Events
The Science and Engineering Challenge is a national program, running Challenge Days and Build ME a Future Days (for high school students) and Discovery Days (for primary school students) across every state and territory in Australia.
Event Types
Discovery days
Year 5 and 6 students. No state or national finals for this age group.
Build ME a Future days
Year 7 and 8 students in select locations. Sponsored by the ME program through RDA Hunter.
Challenge days
Year 9 and 10 students. Includes State and National Finals.
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. Can't find an event near you? Let us know.
2025 Regional Event Dates
Please Note: Event locations and dates are subject to change. Please check the event guide from your local organiser.
Location and Event type | Dates |
|---|---|
ACT Challenge Day 2025 | Thursday 05 June - Friday 06 June 2025 |
Sorted alphabetically by location
Location and Event type | Dates |
|---|---|
Albury Wodonga Challenge Day 2025 | Wednesday 02 April 2025 |
Albury Wodonga Discovery Day 2025 | Thursday 03 April 2025 |
Bathurst Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 01 April 2025 |
Build ME a Future Callaghan Challenge Day 2025 | Monday 19 May - Friday 23 May 2025 |
Build ME a Future Upper Hunter Challenge Day 2025 | Friday 27 May 2025 |
Central Coast Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 17 June - Wednesday 18 June 2025 |
Coffs Coast Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 08 April 2025 |
| First Nations STEAM day | Wednesday 27 August 2025 |
Gordon Challenge Day 2025 | Friday 25 July 2025 |
Griffith Challenge Day 2025 | Friday 04 April 2025 |
Highlands Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 05 March 2025 |
Highlands Discovery Day 2025 | Wednesday 04 March 2025 |
Illawarra & South East Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 29 July - Wednesday 30 July 2025 |
International Science School Challenge Day 2025 | Thursday 10 July 2025 |
Kempsey Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 13 May - Wednesday 14 May 2025 |
Kempsey Discovery Day 2025 | Thursday 15 May 2025 |
Kingswood Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 01 July - Wednesday 02 July 2025 |
| Lake Macquarie RDA Hunter STEM Construction Challenge | Wednesday 4 June 2025 |
Lucas Heights Challenge Day 2025 | Thursday 29 May - Friday 30 May 2025 |
Macarthur Challenge Day 2025 | Friday 13 June 2025 |
Maitland Discovery Day 2025 | Tuesday 16 September - Wednesday 17 September 2025 |
| Maitland RDA Hunter STEM Construction Challenge | Wednesday 5 November 2025 |
| Muswellbrook RDA Hunter STEM Construction Challenge | Wednesday 22 October 2025 |
Newcastle Challenge Day 2025 | Friday 04 April - Thursday 10 April 2025 |
Newcastle Discovery Day 2025 | Monday 08 September - Friday 12 September 2025 |
| Newcastle RDA Hunter STEM Construction Challenge | Wednesday 19 March 2025 |
North West Challenge Day 2025 (cancelled) | Friday 08 August 2025 (cancelled) |
North West Discovery Day 2025 (cancelled) | Wednesday 06 August - Thursday 07 August 2025 (cancelled) |
Nowra Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 03 June 2025 |
Orange Challenge Day 2025 | Thursday 03 April 2025 |
| Orange Discovery Day 2025 | Friday 04 April 2025 |
Outback Challenge Day 2025 | Thursday 29 May 2025 |
| Raymond Terrace RDA Hunter STEM Construction Challenge | Thursday 16 October 2025 |
Sapphire City Challenge Day 2025 | Friday 07 March 2025 |
| Selective Education Program Challenge Day | Monday 20 October 2025 |
| Selective Education Program Discovery Day | Tuesday 13 May 2025 |
South West Slopes Challenge Day 2025 | Friday 20 June 2025 |
Southern Highlands Challenge Day 2025 | Monday 26 May 2025 |
