Young Victorians Shine at 2025 Maths Talent Quest Awards

Budding mathematicians, families and teachers filled the University of Melbourne's Glyn Davis Building on 27 October for the Victorian Maths Talent Quest (MTQ) and Awards Ceremony, a celebration of student curiosity and real-world problem-solving that has run annually since 1982.

Hosted by the Mathematical Association of Victoria (MAV), the MTQ invites primary and secondary students to choose investigations aligned to their interests and apply mathematics in context, helping them see how maths explains the world around them and, for many, easing maths anxiety in the process.

Opening the ceremony, Jennifer Bowden welcomed a packed audience and acknowledged sponsors Kumon, the University of Melbourne, and AMSI, alongside distinguished guests Paula McMahon (National MTQ representative; CEO, MAWA), Dr Scott Cameron (Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne), Eleanor Drayton (Hume Central Secondary College, Victorian Maths Ambassador) and Peter Cribb (MTQ Founder).

Now in its 42nd year, the MTQ received more than 440 investigations from 50 schools in Stage Two, with more than 115 schools participating at the school-based Stage One. All entrants receive certificates; the program recognised High Distinction and Special Award recipients. High Distinction entries were re-judged for the National MTQ, hosted this year by MAV.

STEM Outreach Spotlight

The University of Melbourne's STEM Outreach Award segment featured Dr Saritha Kodikara, a Research Fellow who unites statistics and biology to reveal patterns in complex systems. Her career, from undergraduate studies in Sri Lanka to a PhD in Melbourne modelling species' extinction risk, offered students a vivid picture of mathematics powering discovery.

Victoria Leads at the National MTQ

MAV nominated 18 investigations to the National MTQ; Victoria earned eight awards, the highest representation nationally. Catherine Attard and Allan Dougan joined the celebration to share remarks and present the National Awards.

National Award Recipients

Foundation: Prep GF, Templestowe Park PS - What's Behind the Elevator Door? - Participation
Year 1: Year 1 Extension (absent), Our Lady of the Pines CPS - Tuck Shop for a Day - Commended
Year 2: Rafael Chakrabarti, PEGS - AFL Grand Final Prediction - Participation
Year 2: Year 2 Extension Group (absent), Our Lady of the Pines CPS - The Case of the Missing Teaspoons - Prize Winner
Year 3: Raaghav Sharma, PEGS - What Is the Safest Aircraft? - Commended
Year 3: Ethan Cai & Leo Mi, Mentone Grammar - Best NBA Player? - Commended
Year 3: 3B, Templestowe Park PS - Titanic - Participation
Year 4: Elizabeth Ward, Ballarat Grammar - Orphaned Lambs Care Forecast - Participation
Year 4: Piers Volaris-Butts, James Anderson, Charlie Webb, Harvey Wilson, MGS Grimwade - How Money Grows - Commended
Year 4: 4E, Templestowe Park PS - Australia Bound - Participation
Year 5: Inara Brooks, PEGS-JSG - Meat or Plants? - Prize Winner
Year 5: Dion Del Giudice & Sebastian Locastro, Our Lady of the Pines CPS - Quickest Way to Save for a PS5? - Commended
Year 6: Aaradhya Sharma, Jells Park PS - Raising the Kitchen Garden - Participation
Year 6: Bodhi Miller, Anuk Althuge, Yuthmin Hewage, PEGS - Carbon-Neutral School Drop-Off - Prize Winner
Year 7: Claire Li, Marion Cassar, Indigo Thomas, Viewbank College - Which School? - Participation
Year 7: Hamish De Livera, Mentone Grammar - SWOT: Investment & Property - Prize Winner
Year 8: Kenny Tran & Sean Shu, Haileybury-Keysborough - GBR Coral Bleaching & Overfishing - Commended
Year 8: Ziyang Wang, Haileybury-Keysborough - What Makes a Tennis Champion - Participation

Special Awards

University of Melbourne Award: Nandini Rathi (Y2, PEGS) - How Weather Affects the Sports Kids Play
University of Melbourne Award: Thomas Volpe (Y5, Kilvington GS) - Frozen Yoghurt
University of Melbourne Award: Emma Lin, Mika Mo, Hanna Zhu (Y8, Haileybury-Keysborough) - Public Transport vs Driving
Kumon Australia Award: Class 1FB (Y1, Templestowe Park PS) - What Does Difference Mean?
Kumon Australia Award: Jimmy Baumgartner (Y3, PEGS) - Hidden Maths Behind WORDLE
Kumon Australia Award: Levi Dayaseela (Y8, Mentone Grammar) - Optimise HDI with Multivariable Calculus
AMSI Award: Vivaan Vadera (Y2, PEGS) - Maths on the Fast Track
AMSI Award: Annabelle Lim (Y6, Karoo PS) - Best Transport for Earth and Us?
AMSI Award: Mason Chan, Lucas Guo, Kha Ho, Ethan Rawal (Y8, Viewbank College) - Physics Behind Jack and the Beanstalk

Peter Cribb, MTQ founder and long-time MAV contributor, presented the Jim Trotter Perpetual Award, honouring the late Jim Trotter's legacy in inspiring mathematical investigations through the MAV Student Activities Committee.

Jim Trotter Perpetual Award: Harry Chadwick (Y5, Port Melbourne PS) - Should Chess Be Included in the Primary Maths Curriculum?

Outstanding School Awards

Mentone Grammar School
Karoo Primary School
Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School - Girls’ Junior School
Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School - Boys’ Junior School
Templestowe Park Primary School

The MTQ is "key pillar of MAV's student activities" promoting mathematical thinking across the curriculum and encouraging every student, from Foundation to Year 12, to see themselves as problem-solvers. For more information about the Maths Talent Quest and how to participate in 2026, please contact MAV or head to the MTQ page.