2024 People's choice voting is now closed
Thank you for supporting and voting for your favourite Problem Solver, Future Builder and Community Champion.
Winners in all three categories will be announced at our annual gala dinner on Tuesday, 25 February.
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![A teacher talking to students in a classroom.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64b7431b7fa4bc5aa618d4fd/64f91ad5c03b2456619ab34b_community-champion.webp)
![Woman crossing her arms.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64b7431b7fa4bc5aa618d4fd/655e7ccc29806cbb7a6a7634_3.webp)
![Classroom of students smiling.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64b7431b7fa4bc5aa618d4fd/655e7cccea625d500a2729a6_4.webp)
![A woman in a factory.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64b7431b7fa4bc5aa618d4fd/655e7ccc9e43727a87e278ef_1.webp)
![Man wheeling food on a dolly.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64b7431b7fa4bc5aa618d4fd/655e7ccca3e116f8c97ed563_6.webp)
![Macquarie scientist smiling with arms folded in a laboratory.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64b7431b7fa4bc5aa618d4fd/655e7ccd190dedb19d4ea8fa_5.webp)
Meet the finalists
The Problem Solver award
Recognises groundbreaking research work that has already transformed, or holds the potential to transform, the lives of Australians for the better.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64ed54d6b2904ef9dfbcdd80/67047eb932448b8ac77188da_1-%20Hysata%20chief%20executive%20officer%20Paul%20Barrett%20and%20chief%20technology%20officer%20Gerry%20Swiegers.jpg)
Groundbreaking invention: producing the world’s cheapest green hydrogen | University of Wollongong
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64ed54d6b2904ef9dfbcdd80/67047afea4d30828d67b8075_Spent-coffee-grounds-and-biochar-min.jpg)
Latte-street innovation: coffee-infused concrete breaks new ground | RMIT University
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64ed54d6b2904ef9dfbcdd80/670476dedfd6ec2f15234261_A06I16641%20(1)-min.jpg)
Saving our cereals: fungal infection prevention saves billions of dollars and secures food supply | The University of Sydney
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64ed54d6b2904ef9dfbcdd80/6704716788aa7f7efbd4f5c3_NathanPalpant_DaniRojas_GlennKing_inLab.jpg)
Treating heart attack and stroke with drugs from spider venom | UQ
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64ed54d6b2904ef9dfbcdd80/67046b8543921005a15fe4ee_Group%20shot%20with%20NanoMSlide.jpg)
Instant cancer detection on a glass slide | La Trobe University
The future Builder Award
Celebrates an individual or a team who has gone above and beyond to equip their students with the knowledge and skills to make a positive impact in the world.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64ed54d6b2904ef9dfbcdd80/6704aa985ae1c69344b35b4a_SAA_SEAD3-min.jpg)
An Australia-first university apprenticeship and pathway to a career in STEM | UniSA
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64ed54d6b2904ef9dfbcdd80/6704a6bb9f30951b824d446b_GEMBA_first_cohort_Welcome_event-min.jpg)
Delivering the future of our space and security sectors | UniSA
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64ed54d6b2904ef9dfbcdd80/67049d666ff76b3cdd3e4644_Pjoy.jpg)
BioDesign Innovation: developing the next generation of medical technology leaders | UniMelb
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64ed54d6b2904ef9dfbcdd80/670490406722fa125b2ea4d3_Student%20Investment%20Fund%202.png)
Student managed investment fund: shaping tomorrow through sustainability and social impact | Griffith
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64ed54d6b2904ef9dfbcdd80/67048617a461e92af9f0b177_Green%20Plot%20Shopfront%20Project%202_credit%20The%20Green%20Plot.jpg)
From classroom to community: UTS shopfront students driving social change | UTS
The Community Champion Award
Honours an individual, team or university with deep ties to its community and the people who call it home, beyond just those who attend the institution.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64ed54d6b2904ef9dfbcdd80/6704c3a13bbfc5774f2fb705_iAccelerate%20RISE%20team%20-%20Tamantha%20Stutchbury%2C%20Ainslie%20Tweedie%20and%20Natasha%20Berta-min.jpg)
iAccelerate's RISE program empowers rural NSW entrepreneurs | University of Wollongong
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64ed54d6b2904ef9dfbcdd80/6704ba97fe63bd23cc0cb3f3_Oliviacarousel.jpg)
The All Ages All Abilities Playground | University of Wollongong
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64ed54d6b2904ef9dfbcdd80/6704b8ac5405fe73afbac9ce_Classroom-brightened-min.jpg)
uni 2 beyond: Students with intellectual disabilities experience uni life | The University of Sydney
Scaling up point-of-care testing for infectious diseases in Remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities | UNSW
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64ed54d6b2904ef9dfbcdd80/6704aecd6ff76b3cdd4dfd72_UON-SE-Speech-Path-photo%205.jpg)
Giving a voice to rural Aboriginal children: Guyati Garraka wa Witing speech pathology | UoN
Winners announced in:
Entries open
03 July 2024
Entries close
Tuesday, 1 October 2024, 5pm
People’s choice voting opens
Thursday, 10 October 2024
People’s choice voting closes
Sunday, 26 January 2025
Winners announced
Tuesday, 25 February 2025
Stay informed
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