Southern Highlands Discovery Day 2025 | Tuesday 27 May 2025 |
Southern Tablelands Challenge Day 2025 | Friday 01 August 2025 |
Student Living UON Challenge Day 2025 | Wednesday 13 August 2025 |
Sydney Olympic Park Challenge Day 2025 | Monday 24 March - Friday 28 March 2025 |
Tamworth Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 18 March - Wednesday 19 March 2025 |
Tamworth Discovery Day 2025 | Thursday 20 March - Friday 21 March 2025 |
Upper Hunter Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 29 July 2025 |
Upper Hunter Discovery Day 2025 | Wednesday 30 July - Thursday 31 July 2025 |
Wagga Wagga Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 01 April 2025 |
Wagga Wagga Discovery Day 2025 | Wednesday 02 April 2025 |
Western Plains Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 25 March - Wednesday 26 March 2025 |
Western Plains Discovery Day 2025 | Thursday 27 March - Friday 28 March 2025 |
Sorted by date of event
Location and Event type | Dates |
Highlands Discovery Day 2025 | Tuesday 04 March 2025 |
Highlands Challenge Day 2025 | Wednesday 05 March 2025 |
Sapphire City Challenge Day 2025 | Friday 07 March 2025 |
Tamworth Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 18 March - Wednesday 19 March 2025 |
| Newcastle RDA Hunter STEM Construction Challenge | Wednesday 19 March 2025 |
Tamworth Discovery Day 2025 | Thursday 20 March - Friday 21 March 2025 |
Sydney Olympic Park Challenge Day 2025 | Monday 24 March - Friday 28 March 2025 |
Western Plains Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 25 March - Wednesday 26 March 2025 |
Western Plains Discovery Day 2025 | Thursday 27 March - Friday 28 March 2025 |
Bathurst Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 01 April 2025 |
Wagga Wagga Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 01 April 2025 |
Albury Wodonga Challenge Day 2025 | Wednesday 02 April 2025 |
Wagga Wagga Discovery Day 2025 | Wednesday 02 April 2025 |
Albury Wodonga Discovery Day 2025 | Thursday 03 April 2025 |
Orange Challenge Day 2025 | Thursday 03 April 2025 |
| Orange Discovery Day 2025 | Friday 04 April 2025 |
Griffith Challenge Day 2025 | Friday 04 April 2025 |
Newcastle Challenge Day 2025 | Friday 04 April - Thursday 10 April 2025 |
Coffs Coast Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 08 April 2025 |
| Selective Education Program Discovery Day 2025 | Tuesday 13 May 2025 |
Kempsey Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 13 May - Wednesday 14 May 2025 |
Kempsey Discovery Day 2025 | Thursday 15 May 2025 |
Build ME a Future Callaghan Challenge Day 2025 | Monday 19 May - Friday 23 May 2025 |
Southern Highlands Challenge Day 2025 | Monday 26 May 2025 |
Southern Highlands Discovery Day 2025 | Tuesday 27 May 2025 |
Build ME a Future Upper Hunter Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 27 May 2025 |
Lucas Heights Challenge Day 2025 | Thursday 29 May - Friday 30 May 2025 |
Outback Challenge Day 2025 | Thursday 29 May 2025 |
Nowra Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 03 June 2025 |
| Lake Macquarie RDA Hunter STEM Construction Challenge | Wednesday 04 June 2025 |
Macarthur Challenge Day 2025 | Friday 13 June 2025 |
Central Coast Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 17 June - Wednesday 18 June 2025 |
South West Slopes Challenge Day 2025 | Friday 20 June 2025 |
Kingswood Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 01 July - Wednesday 02 July 2025 |
International Science School Challenge Day 2025 | Thursday 10 July 2025 |
Gordon Challenge Day 2025 | Friday 25 July 2025 |
Illawarra & South East Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 29 July - Wednesday 30 July 2025 |
Upper Hunter Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 29 July 2025 |
