{"id":9153,"date":"2025-10-15T15:03:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T05:03:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/?page_id=9153"},"modified":"2025-10-15T15:03:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T05:03:16","slug":"st-josephs-bardon-wins-stem-competition-with-ai-project-to-help-the-elderly","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/st-josephs-bardon-wins-stem-competition-with-ai-project-to-help-the-elderly\/","title":{"rendered":"St Joseph\u2019s Bardon Wins STEM Competition With AI Project to Help the Elderly"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When students at<\/strong> St Joseph\u2019s Bardon<\/strong><\/a> began brainstorming ways to use technology for good, they had no idea their ideas would lead them all the way to a national stage. But that\u2019s exactly what happened when their project, <\/strong>The Family Press<\/em><\/strong>, won first place in the primary category of the Brisbane Catholic Education STEM MAD competition \u2014 the largest yet, with more than 120 teams from over 50 schools.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read: More Than Meets the Eye: Uncovering the Hidden Stories of Rosalie<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>

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Turning a Personal Story Into a Winning Idea<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Family Press team\u2019s idea was born from a deeply personal experience. One team member had watched their great-grandfather struggle with loneliness in aged care, and it sparked a question: Could technology help older Australians feel more connected to their families?<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their answer was a personalised, AI-powered news-sharing system designed to deliver family updates, photos, and messages directly to elderly users, helping them stay part of everyday life even when separated by distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Judges praised the project for its blend of innovation and empathy, and it was this combination that secured St Joseph\u2019s Bardon the top spot. The win also means the team will represent both their school and Brisbane Catholic Education<\/a> at the national STEM MAD finals in November 2025. It’s a major milestone for the students and their teachers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technology With Heart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another St Joseph\u2019s Bardon team, Hug to Heart<\/em>, also impressed at the competition with their own compassion-driven project. They designed an interactive teddy bear that can send hugs remotely, offering comfort and emotional support to children undergoing long hospital treatments for leukaemia. While this team didn\u2019t take the top prize, their work was recognised for its creativity and potential to make a difference in young patients\u2019 lives.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo Credit: Supplied<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

STEM Education Officer Claire Byrne said projects like these show what happens when students are encouraged to think beyond the classroom. By focusing on real-world challenges and designing with empathy, they learn not just how to build technology \u2014 but how to build solutions that matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n