A team representing Mel Maria Catholic Primary School has returned victorious from the Tournament of Minds International Final held in Sydney.
Mel Maria was awarded first place as the overall winners in the international primary STEM category.
20 Nov 2025
Mel Maria team triumphs at Tournament of Minds finals
It comes after the team were selected to represent WA having competed alongside more than 100 students at the State competition held at Edith Cowan University on 20 September.
Students competed against all the Australian States and overseas teams in the discipline of STEM. They were required to complete an unseen lock in challenge in three hours and then perform their solution to a panel of interstate judges.
This year’s task asked students to use laser pointer technologies to set up a working model for a coding system that sends messages via light.
They needed to contextualise its use, create a coding system, and set up an intercepting point that redirected the light source once the message had been sent. Using the design process model students presented a highly engaging scenario highlighting and explaining their working model of a light maze, the STEM principles involved alongside a chart featuring the diagrammatical model detailing its science and mathematical understandings.
Participating students said:
“We are grateful to the school for giving us the opportunity to enter competitions like this, as not all schools compete. To enter this competition is a privilege.”
“The team has members from year 4 to year 6 it is a multiage group. As the year 6 co-captains of the team it is wonderful getting to know younger students attending Mel Maria, mixing and helping each individual member work together to contribute to the team challenges.”
“We are grateful for the opportunity to fly over to Sydney and compete, and meet other schools, comparing strategies and stories.”
“TOM challenges push you out of your comfort zone, and we had all the WA team and teachers inspiring us to win the competition!”
The TOM team is a part of the extensive gifted and talented program “SEEDS” offered at Mel Maria.
Teresa Marra, gifted and talented co-ordinator who led the team through both the State and International TOM competition said:
“We are grateful to the school for giving us the opportunity to enter competitions like this, as not all schools compete. To enter this competition is a privilege.
“The team has members from year 4 to year 6 it is a multiage group. As the year 6 co-captains of the team it is wonderful getting to know younger students attending Mel Maria, mixing and helping each individual member work together to contribute to the team challenges.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to fly over to Sydney and compete, and meet other schools, comparing strategies and stories.
“TOM challenges push you out of your comfort zone, and we had all the WA team and teachers inspiring us to win the competition!”