Upper Hunter Discovery Day 2025 | Wednesday 30 July - Thursday 31 July 2025 |
Southern Tablelands Challenge Day 2025 | Friday 01 August 2025 |
North West Discovery Day 2025 (cancelled) | Wednesday 06 August - Thursday 07 August 2025 (cancelled) |
North West Challenge Day 2025 (cancelled) | Friday 08 August 2025 (cancelled) |
Student Living UON Challenge Day 2025 | Wednesday 13 August 2025 |
| First Nations STEAM day | Wednesday 27 August 2025 |
Newcastle Discovery Day 2025 | Monday 08 September - Friday 12 September 2025 |
Maitland Discovery Day 2025 | Tuesday 16 September - Wednesday 17 September 2025 |
| Raymond Terrace RDA Hunter STEM Construction Challenge | Thursday 16 October 2025 |
| Selective Education Program Challenge Day 2025 | Monday 20 October 2025 |
| Muswellbrook RDA Hunter STEM Construction Challenge | Wednesday 22 October 2025 |
| Maitland RDA Hunter STEM Construction Challenge | Wednesday 05 November 2025 |
Sorted alphabetically by event name
Location and Event type | Dates |
|---|---|
Alice Springs Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 05 August 2025 |
Alice Springs Discovery Day 2025 | Wednesday 06 August 2025 |
Darwin Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 22 July 2025 |
Sorted by event date
Location and Event type | Dates |
|---|---|
Darwin Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 22 July 2025 |
Alice Springs Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 05 August 2025 |
Alice Springs Discovery Day 2025 | Wednesday 06 August 2025 |
Sorted alphabetically by event name
Location and Event type | Dates |
|---|---|
Brisbane Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 11 February - Friday 14 February 2025 |
Brisbane North Challenge Day 2025 | Wednesday 05 February - Friday 07 February 2025 |
Brisbane South Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 03 June - Wednesday 04 June 2025 |
Brisbane South Discovery Day 2025 | Thursday 05 June - Friday 06 June 2025 |
Bundaberg Challenge Day 2025 | Wednesday 14 May 2025 |
Bundaberg Discovery Day 2025 | Monday 12 May - Tuesday 13 May 2025 |
Cairns Challenge Day 2025 | Monday 24 March 2025 |
Darling Downs Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 20 May - Wednesday 21 May 2025 |
Darling Downs Discovery Day 2025 | Thursday 22 May 2025 |
Emerald Challenge Day 2025 | Thursday 08 May 2025 |
Emerald Discovery Day 2025 | Friday 09 May 2025 |
Fraser Coast Challenge Day 2025 | Friday 16 May 2025 |
Gold Coast Challenge Day 2025 | Wednesday 11 June - Thursday 12 June 2025 |
Gympie Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 04 March 2025 |
Mackay Challenge Day 2025 | Friday 21 March 2025 |
Rockhampton Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 06 May 2025 |
Townsville Challenge Day 2025 | Wednesday 26 March - Thursday 27 March 2025 |
Sorted by event date
Location and Event type | Dates |
|---|---|
Brisbane North Challenge Day 2025 | Wednesday 05 February - Friday 07 February 2025 |
Brisbane Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 11 February - Friday 14 February 2025 |
Gympie Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 04 March 2025 |
Mackay Challenge Day 2025 | Friday 21 March 2025 |
Cairns Challenge Day 2025 | Monday 24 March 2025 |
Townsville Challenge Day 2025 | Wednesday 26 March - Thursday 27 March 2025 |
Rockhampton Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 06 May 2025 |
Emerald Challenge Day 2025 | Thursday 08 May 2025 |
Emerald Discovery Day 2025 | Friday 09 May 2025 |
Bundaberg Discovery Day 2025 | Monday 12 May - Tuesday 13 May 2025 |
Bundaberg Challenge Day 2025 | Wednesday 14 May 2025 |
Fraser Coast Challenge Day 2025 | Friday 16 May 2025 |
Darling Downs Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 20 May 2025 - Wednesday 21 May 2025 |
