The Great Barrier Reef Challenge Course is designed for Australian primary students (Years 3-6), however it can also be adapted for older learners and international contexts.
In this Challenge Course students will:
Teachers and students explore real-world examples of current threats to the Reef, along with the practices used to mitigate and protect it. The Great Barrier Reef Challenge Course features a series of scaffolded activities that students can complete at their own pace, including:
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (the Reef Authority) is Australia’s lead management agency for Marine Park management since 1975. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 guides management and best available science to protect values, reduce threats, and improve the current and long-term outlook for the Reef and the communities that depend on it.
The Reef Authority works together with Traditional Owners, other Australian and Queensland government agencies, industry, community organisations, and individuals to help protect and manage the Reef.
In 2003, the Reef Authority launched the Reef Guardian School Program to build students’ knowledge and inspire action to protect environments for future generations.
The Program develops youth as environmental leaders by deepening their understanding of reef ecosystems, associated threats and conservation actions. While centred on the Great Barrier Reef, it is globally adaptable to local waterways, cultures and curricula.
Teachers access a digital portal, expert-led virtual sessions, adaptable resources, global connections and support for student-led projects. These tools promote ocean literacy, sustainability and responsible practices, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals and Blue Economy priorities.
Learn more: reefguardians@gbrmpa.gov.au or Reef Guardian School Portal
Supporting links:
Term 2
Registration open for primary schools.
End of Term 2
Instructions and resources emailed out.
Beginning of Term 3
Challenge Course launches in the Makers Empire app.
During Term 3
Students complete program activities.
End of Term 4
Challenge Course closes and student designs are submitted.
In 2027-2029
Challenge Course remains available for schools in future years to participate.
The Challenge Course offers any primary school teacher an engaging way to explore reef threats and solutions across the Science, HASS and Technologies curriculum areas.
Teachers can register their class or student groups to participate.
Yes, this program aligns with the Australian Curriculum.
The Challenge has been designed for grades 3-6 students.
Yes, absolutely! We can set up a complimentary trial account for your school to participate in this challenge if you are not a Makers Empire customer.
Students can complete the Challenge Course any time during Term 3, 2026. Students access and complete the Challenge Course through the Makers Empire app.
The Great Barrier Reef Challenge Course is accessed through the Makers Empire App.
Other activity ideas will be provided via the teacher guide.
Selected designs will be exhibited in an online exhibition.
Certificates will be made available for participating students.
The learning resources provided within the Makers Empire 3D app to support students are videos, quizzes, design thinking tutorials and challenges. For the teachers a teacher guide, webinar(s) and weekly emails are provided.
The Challenge Course is expected to take 3-5 hours to complete. Extension activities provided could take a further 3-10 hours.
In Term 2, instructions will be sent to ensure a Term 3 start.
You will then start receiving weekly emails once the challenge starts until the end of the challenge all the way through to end of Term 3.
The main setup for schools is to ensure they have a Makers Empire setup for student and teacher use, setup teacher and student user accounts, have the Makers Empire app downloaded on student devices, ensure school network/internet can connect to Makers Empire.
We can setup student user accounts for you – just send us your school’s class list to info@makersempire.com and we’ll return student login for you.
Instructions for your schools IT can be found here: https://help.makersempire.com/en/articles/11790596-for-school-it-support-download-and-install-makers-empire-app
Ready to be involved? Register below to participate in the Great Barrier Reef Challenge Course.
Please ensure you read the Privacy Collection Notice located below the registration form.
Great Barrier Reef Challenge Course 2026.
The Reef Authority has engaged Makers Empire Pty Ltd as a service provider to provide a secure online 3D design platform for students to design Reef solutions and ideas.
The Challenge Course is available online via the Makers Empire Platform for all interested national and international schools.
A free subscription to complete the challenge will be available to schools who do not currently subscribe to the Makers Empire Platform.
An “offline’’ version of the 2026 Great Barrier Reef Challenge will be made available to participants who do not wish to register to Makers Empire Platform. Please email reefguardians@gbrmpa.gov.au for further information.
Personal Information
Students, teachers or schools are not required to provide personal email addresses, home addresses, phone numbers, photographs or sensitive personal information. Any images/videos you provide to the Reef Authority or to Makers Empire, where participants (i.e. teachers and students) are identifiable, is considered to be ‘personal information’ under the Privacy Act 1988. By providing images to the Reef Authority or Makers Empire you confirm that you have obtained the relevant consents to do so.
If we are unable to collect your personal information, we will not be able to accept registration or participation.
Overseas disclosure
The Makers Empire platform uses secure commercial cloud hosting services. Some information may be stored on servers located outside Australia. Appropriate security safeguards are in place to protect the information and it is handled in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles. The Makers Empire platform uses security measures including password protection, restricted access controls and encrypted internet connections. Only authorised personnel can access the information when required to support the program.
Accessing or correcting student information
You may request access to, correction of, or deletion of a student personal information at any time by contacting:
Complaints
If you have concerns about how personal information has been handled, you may contact:
If you are not satisfied with the response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.
Further information
Makers Empire’s privacy policy is available at: https://www.makersempire.com/legal-privacy/
The Reef Authority collects, holds, uses and discloses personal information to carry out its functions or activities under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 2019 and other associated environmental legislation. Further information, including how to access and control your information, is contained in the Reef Authority’s Private Policy: https://www2.gbrmpa.gov.au/about-us/corporate-information/privacy
Declaration:
I declare that the images I am sharing with the Reef Authority and Makers Empire for the Great Barrier Reef Challenge Course do not infringe on the right of any person including privacy and intellectual property rights.
I further declare that valid consent has been obtained from all relevant individuals (including parental or guardian consent, where appropriate) to use the name, image, and/or voice (personal information) for official purpose to upload student project submissions and share across Makers Empire and Reef Authority Platforms that includes the Reef Authority website, social media and the Reef Guardian School Portal.
I confirm that I will provide the relevant consent/s to the Reef Authority or Makers Empire, if requested.
I understand and acknowledge that the personal information of teachers and students may be utilised for any of the above-mentioned official purposes which may result in identification of individual Reef Guardian participants. I also understand that once personal details are utilised for an official purpose, the Reef Authority has no control over its subsequent use and/or disclosure.
I hereby release and discharge the Reef Authority from any claims or demands that could be made in connection with the use of the personal information collected and used for an official purpose referred to above.
By allowing your student to participate in the program, you acknowledge this collection and handling of information for the purposes described in the Privacy Notice.
