Please contact your local organiser or the SEC office for a copy.

The Science and Engineering Challenge is a national program, running Challenge Days (for high school students) and Discovery Days (for primary school students) across every state and territory in Australia.

Click on the relevant state below to find events in your area. If you would like to attend an event please contact us for more information. Please Note: Event locations and dates are subject to change.

Can't find an event near you? Let us know.

Challenge Days

Event NameLocationDates
 ACT & Region Canberra4 June   

Discovery Days

Event NameLocationDates
ACT & RegionCanberra5 June

Challenge Days

Event NameLocationDates
Albury WodongaAlbury 30 April
Bathurst Bathurst25 March
Central Coast Gosford 18-19 June
Coff's CoastCoff's Harbour9 April
Gordon Sydney - Gordon23 July
GriffithGriffith25 March
Highlands Armidale (UNE)6 March
Illawarra & South-EastWollongong (UOW)1-2 August
Kempsey Kempsey 14-15 May
Kingswood Sydney - Kingswood (WSU)2-3 July
Lucas Heights Sydney - ANSTO30-31 May
Macarthur  Sydney - Campbelltown 27 June
Build ME a FutureNewcastle (UON)21-24 May
Build ME a FutureMuswellbrook28-29 May
NewcastleNewcastle (UON)8-12 April
North West Narrabri 6 June
Orange Orange 27 March
Outback Cobar 2 May
Sapphire City Inverell 8 Mar
Southern Highlands Mittagong27 May
Southern Tablelands Goulburn 25 June
South West Slopes Young 11 April
Sydney Olympic Park Sydney Olympic Park 18-22 March
Tamworth Tamworth 19-20 March
Upper Hunter Muswellbrook 2 July
Wagga Wagga Wagga Wagga 8 April
Western Plains Dubbo4-5 March

Discovery Days

Event NameLocationDates
Albury WodongaAlbury 1 May
HighlandsArmidale (UNE)5 March
KempseyKempsey16 May
MaitlandMaitland2-3 September
NewcastleNewcastle (San Clemente)9-13 September
North WestNarrabri4-5 May
Port MacquariePort Macquarie17 September
Port StephensPort Stephens5 September
Southern HighlandsMittagong28 May
TamworthTamworth21-22 March
Upper HunterMuswellbrook3-4 July
Wagga WaggaWagga Wagga9 April
Western PlainsDubbo6-7 March

Challenge Days

Event NameLocationDates
Alice Springs Alice Springs 1 August
Darwin Darwin 6 August

Discovery Days

Event NameLocationDates
Alice Springs Alice Springs 2 August

Challenge Days

Event Name Location Dates
BrisbaneBrisbane City (QUT)13-16 February
Brisbane NorthSt Lucia (UQ)6-8 February
Brisbane SouthNathan (Griffith University)4-5 June
BundabergBundaberg (CQU)15 May
CairnsCairns (JCU)19 April
Darling DownsToowoomba (USQ)21-24 May
EmeraldEmerald8-9 May TBC
Fraser CoastHervey Bay (USC)17 May
Gold CoastGold Coast (Griffith University)12-13 June
GympieGympie5 March
MackayMackay (JCU)22 April
RockhamptonRockhampton (JCU)24 April
TownsvilleTownsville (JCU)16-17 April

Discovery Days

Event NameLocationDates
Brisbane SouthBrisbane South6-7 June
Bundaberg Bundaberg (CQU)13-14 May
Darling DownsToowoomba (USQ)20 May
Moreton BayMoreton Bay29 May
Sunshine CoastSippy Downs (USC)15 July

Challenge Days

Event Name Location Dates
Adelaide CentralAdelaide Central17-18 June
Adelaide NorthAdelaide North20-21 June
FlindersAdelaide South13-14 June
Mount GambierMount Gambier15 August
RiverlandWaikerie11 June

Discovery Days

Event Name Location Dates

Challenge Days

Event NameLocationDates
Hobart Hobart15-17 May
Launceston Launceston 23-24 May
North West Burnie21 May

Challenge Days

Event NameLocationDates
BallaratBallarat6 August
Bendigo Bendigo 8 August
Geelong Geelong (Deakin University)19-20 June
Great South Coast Warrnambool (Deakin University)13 August
MelbourneMelbourne25-26 July
BundooraMelbourne North22 July
WimmeraHorsham19 March

Discovery Days

Event NameLocationDates
WimmeraHorsham20 March

Challenge Days

Event Name Location Dates
Mid WestGeraldton13 May
PerthPerth29 April - 3 May
South WestBunbury6-8 May

Discovery Days

Event NameLocation Dates
Mid WestGeraldton14 May
South WestBunbury9-10 May

2023 State Finals

Event NameLocationDates
New South WalesNewcastle27-29 August 
South AustraliaAdelaide27 August
TasmaniaHobart27 May
VictoriaTBC3 September

National Final

The 2023 National Final will be held in Townsville, QLD on Friday 25 October.

Qualification Procedures

The overriding principles for the SEC qualifying system are simplicity, fairness and sustainability. The following policy will be used to guide schools' progression through the SEC competition from a regional event to the National Final in 2024.

Qualification System 2024 (PDF)

Learn more