A journey that began with victory at the West Australian da Vinci Decathlon culminated in an outstanding national performance for St Hilda’s Year 9 team, who travelled to Sydney during the recent school holidays to compete against some of Australia’s most capable and academically talented students.
The da Vinci Decathlon is one of Australia’s leading academic competitions, designed to challenge students through complex, interdisciplinary problem-solving. Inspired by the genius of Leonardo da Vinci, the competition encourages participants to think creatively, work collaboratively and apply higher-order thinking skills across a diverse range of disciplines, from Engineering and Science to Code Breaking, Literature and Ideation.
Having earned their place at Nationals by taking out first place in Western Australia, the St Hilda’s team welcomed the opportunity to test themselves against the country’s best. Competing in teams across a range of challenging disciplines, the girls demonstrated exceptional resilience, ingenuity and teamwork throughout the event.
Their efforts resulted in an extraordinary achievement, including being crowned National Champions in Engineering and securing top-three placings across five disciplines.
National da Vinci Decathlon Results
🥇 1st – Engineering
🥈 2nd – Ideation
🥉 3rd – Code Breaking
🥉 3rd – Science
🥉 3rd – Literature
These results are particularly significant given the breadth of skills required in the competition. Across the Decathlon’s disciplines, students are challenged to analyse complex problems, think laterally, communicate effectively and collaborate under pressure, all qualities that our students displayed in abundance.
One of the highlights of the trip came before the competition had even begun. Staff overheard students from other schools being told to “look out for the powder blue”, a proud reflection of the reputation St Hilda’s teams have established over many years through sustained success, strong teamwork and a commitment to academic excellence.
The experience extended beyond the competition hall. While in Sydney, the girls visited the University of Sydney, where they enjoyed a guided tour of the campus and gained valuable insight into university life. Walking through one of Australia’s leading universities gave students the opportunity to reflect on their future aspirations and imagine the many pathways available beyond St Hilda’s.
Congratulations to our remarkable Year 9 da Vinci Decathlon team. Their success at the National Finals is a testament not only to their academic ability, but also to their curiosity, determination and willingness to embrace challenges. We are incredibly proud of all they have achieved and look forward to following their future accomplishments.
The da Vinci Decathlon is a perfect example of the types of opportunities available to students in our Gifted and Talented Program.
