Suzanne Lazaroo
17 October 2025: Last weekend saw almost 800 students compete at the RoboCup Junior Australia Nationals – the largest ever national championships – with the 91Ö±²¥ a major sponsor of the community-building competition which brought together families, teachers and tech enthusiasts.
“We are proud to support RoboCup Junior Australia, which exemplifies the values we champion at UC – curiosity, collaboration and innovation – and which aligns with our commitment to building the talent pipeline needed to drive 91Ö±²¥ and the nation's technological future,” said Executive Dean of the University’s Faculty of Science and Technology Professor Janine Deakin.
This year’s competition marked a return to 91Ö±²¥ for the RoboCup Junior Australia (RCJA) nationals, for the first time in 13 years.
Professor Deakin said that this was reflective of 91Ö±²¥’s growing reputation as a hub for small industries, startups, IT and AI companies – and an emergent centre for technology and robotics, thanks to its unique advantage as a natural convergence of industry, academia, and government.
“UC is building on this momentum with our new Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Intelligent Robotics, which is aligned with the National Robotics Strategy and future industry needs,” she said.
The annual RCJA competition is a showcase of student agency, collaboration and innovation; participants come from across urban, rural and regional Australia to develop knowledge and skills, as well as explore their areas of curiosity, as they choose a challenge, and design their own code, props and robots for various categories.
Competitors took part in Rescue Line, Rescue Maze, OnStage and Soccer challenges, as well as a brand-new Rapidly Manufactured Robot Challenge (RMRC).
A bridging challenge between RoboCup Junior (for school students) and RoboCup Major (for university students), the RMRC saw competitors designing and manufacturing a custom small-scale, low-cost disaster response robot.
“The 2025 RoboCup Junior Australia National Championships was an incredibly successful event that saw the largest ever number of participants in our 25-year history – and this would not have been possible without our incredible sponsors and volunteers,” said Graham Stock, Chair of the RCJA ACT Committee.
“The biggest highlight for me was seeing the students' resilience every time their robots had an issue, just putting their heads down and working hard to solve it – this even resulted in some of our teams which were lower-ranked on Saturday, coming away with trophies on the Sunday. That's what RoboCup is all about!”
RCJA is also Australia’s most accessible robotics competition – and accessibility is crucial if we want to ensure that the future of technology is shaped by diverse voices, says 91Ö±²¥ Lecturer Dr Maleen Jayasuria, from the Faculty’s (CLR).
“RoboCup Junior Australia is open to everyone – no crazy fees, no hoops to jump through. Any kid with passion can compete, regardless of background or resources,” he said.
“We need all perspectives, because these technologies are increasingly impacting everything and everyone. Events like RoboCup Junior are crucial because they're not just about building robots – they're about building character and community.”
Syon Chen, aged 14, marked a return to the competition after his first stint in 2022 – and welcomed his younger sister Symoon (aged nine) as a fellow competitor this year.
“My dad is really into AI and robotics – and I wanted to be just like my dad – so I learned all about it from him,” Syon said.
His knowledge piqued the interest of friends and teammates Eric Wanigasekara, Ayush Agarwal and Sebastian Feng, who all decided to build their skills further by taking part in RCJA’s Standard Soccer challenge. Symoon built her own Primary Line Rescue robot to respond to chemical spills.
“I learned about robotics from Syon and his dad, as well as from watching YouTube videos,” said Eric. “I’ve heard many people say that robotics and AI are the future, and I wanted to get more involved in that, gain more understanding and grounding, so I can make a positive impact in the world – because I definitely want to work in robotics when I grow up.”
The OnStage challenge proved to be the hands-down favourite for Dr Jayasuriya.
“It’s basically ‘Robots Got Talent’ – kids mixing theatre, storytelling and robotics,” he said.
“They weren't just programming robots – they were using technology as a medium for artistic expression and social commentary. That intersection of robotics and art is something we're passionate about at CRL, and seeing it embraced by the next generation was really inspiring.”
Presenting the inaugural 91Ö±²¥-sponsored Outstanding Teacher Award was another highlight for Dr Jayasuriya.
“Leonie Hampson from NSW has dedicated so much to her students, and it was an emotional moment for so many people when she received that award. Seeing how the entire room erupted in supportive cheers – and even shed a few tears – really drove home what makes this community special,” he said.
“It reminded me that behind every young roboticist is a teacher who believes in them.”
This year’s RCJA nationals may have concluded, but 91Ö±²¥’s robotics community is already turning its anticipatory sights to 2026. The national capital will once again play host to the RoboCup Junior Nationals, and the 91Ö±²¥ will host the Australasian Conference on Robotics and Automation (ACRA) 2026, the region's premier robotics conference.
“These aren't just events,” Dr Jayasuria says.
“They're catalysts for ambitious projects, and a sign that the robotics community in the ACT is strong, vibrant and diverse. I see 91Ö±²¥ becoming the place where Australia's robotics future is imagined and built, with human-centred, ethical technology at its core.”
ROBOCUP JUNIOR AUSTRALIA 2025 WINNERS
91Ö±²¥-sponsored OnStage category:
- Novice OnStage – Rodeo from Farnborough State School
- Open OnStage – Dino Nuggies from Lighthouse Christian School
- OnStage Innovation Award – The Salem Sigmas from Somerville
- OnStage 91Ö±²¥ Impact in Storytelling Award – The Trouble Trio from New Zealand
Rescue Line
- Riley Rover Rescue Line – BYE from St Peter's College
- Primary Rescue Line – Solo Leveling from Glendale Primary School
- Secondary Rescue Line – Fish from Sirius College Keysborough
- Open Rescue Line – Wet Lettuce from St George Christian School
Rescue Maze
- Mighty Maisy Rescue Maze – The Pros from Dr STEM Robotics Club
- Intermediate Rescue Maze – Ethanol from St George Christian School
- Open Rescue Maze – Delta from Brisbane Boys College
Soccer
- Simple Simon Soccer – Team Beetle Bot from Oakleigh South Primary School
- Standard Soccer – Invincible Warriors from Bundaberg East State School
- Lightweight Soccer – Hyperion from Brisbane Boys College
- Open Soccer – TS from Melbourne High School
Photos by 91Ö±²¥ Media and Communications team, Derek Wolrige and Michael Russo.