Esperance Anglican Community School launched its inaugural Innov8 program, a dynamic, week-long initiative designed to ignite entrepreneurial thinking in Year 8 students. With a focus on creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving, Innov8 challenged students to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems and pitch their ideas in a ‘Shark Tank’ style finale.
Throughout the week, students worked in small groups to identify a problem, design a product or service to address it, and build a business model around their solution. The program featured inspiring guest speakers including local business leaders, entrepreneurs, and creatives, who shared their personal journeys and offered valuable advice on branding, marketing, and resilience.
Hands-on workshops helped students refine their concepts using tools like the SCAMPER method and Business Model Canvas. Teams also explored costing, pricing, and promotional strategies before preparing a compelling pitch to present to a panel of “Shark” judges.
The final presentations showcased not only the creativity of our students, but also their growing confidence, teamwork, and entrepreneurial spirit. From stress-relief devices to eco-friendly innovations, the ideas were thoughtful, engaging, and deeply connected to the needs of their peers and wider community.
Innov8 was more than just a business challenge, it was a celebration of student voice, agency, and innovation. The program will now become a key feature of the school’s approach to future-focused learning.