Darling Downs Discovery Day 2025 | Thursday 22 May 2025 |
Brisbane South Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 03 June - Wednesday 04 June 2025 |
Brisbane South Discovery Day 2025 | Thursday 05 June - Friday 06 June 2025 |
Gold Coast Challenge Day 2025 | Wednesday 11 June - Thursday 12 June 2025 |
Sorted alphabetically by event name
Location and Event type | Dates |
|---|---|
Adelaide North Challenge Day 2025 | Monday 16 June - Tuesday 17 June 2025 |
Adelaide South Challenge Day 2025 | Thursday 26 June - Friday 27 June 2025 |
Mount Gambier Challenge Day 2025 | Thursday 14 August 2025 |
Riverland Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 24 June 2025 |
Sorted by event date
Location and Event type | Dates |
|---|---|
Adelaide North Challenge Day 2025 | Monday 16 June - Tuesday 17 June 2025 |
Riverland Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 24 June 2025 |
Adelaide South Challenge Day 2025 | Thursday 26 June - Friday 27 June 2025 |
Mount Gambier Challenge Day 2025 | Thursday 14 August 2025 |
Location and Event type | Dates |
|---|---|
Launceston Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 06 May - Wednesday 07 May 2025 |
Tasmania North West Challenge Day 2025 | Friday 09 May 2025 |
Hobart Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 13 May - Thursday 15 May 2025 |
| Tasmanian State Final 2025 | Monday 19 May 2025 |
Sorted alphabetically by event name
Location and Event type | Dates |
|---|---|
Ballarat Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 29 July 2025 |
Bendigo Challenge Day 2025 | Thursday 31 July 2025 |
Burwood Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 24 June - Wednesday 25 June 2025 |
Geelong Challenge Day 2025 | Wednesday 18 June - Thursday 19 June 2025 |
Gippsland (Sale) Challenge Day 2025 | Wednesday 11 June 2025 |
| Gippsland (Churchill) Challenge Day 2025 | Friday 13 June 2025 |
Great South Coast Challenge Day 2025 | Monday 11 August 2025 |
Great South Coast Discovery Day 2025 | Tuesday 12 August 2025 |
Wimmera Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 18 March 2025 |
Wimmera Discovery Day 2025 | Wednesday 19 March 2025 |
Sorted by event date
Location and Event type | Dates |
|---|---|
Wimmera Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 18 March 2025 |
Wimmera Discovery Day 2025 | Wednesday 19 March 2025 |
Gippsland (Sale) Challenge Day 2025 | Wednesday 11 June 2025 |
| Gippsland (Churchill) Challenge Day 2025 | Friday 13 June 2025 |
Geelong Challenge Day 2025 | Wednesday 18 June - Thursday 19 June 2025 |
Burwood Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 24 June - Wednesday 25 June 2025 |
Ballarat Challenge Day 2025 | Tuesday 29 July 2025 |
Bendigo Challenge Day 2025 | Thursday 31 July 2025 |
Great South Coast Challenge Day 2025 | TO BE CONFIRMED Monday 11 August 2025 |
Great South Coast Discovery Day 2025 | TO BE CONFIRMED Tuesday 12 August 2025 |
Location and Event type | Dates |
|---|---|
Bunbury Challenge Day 2025 | Monday 05 May - Wednesday 07 May 2025 |
Bunbury Discovery Day 2025 | Thursday 08 May - Friday 09 May 2025 |
Perth Challenge Day 2025 | Monday 12 May - Friday 16 May 2025 |
2025 State Finals
| Event Name | Location | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Newcastle | 26-28 August |
| South Australia | Adelaide | 5 September |
| Tasmania | Hobart | 19 May |
| Victoria | Ballarat | 3 September |
Check out the National Final from 2023
National Final 2025
To celebrate SEC's 25th anniversary, the National Final will be held in Newcastle on October 31.
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 2025.
2025 Qualification Procedure
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.