Multi-university health promotion hackathon 2026
Program details
The Vape-Free Uni Hackathon is an exciting initiative bringing together six Victorian universities to collaborate. The hackathon aims to empower student creativity, innovation and problem-solving.
Teams must come up with bold ideas to tackle the urgent public health issue of vaping in young people aged 18 to 25. Each team will consist of six students, with one representative from each university. This setup aims to promote collaboration and diverse perspectives.
The participating universities are:
- Australian Catholic University
- Deakin University
- Federation University
- La Trobe University
- Monash University
- The University of Melbourne.
The winning team will receive a two-week internship to bring their idea to life. They will work with stakeholders to refine, develop and implement their solution across university campuses.
The initiative is funded by the VicHealth Vaping Prevention Collective Impact 2.0 Grants program.
Eligibility
To be eligible to join this program, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a currently enrolled student at the University of Melbourne
- Continue to be a current student during the internship phase (December 2026 – February 2027)
- Have necessary work rights to partake in the full-time internship at the University (required only for the internship stage).
The program is open to both international and domestic students of all disciplines.
Apply now
Applications close Sunday 26 July.
Application process
- Step 1 15 June 2026
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Applications open
- In the application form you will be asked to respond to some questions outlining your interest in the program and responses to selection criteria
- You will also be asked to submit a short video recording.
- Step 2 26 July 2026
- Applications close
- Step 3
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Final outcomes
- 20 students from the University of Melbourne will be invited to participate in the Hackathon event.
Program dates
- Step 1 26 August 2026
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Hackathon Kick-off event
11am–1pm, hosted online
- Step 2 23 September 2026
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Hackathon Day
All day in-person – Parkville campus
- Step 3 Due by 7 October 2026
- Solution design via online submissions
- Step 4 23 October 2026
- Winning team announcement
- Step 5 Between December 2026 – February 2027
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Internships
TBC with the winning team
Program structure
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This two-hour online session is the official launch of the program. It will introduce students to the vaping issue and the vision for vape-free campuses. Participants will hear from top experts, including representatives from VicHealth and Quit Victoria. They will share insights on the health impacts of vaping and current prevention strategies.
Students will meet their cross-university teams, with one student from each university. This forms 20 teams of six.
These teams will provide an opportunity to connect, build relationships and discuss ideas together in a collaborative environment. Students will also have access to resources to build their knowledge and skills on the topic.
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This one-day Hackathon will take place in person at the University of Melbourne’s Parkville campus. Students will tackle a specific issue on the harms of vaping. The full task and details will be revealed on the day. Participants will collaborate in teams and – with help from mentors – create a practical and innovative solution to the challenge.
To close the Hackathon, each team will pitch their idea to a panel of expert judges. The top three teams will be selected to advance to the Solution Design phase.
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Three selected teams will work on their ideas separately to create a prototype or concept. They will submit their proposals through a video recording to Cvent. A panel of judges representing the universities will evaluate these submissions.
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A winning team will be selected. The six students on that team will each receive a two-week paid internship at their university. During this time, the interns will implement their proposed solutions at their university. This will provide them with a hands-on experience with real-world workplace dynamics.
Outcomes
By participating in this exciting opportunity, you will:
- Develop a range of experience and skills while working in a dynamic team
- Learn to develop a proposal and pitch your ideas to real industry professionals
- Collaborate with students across degrees and disciplines from other universities across Victoria
- Be recognised by Melbourne Plus and receive the Innovation digital badge.
Contact us
If you have any questions, please email health-promotion@unimelb.edu.au.
