CAV Resource Centre - Spotlight on... - Teacher resources - Consumer Stuff Challenge Competition Award Winners

A film about recycled furniture has won a major prize in the 2009 Consumer Stuff Challenge Competition.

This year’s presentation, held at the Northern Metropolitan Institute of TAFE’s (NMIT) Heidelberg campus, was attended by the Minister for Consumer Affairs, the Honourable Tony Robinson MP. Minister Robinson handed out over 60 prizes to the winning entries.

The film, which had a strong environmental message about how to craft furniture from recycled timber, was made by a group of NMIT students.

Cameron Jones from Luther College - Winner of the VCAL Consumer Stuff Challenge

Minister for Consumer Affairs, Tony Robinson MP
with winners of the VCAL Consumer Stuff Challenge,
Jacob Skuse, Ben Ranieri, Matthew Esparon,
Alex Sega and Hector Vigor from NMIT

Now in its sixth year, the Consumer Stuff Challenge is a highlight on Consumer Affairs Victoria’s calendar. The Challenge helps young people aged 10 to 17 to understand more about their consumer rights and responsibilities as wel as increasing their financial awareness.

One teacher at the presentation said, “The kids learned great skills such as teamwork, organising their own meetings and were motivated to meet the competition entry deadline. They didn’t feel like they were working.”

Students were challenged to create a consumer information product which could help young people to become informed and responsible consumers. More than 500 students participated, submitting 257 individual and team entries.

Other winners included students from Lilydale High School, who took out the VELS group division with Who wants to be a millionaire – mobile phone quiz, an interactive quiz testing consumers on their mobile phone knowledge.

Minister for Consumer Affairs with with will Johnson and Ryan Trowsdale, winners of the VELS Consumer Stuff Challenge Team Entry

Minister for Consumer Affairs, Tony Robinson MP
with winners of the VELS Consumer Stuff Challenge Team Entry,
Will Johnson and Ryan Trowsdale from Lilydale High School

Cameron Jones from Luther College won the VELS division for an individual entry, with his PowerPoint presentation about responsible gambling.

Minister for Consumer Affairs with Cameron Jones, winner of the VELS Consumer Stuff Challenge Individual Entry

Minister for Consumer Affairs, Tony Robinson MP
with winner of the VELS Consumer Stuff Challenge Individual Entry,
Cameron Jones from Luther College

“The overall standard of entries was exceptional and I congratulate all the students who entered on their creativity and awareness,” Mr Robinson said. “I encourage all students to take the Consumer Stuff Challenge next year and thank all those who made the effort this year.”

The major student prize winners collected $1,000 vouchers and framed certificates. The host schools of the winners collected $1,000 and a framed certificate.

Examples of past entries