Team Australia celebrates an historic debut at the 21st International Standards Olympiad

In August 2026, Australia’s best young minds stepped onto the global stage at the 21st International Standards Olympiad for the very first time.

Each year, teams from around the world are nominated by their national Standards Development Organisation (SDO) and invited to compete. As Australia’s nominated SDO, we nominated six students to represent the nation.

Australia’s debut in this competition marks a pivotal investment in the next generation. By engaging young minds in standardisation today, we ensure the safety, quality, and resilience of our nation is never left to chance.  

And what a debut it was: the students of Methodist Ladies’ College (WA) were awarded the Gold Prize, while Loyola College (VIC) earned a Bronze Prize, demonstrating the problem-solving capabilities of Australian youth.  

"As it was our first time competing, this result was completely unexpected and made the achievement even more rewarding," said Victoria Kanicki, Supervising Teacher, Loyola College.  

Hosted this year by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) and the Korean Standards Association (KSA), the International Standards Olympiad is the premier global youth standardisation competition.  

Over three intensive days, 105 students from around the world were challenged to tackle complex, real-world issues through technical standards. The unseen topic revealed to both Australian teams was “Wearable Electronic Devices and Technologies – Performance Test Methods for Smart Eyeglasses.” Their proposed standards addressed key aspects of smart glasses, including design, camera functionality, audio performance and internet connectivity.  

The teams then presented their standards to a panel of distinguished judges, demonstrating how their proposals met the needs of various stakeholders while also considering conformity assessment requirements and global sustainability outcomes.

“What made it especially memorable was the incredible support shown by everyone involved and the way the team worked together so effectively, demonstrating collaboration, commitment, and a shared passion for success,” said Victoria Kanicki, Supervising Teacher, Loyola College.  

Introducing young Australians to international standard-writing prepares them to contribute meaningfully to global trade, interoperability and safety frameworks in the decades ahead. Standards Australia is proud to champion youth participation to ensure a resilient, globally aligned standardisation ecosystem.  

"For more than a century we have brought our members and experts together to define ‘what good looks like' for Australia. Now, as part of the International Standards Olympiad community, we are also championing our next generation of leaders, contributors and innovators," said Rod Balding, CEO, Standards Australia.  

We applaud KATS and KSA for hosting this vital platform that brings young innovators together to solve global challenges through technical standardisation. It was also a valuable opportunity for the Standards Australia team – Brad Vermeer, Nic Millar and Josi Cuccurullo – to meet with Government and ASEAN representatives to reinforce Australia’s commitment to regional collaboration and youth engagement in STEM.  

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Standards Australia will be opening applications for the 2027 Australian cohort later this year. We look forward to continuing the momentum of this year's incredible debut.

“We are immensely grateful to Standards Australia for this incredible journey,” said Sam Dodras, Supervising Teacher, MLC. “It has not only empowered our students to compete on an international stage but has also enlightened our school and wider community about the vital role standards play in shaping our world.”  

For further information about the International Standards Olympiad and applications for the 2027 cohort, visit our website.