THE PREMIER SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATHS ACTIVE LEARNING PROGRAM
Since 1991, the Energy Breakthrough has provided opportunities for students, teachers, parents and local industry to work together to design and construct a vehicle, a machine or an innovation in technology that represents an ‘energy breakthrough’.
The 2026 Energy Breakthrough event will be held from Wednesday 18 to Sunday 22 November 2026 in Maryborough, Victoria.
Over 250 teams from across Victoria and beyond compete across five distinct categories, catering for different levels of technology application and understanding.
Turn imagination into actionDiscover your full potentialChallenge yourselfCreate new memoriesEncourage others on this journeyAchieve a breakthrough
Hands-on STEM Learning
Students actively design, build, and test vehicles, applying science, technology, engineering, and maths concepts in a real-world context.
Teamwork & Collaboration
The Energy Breakthrough emphasises teamwork, requiring students, teachers, parents, and the community to work together towards a common goal.
Problem Solving & Innovation
Students are challenged to find creative and innovative solutions to energy efficiency and the role this plays in our collective future.
Multi-faceted Assessment
Teams are evaluated not only on the performance in trials but also on design & construction and display & presentation, fostering diverse skills.
ENTRY CATEGORIES
Human Powered Vehicles (HPVs)
Students design and build human-powered vehicles for an endurance race in Maryborough in November.
With some teams cycling almost 900km in 24 hours, these events can see advanced materials used in construction. But beyond the cutting-edge technology, the opportunity to compete on the famous lakeside circuit brings teams back year after year.
Energy Efficient Vehicles (EEVs)
Secondary students design and build vehicles powered by sustainable energy such as hybrid, solar, low-emission and other alternative fuel vehicles for a 24-hour endurance race.
This technically challenging category encourages innovative drive systems, from simple to complex, aiming for an “Energy Breakthrough.” It’s ideal for VCAL and Trade Training students interested in automotive systems and alternative fuels.
Pushcarts
Primary school students connect with their community to collaboratively build and race pushcarts.
The machines used to compete are based on the humble billy cart, and are pushed energetically through an obstacle course, sprint and circuit events at Maryborough in November.
TRYathlon (HPVs)
Students design and build human-powered vehicles for all round assessment in Maryborough in November.
Using the same design requirements as for Human Powered Vehicles (HPVs) teams compete through Time Trials, an Obstacle Rally, and an 8-Hour Endurance Trial. This is the most widely assessed category at the Energy Breakthrough.
Robotics
Students use creativity, innovation, and teamwork to program robots for mission-based problem-solving.
This Australian event is part of the Sphero Global Challenge, offering a pathway to the World Championships. It develops computational thinking, engineering, and programming skills for students of all levels in an engaging undercover adventure.
“Through creativity, collaboration and active learning programs, great things are possible”
GET SOCIAL WITH US
To wrap up our 2025, please join us in congratulating our fantastic ‘Special Award Winners’ 🎖
ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD:
#33 - Road Train - Damascus College Ballarat
(@damascuscollege)
MCCULLOCH ENGINEERING INNOVATION AWARD:
#60 - Ashton Martin - Caulfield Grammar School
(@caulfieldgs | @cgs_hpr )
BEST SCHOOL-BASED BUILD:
#27 - Kingswood College - EVO
(@kingswoodcollegeboxhill)
SAFETY AWARD
#311 - Stampede - Maryborough Education Centre
(@maryborougheducationcentre)
BEST FIRST YEAR SCHOOL:
#444 - Longford Primary School
BEST SMALL SCHOOL:
#85 - Avoca Achieve - Avoca Primary School
IAN `ROGO` ROGERSON AWARD FOR BEST DISPLAY & PRESENTATION:
HPV SECONDARY -
#316 - Intimidator - Weeroona College Bendigo
(@weeroonacollegebendigo)
HPV PRIMARY -
#85 - Avoca Achieve - Avoca Primary School
PUSHCARTS -
#10 - LSPS Troopers - Lockwood South Primary School
@regionalrss SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
1st: Epsom Primary School
#14 - Adrenaline
2nd: Delacombe Primary School
#36 - DPS HJM Express
Commendation Award: Ballarat High School
#14 - The Ranenberg
📆 SAVE THE DATE for the 2026 Energy Breakthrough, powered by Honda, to be held on 18-22 November 2026.
⚡We invite YOUR school to undertake this STEM challenge to create a machine or innovation that represents an `energy breakthrough`.
🎟 Entries will open in March 2026 via our website at eb.org.au.
Further details on entry fees and field caps will be released in December.
Hailing from the tiny Wimmera town of St Arnaud, the secondary school students have punched well-abive their weight, and fought through tough conditions (and a broken battery) to achieve a podium finish at the 2025 Energy Breakthrough 👏
Covering 990km in 24 hours, the team at Bendigo Senior Secondary have done it again, with Snot Block taking out the Open HPV category and line honours following a incredible comeback from injury by one of their riders, Bryce 👏
Would you do a shoey from your cycling cleats after a 24-hour race? Turns out Kingswood College isn`t afraid 😂💦
A symphony of ice cream and spaghetti awaits our race winner 😙👌
#EnergyBreakthrough
Human Powered Vehicles and Energy Efficient Vehicles celebrate after the ultimate endurance test 🏁
PROGRAM PARTNERS
The Energy Breakthrough is a joint initiative of the Country Education Partnership (CEP) and the Central Goldfields Shire Council (CGSC). Our presenting partner is Honda
Tax-deductible donations to support the Energy Breakthrough can now be made through the Country Education Partnership and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR).
Find out more about making a donation to support the Energy Breakthrough >
PRESENTING PARTNER
JOINT PARTNER
JOINT PARTNER
SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS
Acknowledgement of Country
The Energy Breakthrough acknowledges and extends appreciation for the Dja Dja Wurrung People, the Traditional Owners of the land where the Energy Breakthrough is held. We pay our respects to leaders and Elders past, present and emerging for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and the hopes of all Dja Dja Wurrung People. We express our gratitude in the sharing of this land, our sorrow for the personal, spiritual and cultural costs of that sharing and our hope that we may walk forward together in harmony and in the spirit of healing.