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 2025 Energy Breakthrough event will be held from Wednesday 19 to Sunday 23 November 2025 in Maryborough, Victoria.
In 2025, over 250 teams from. across Victoria and beyond are expected to 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
ENTRIES ARE NOW OPEN for the 2025 Energy Breakthrough!
Head to our website to get your school amongst the action NOW.
ENTRIES ARE NOW OPEN for the 2025 Energy Breakthrough!
Head to our website to get your school amongst the action NOW.
📣 Public Service Announcement 📣
Entries open on 12 March on 12noon for the 2025 Energy Breakthrough!
🖱Team Managers get ready to click `ENTER` via our MyEB portal.
💻 Full details on our website (link in bio)
📣 Public Service Announcement 📣
Entries open on 12 March on 12noon for the 2025 Energy Breakthrough!
🖱Team Managers get ready to click `ENTER` via our MyEB portal.
💻 Full details on our website (link in bio)
🥁 Drumroll please! The 2025 Schools Handbook, Pushcart Handbook, HPV and EEV Vehicle specifications & Trial Regulations for the Energy Breakthrough have now been published!!
📄Key Documents you need to succeed are:
> Schools Handbook (All Entries, all Teams)
> HPV & EEV Vehicle Specifications
> HPV & EEV Trial Regulations
> TRYathlon Handbook
> Pushcart Handbook
👩💻👨🏼💻Head over to our website now & start downloading!
🥁 Drumroll please! The 2025 Schools Handbook, Pushcart Handbook, HPV and EEV Vehicle specifications & Trial Regulations for the Energy Breakthrough have now been published!!
📄Key Documents you need to succeed are:
> Schools Handbook (All Entries, all Teams)
> HPV & EEV Vehicle Specifications
> HPV & EEV Trial Regulations
> TRYathlon Handbook
> Pushcart Handbook
👩💻👨🏼💻Head over to our website now & start downloading!
We salute our Secondary School ‘Special Award’ Winners for 2024!
🏅 Best Display & Presentation: Damascus College
🏅 Best Design & Construction / Safety Award: Bendigo Senior SC
🏅 Best First Year School: Norwood International High School
We salute our Secondary School ‘Special Award’ Winners for 2024!
🏅 Best Display & Presentation: Damascus College
🏅 Best Design & Construction / Safety Award: Bendigo Senior SC
🏅 Best First Year School: Norwood International High School
As we close out a fine year, we salute our Primary School ‘Special Award’ Winners for 2024:
🏅 Best Display & Presentation: Laurimar Primary School
🏅 Best Design & Construction / Safety Award: Epsom Primary School
🏅 Bruce Reiffel Award for Best Small School: Avoca Primary School
🏅 Best First Year School: Lucas Primary School
🏅 Inclusive Team Award, sponsored by Enabled Designs: Beaconsfield Upper PS
As we close out a fine year, we salute our Primary School ‘Special Award’ Winners for 2024:
🏅 Best Display & Presentation: Laurimar Primary School
🏅 Best Design & Construction / Safety Award: Epsom Primary School
🏅 Bruce Reiffel Award for Best Small School: Avoca Primary School
🏅 Best First Year School: Lucas Primary School
🏅 Inclusive Team Award, sponsored by Enabled Designs: Beaconsfield Upper PS
Have you heard about Road to Zero?
Developed by the TAC in partnership with Melbourne Museum, Road to Zero is an award-winning, state-of-the-art Education Complex at Melbourne Museum.
Road to Zero offers free curriculum-linked programs for Year 9 and 10 Science and Health and PE, and VCE VM students.
Facilitated by knowledgeable road safety educators, excursions to Road to Zero comprise two parts – the Experience Space, an exploratory exhibition of 13 immersive experiences, and the purpose-built Learning Studio, where students undertake one of two curriculum-linked programs, including creating a public health campaign video, and tackling a virtual reality physics experiment.
To find out more and book your free 2025 excursion click:
https://www.roadtozero.vic.gov.au/
Have you heard about Road to Zero?
Developed by the TAC in partnership with Melbourne Museum, Road to Zero is an award-winning, state-of-the-art Education Complex at Melbourne Museum.
Road to Zero offers free curriculum-linked programs for Year 9 and 10 Science and Health and PE, and VCE VM students.
Facilitated by knowledgeable road safety educators, excursions to Road to Zero comprise two parts – the Experience Space, an exploratory exhibition of 13 immersive experiences, and the purpose-built Learning Studio, where students undertake one of two curriculum-linked programs, including creating a public health campaign video, and tackling a virtual reality physics experiment.
To find out more and book your free 2025 excursion click:
https://www.roadtozero.vic.gov.au/
Lock it in 🔒
The Energy Breakthrough returns 19-23 November, 2025.
See you there 😎
Let`s do it again next year? #EB2024
PROGRAM PARTNERS
The Energy Breakthrough is a joint initiative of the Country Education Partnership (CEP) and the Central Goldfields Shire Council (CGSC).
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 >
SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS
