At Rowellyn Park Primary School, we have a rich history with our HPV and Pushcart teams and this program has been an integral part of the Rowellyn Park community for over 20 years.
The school enters teams in the VIC Series for HPV which sees boys and girls teams compete in races at a range of venues including Casey Fields, Sandown Park and Calder Park. More infrormation on the VIC series can be found here: https://www.vichpvseries.com.au/
A year of training, fundraising and preparation comes into fruition at the Energy Breakthrough event in Maryborough where we enter several teams in the HPV and Pushcart competitions in the event.
What is the Energy Breakthrough?
The Energy Breakthrough is a joint initiative of the Country Education Partnership (CEP) and the Central Goldfields Shire Council (CGSC).
Since 1991, the Energy Breakthrough has provided opportunities for students, teachers, parents and local industry to work together to design and construct a vehicle, a machine or innovation in technology that will represent an ‘energy breakthrough’.
The program is unique in that all teams must compete across three areas of assessment: Design and Construction, Display and Presentation and Trials.
The Energy Breakthrough isn’t just a once-a-year event. School groups work throughout the year to design, build and test machines within detailed specifications.
The program encourages participants to examine and use the latest technology while considering its impact on the environment and the way people live locally and globally. It requires a team effort and an across-the-curriculum approach.
These groups then bring their vehicles and machines to Maryborough in Victoria for a huge celebration in which they can demonstrate and trial them in action.
HPV at Energy Breakthrough
Entrants design, build and compete with a vehicle powered solely by human power.
Our event specifications direct the construction of the vehicle – including safety, dimensions, steering regulations, lighting and warning device requirements.
Leading teams can cycle almost 900kms in 24 hours, with advanced materials such as carbon fibre, kevlar and titanium infiltrating vehicle designs.
But it’s not just about the cutting edge – just the opportunity to participate keeps teams coming back year after year to pedal around the famous lakeside circuit!
For more than 30 years, schools and education centres across Victoria and Australia have converged annually to compete in the Human Powered Vehicle category and celebrate the achievements in this program.
Design, build, present and test your pedal-powered vehicle.
Alongside all other categories at the Energy Breakthrough, teams compete across three areas of assessment:
- Design & Construction
- Display & Presentation
- The Trial (Primary = 14 hours in two parts, Secondary = 24 hours)
All entrants are required to participate in the Trial sections on the street circuits at Maryborough in November (including a nine-hour lights-on period).
There is a compulsory eight-hour break for primary entrants (Class A) during the night, making the duration of the primary event 14 hours.
Pushcarts at Energy Breakthrough
Entrants connect with their community to build and compete with a pushcart that Celebrates human power.
The Pushcart event is a challenging but enjoyable way of introducing energy use and technology to young students.
The machines used to compete are based on the humble billy cart, and are pushed energetically through an obstacle course, sprint and circuit events at Maryborough in November.
The teams of ten students may obtain the assistance of other students, parents, friends, local tradespeople, community groups to build their pushcart.
For more than 30 years, schools and education centres across Victoria and Australia have converged annually to compete in the Pushcarts category and celebrate the achievements in this program.
The Energy Breakthrough is an education-first program for schools of all shapes and sizes. It has vast benefits across a wide range of curriculum areas, both formally and informally.
Curriculum Areas
Teachers and students have told us that the Energy Breakthrough has helped to reinforce students’ learning in:
- STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths (in particular through the Design & Construction and Trials)
- Health & Physical Education, Nutrition (Trial aspects)
- English, the Arts & Drama (Display & Presentation)
- Computer science and coding (Robotics)
- Electrical engineering in our Pedal+Electric hybrids and All-Electric Energy Efficient Vehicles (EEVs)
- Electrical engineering also with horn and light systems for Human Powered Vehicles (HPVs)
- Sustainability (Program-wide lessons)
Interpersonal Benefits
The interpersonal benefits for students are immense, too.
Both teachers and students have told us that through the Energy Breakthrough the students have gained experience in:
- How to work as part of a team / collaboration
- Leadership
- Sense of belonging to a team
- Increased fitness and nutrition
- Budgeting
- Time management
- Improved confidence
- Increased awareness of renewable energy and issues facing society
- Improved relationships between staff and students
- Exploring relationships and diversity
- Resilience
- Decision making skills
- Networking with local community, businesses and other schools
- Recognition and expression of emotions
The Energy Breakthrough can be used as a ‘vehicle’ to address a wide range of the ‘personal and social capability’ components of the Victorian Curriculum.
For more information regarding the HPV, Pushcart or Energy Breakthrough programs, please contact Program Coordinator Mr Kieran McCluskey.