With curriculum time getting busier and busier, a great way to inspire and empower students is before and after school with extracurricular programs for students. Our after school programs are fantastic at doing this and allow us to get students thinking big and focussing on cross-curricular, project-based learning as they tackle challenges, build skills and work on projects that get them thinking about the world around them and the exciting opportunities open to their generation.
With everything from designing future cities to launching influencer brands, building businesses, working with technology and more, we have a range of standard programs to choose from, or we're able to customise a program to your school community. Our after school programs typically run for 6-8 weeks and cost $30 per student per week.
Showcasing The Next Generation Of Young Changemakers
Across Australia, young people are driving change, leading initiatives, and shaping the future. The Next Gen Awards provides a platform to recognise and celebrate the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders making an impact in their communities.
Open to Australian primary and high school students in Grades 4-12, as well as their educators and schools, the 2025 awards showcase outstanding achievements across four distinct categories. These categories highlight the diverse talents of young changemakers and the educators empowering them to succeed.
The awards program offers participants opportunities to develop their skills, expand their networks, and gain national recognition for their work.
If you’re a young leader, entrepreneur, or innovator - or an educator fostering the next generation of change - make sure to get involved!
Showcasing The Next Generation Of Top Talent Across The Country
Award Categories
In 2025, the awards will feature four distinct categories, each designed to recognise the diverse talents and achievements of the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders. These categories provide a platform for young changemakers and innovative educators to showcase their ideas, gain national recognition, and connect with inspiring mentors and opportunities.
Each award category is tailored to a specific type of applicant with awards for students, educators and schools. The categories are as follows:
Young Entrepreneur Of The Year
The Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award will go to a student who has developed their entrepreneurial skills as they have brought a business to life while they are still in school.
.png)
Young Leader Of The Year
The Young Leader Of The Year award will go to a student who has made a significant impact in their local community through the development of their leadership abilities.
Young Innovator Of The Year
The Young Innovator Of The Year award will go to a student who has demonstrated the ability to push the boundaries as they have developed an out-of-the-box solution to a challenge presented to them.
Innovative Educator Of The Year
The Innovative Educator Of The Year award will go to an educator who has gone above and beyond in their pursuit to educate and empower the next generation of young innovators, entrepreneurs and changemakers.
Nominations for the 2025 Next Gen Awards will be opening on Monday the 28th of April. Make sure to subscribe to stay updated.
Key Dates
Nominations for The Next Gen Awards 2025 will officially open on the 28th of April and our awards program will feature a series of engagement opportunities throughout the year. Key dates for our 2025 awards program can be found below:
Nominations Open
28th April 2025
Finalists Announced
8th August 2025
Innovative Educators Masterclass
Nominations Close
9th June 2025
National Awards Ceremony
5th November 2025
Nominate A Young Innovator, Entrepreneur, Or Leader In Your Community
2024 Finalists & Winners
The 2024 Next Gen Awards attracted over 100 nominations from across the country, highlighting the incredible talent, creativity, and leadership of young changemakers and innovative educators.
These nominees are making a real impact in their communities, driving forward bold ideas and transformative projects. After a rigorous judging process led by industry leaders, we are proud to introduce our 2024 Next Gen National Finalists, a cohort of future leaders shaping the world of tomorrow!
Recognising & Rewarding Young Changemakers Across The Country
Meet Our Industry Judges
Behind every great awards program is a panel of experts dedicated to recognising excellence. To ensure a thorough and insightful evaluation of our 2024 nominations, we brought together an esteemed panel of industry leaders, innovators, and changemakers to judge each award category.
Their expertise and commitment have been instrumental in highlighting Australia’s top young talent. Meet our 2024 Next Gen Awards Judges below:
Explore Our Library Of Free Masterclasses To Build Your Skills
Masterclass Library
The Next Gen Masterclass Library is a the go-to place for young changemakers wanting to develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence to bring their ideas to life. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, an emerging leader, or simply curious about innovation, these masterclasses are tailored to help you grow, no matter your age or location.
Featuring a collection of pre-recorded masterclasses led by industry experts, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, this library offers practical insights, real-world advice, and actionable strategies to turn ambition into impact. Each session covers key topics such as entrepreneurship, problem-solving, leadership, and creativity, ensuring young people have the tools they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.
From exploring cutting-edge ideas to refining essential skills, the Next Gen Masterclass Library is here to support your journey every step of the way. Dive in, get inspired, and start shaping the future today!
Open To All Primary And High School Students & Educators Across Australia
The Awards Ceremony
To celebrate the next generation of young innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders, we are excited to host a virtual national awards ceremony in Term Four. Stay tuned for more details on how you can join us in recognising and rewarding Australia’s top young talent.
National Awards Ceremony
5th November 2024 | Streamed Virtually
Join us for the Next Gen Awards 2025 National Ceremony, where we will celebrate the incredible young innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders making an impact across Australia.
During the evening, we’ll hear from our inspiring finalists as they share the projects they’ve been leading in their schools and communities. We’ll also welcome special guest speakers before announcing the winners for each award category.
This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the next generation of changemakers - subscribe for updates and be the first to know how you can tune in!
Showcasing Our Next Generation Of Young Entrepreneurs, Innovators & Leaders!