Sacred Heart College won the WA Young Innovator of the Year award.
Camera IconSacred Heart College won the WA Young Innovator of the Year award. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Sorrento: Sacred Heart College wins at 2018 WA Innovator of the Year awards

Tyler BrownJoondalup Times

SORRENTO students were recognised at the 2018 WA Innovator of the Year awards.

The team from Sacred Heart College, called AusTrailia, was crowned WA Young Innovator of the Year for an app which gamifies online trail maps.

The team was made up of Year 9 Gifted and Talented students Matilda Anthony, Salina Re, Jack Bailey and Pascale Weeramanthri, who each won $250 as well as training including mentoring, pitch-presentation, a legal health check and advice on business development and finance to help commercialise their innovations.

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Miss Anthony thanked all of the people who had helped on the “positive journey” including mentor Lainey Weiser.

“Thank you for loving each of our ideas, no matter what we think of them, and helping us make those ideas incredible,” she said.

“And to our parents, thank you for hosting our meetings the day before pitches and stressing for us.”

Innovation Minister Dave Kelly said it was great to see the students awarded for their app “which encourages families to learn while exploring WA’s many magnificent trail walks”.

The awards acknowledge and reward exceptional West Australians who have developed an outstanding innovative product, technology or service.

To win, businesspeople must demonstrate an economic, social or environmental benefit for the state.

This year, the criteria was revised to emphasise innovations that would lead to creating and supporting jobs in WA.