Training teachers for Minecraft Airport design challenge

Teachers from across Western Sydney are learning how to use Minecraft, ready to support primary school students as they create their vision for Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport. 

Professional development days have been held at Western Sydney University campuses in Campbelltown, Liverpool, Penrith and Parramatta, training teachers to guide students using the popular digital building blocks game to tackle real-world challenges involved in designing an airport. 

Western Sydney Airport Chief Executive Officer Graham Millett said so around 100 teachers have joined the one-day professional development sessions to prepare for the innovative design competition. 

“The response to the competition has been overwhelming and we’re expecting thousands of students from across Western Sydney to be involved,” said Mr Millett. 

“Western Sydney International is about creating high quality jobs and opportunities for the future of the region. 

“We want our future engineers and architects to be inspired by this competition.” 

Liverpool City Council Mayor Wendy Waller said the level of interest was a strong indicator of excitement surrounding the creation of a new international airport in Western Sydney. 

“The young students solving some of the real-world challenges involved in creating a new airport will grow up to be the adults who use it or who may work there and in the surrounding aerotropolis,” said Mayor Waller. 

Students will work on their entries throughout term 2 before submitting their designs online. The top schools will then be invited to present their ideas to a judging panel of industry experts at the University’s Liverpool campus in August. 

Western Sydney Airport and Liverpool City Council have contributed the $40,000 prize pool, which can be spent on science and technology projects at winning schools. 

Now in its second year, the design competition is coordinated by Liverpool City Council with the support of Western Sydney Airport, the NSW Department of Education, Minecraft and Western Sydney University.