STEM Engineer the response toThe Highway Collapse
Research a real transport emergency, identify who needs help and create a purposeful STEM solution using coding, robotics or AI.
What happened at Victoria Pass?
The Highway Collapse is an educational challenge inspired by the 2026 closure of Mitchell’s Causeway on the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass, NSW.
Serious cracking closed a critical route
- In March 2026, cracking and ground movement were detected at the historic Mitchell’s Causeway.
- Further defects led to the Great Western Highway being closed in both directions at Victoria Pass.
- The closure disrupted travel, freight and access between the Blue Mountains and Central West.
Become a rapid-response STEM engineer
Research the real failure, the hazards and the people who depend on road access. Select one meaningful need, then create a coding, robotics or AI response that can be demonstrated and explained.
Locate, guide or assist people safely.
Move supplies and plan alternative routes.
Detect hazards, warn users or reduce risk.
Restore access, communication or services.
Mitchell’s Causeway · Victoria Pass, NSW · March 2026
Official NSW updates describe serious cracking and ground movement at the heritage causeway and the safety-led closure of this important transport route.
A defect was identified in the eastbound lane before further inspections found additional cracking and movement.
Geotechnical investigations confirmed the site remained unstable and unsafe for traffic.
The closure affected motorists, freight, businesses and communities relying on the link between the Blue Mountains and Central West.
Both directions were closed while engineers investigated the failure and developed a permanent solution.
Victoria Pass is the official reference case for the 2026 Highway Collapse Challenge. Students may also research a comparable real-world road collapse, landslip, closure or infrastructure disruption from their own state or territory, including Lions Road in the Kyogle region. The case selected does not itself affect eligibility or scoring; all participants follow the same mission, submission requirements and judging criteria.
From Research to a solution students can explain
Every pathway follows the same challenge-based STEM process.
- 01Research
Understand the collapse, stakeholders, hazards and community needs.
- 02Define & design
Choose a specific problem and plan a purposeful response.
- 03Code or build
Create the story, game, AI system or working robot.
- 04Test & improve
Find weaknesses, gather evidence and make the solution more reliable.
- 05Explain
Demonstrate the result and justify the most important decisions.
Choose the challenge that fits each student
A registered student can complete the STEM Challenge learning and may also enter one eligible Coding and one eligible Robotics project.
STEM Challenge
Complete substantial year-level Mathematics, Coding preparation, Logic Mission Challenge and typing learning.
No separate project submissionCoding Challenge
Create a Highway Collapse story, rescue game, interactive simulation or AI pose-controlled experience.
K–Year 12 · no robot requiredRobotics Challenge
Program a robot to navigate, deliver, detect or respond to an emergency mission.
Official-kit and open-platform optionsCompare every entry requirement
| Pathway | Best for | Equipment | Entry | Submit | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coding AJunior explorers | K–Year 2 | ScratchJr device | Individual or same-school team of 2–5 | Presentation video only · max 5 min | 20 Oct 2026 |
| Coding BCreative coding | Year 3–12 | MRT AI Studio | Individual or same-school team of 2–5 | Video + SB3 · max 5 min | 20 Oct 2026 |
| Coding CAI pose rescue | Upper Primary–Y12 | MRT AI Studio + webcam | Individual or same-school team of 2–5 | Video + SB3 + model URL | 20 Oct 2026 |
| Robotics AAI motion individual | Upper Primary–Y12 | Official AI Mission Robot Kit + custom Pose model | Individual | Combined video + SB3 + model URL · max 6 min | 25 Sep 2026 |
| Robotics BAI motion team | Upper Primary–Y12 | Official AI Mission Robot Kit + custom Pose model | Same-school team of 2–5 | Combined video + SB3 + model URL · max 6 min | 25 Sep 2026 |
| Robotics COpen robotics | Upper Primary–Y12 recommendedYounger primary students may enter if ready for the challenge | School-approved robot | Individual or same-school team of 2–5 | Combined video + SB3/ZIP · max 6 min | 25 Sep 2026 |
| STEM ChallengeLearning progress award | All registered students | Computer or tablet | Individual progress | No submission · automatically scored | 25 September 2026 |
Research → Design → Code → Explain
One combined video. One editable project.
Categories A and B are the same challenge: same official kit, custom Pose model, SB3, six-minute qualification video, deadline and judging rubric. The only difference is individual (A) versus same-school team of 2–5 (B). Category C accepts a school-approved robot and coding platform.
Students below the recommended year range may enter Robotics Category C when they are ready and able to take on the challenge.
No AI, coding or robotics experience required
Guided eLearning supports first-time beginners and experienced creators. Students can learn the required concepts before applying them to a project.
- Year-level Mathematics, logic and computational thinking
- Coding Challenge preparation and project skills
- Google Teachable Machine: create, train and test a model
- Connect a model to code or a robot and use it for control
- Typing practice for English and coding syntax
Students move from using technology to creating, training, connecting and controlling their own solution.
See how learning access worksKnow exactly what registration includes
School groups or individuals
- Australian Kindergarten–Year 12 students
- School entry: minimum 2 paid student places
- Individual or same-school teams of 2–5 where eligible
- Team members may change until final submission
Learning, eligibility and recognition
- School $20/student · Individual $30
- GST included for the 2026 challenge
- Guided learning for every registered participant
- Certificate for every named student assigned to a paid place
Upload directly in RCC
- Coding video: maximum 5 minutes and 1 GB
- Robotics video: maximum 6 minutes and 1.5 GB
- Project file: maximum 100 MB
- Coding B/C and Robotics A/B: SB3
- Robotics A/B: custom Pose model URL
- Only Robotics C: SB3 or editable-source ZIP
Introduce the participant/team and project, demonstrate how it works, and explain the important code or engineering decisions.
Judging, RCC YouTube Unlisted processing and public participant-gallery display are mandatory. The authorised submitter must hold the required media permission.
Changes after finalisation require administrator approval. Late submission is considered only for health or exceptional circumstances with administrator approval.
Plan backwards from your pathway deadline
Registration remains available until the relevant pathway deadline, but registering on the deadline does not extend submission time.
Five equally weighted dimensions
Project awards require a finalised eligible submission. Every named student allocated to a paid place receives a participation certificate.
Give every student a real problem worth solving
Purchase school places now and add student names when your class is ready, or register one student individually.
Supported by the UNSW Built Environment Women in Construction Project and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Office for Women. eLearning is delivered through MRT Robotics.
