Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields—Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Minister for Building, and Minister for Corrections) (18:18): Former professional basketball champion Michael Jordan once said, "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." That is certainly true for a group of very fine young students from Ingleburn Public School who made history when the team won bronze at the 2024 Universal Robotics Challenge finals in Osaka, Japan. It was a fantastic achievement for those kids and the school. In fact, the Ingleburn team was the first Australian team to ever achieve a podium finish at the Universal Robotics Challenge. The team comprised of year 5 students Aarifa Shabbir and Flynn Wangpaibul, year 6 student Winston Thio, and year 4 student Claire To. The Ingleburn team was one of three Australian teams among a total of 40 from around the world. A Japanese team won gold, while a school from Thailand took home silver.

Ingleburn Public School won its way to the championships by winning the year 3-6 division of the 2023 Universal Australia national final. I am told that the students demonstrated exceptional skill and teamwork to claim the bronze medal. In the finals, students tested their robot-building and programming capabilities, simulating real-world tasks. I recently paid a visit to Ingleburn Public School to meet the young champions and their teachers to personally congratulate them. I must say that I was impressed with their skill, their aptitude for learning and their enthusiasm. One of the things that struck me most was their ability to lean into each other's strengths and work together effectively. To learn those skills from a young age is certainly setting them up for future success.

Robots are transforming the way we live our lives. As adults, we may marvel at those advancements, but for children, the world of robotics provides an opportunity to explore, learn and create. Bringing the Universal Robotics Challenge into Ingleburn Public School has allowed students to think beyond the classroom, as well as engage with cutting-edge technology. It was former Ingleburn Public School deputy principal Rebecca Dao who first realised the potential that robotics had to inspire the young students. Robotics encourages creativity, critical thinking, teamwork and problem-solving in a hands-on approach that is both engaging and fun. Students learn to adapt quickly, think on their feet and develop perseverance. Learning robotics also helps students acquire knowledge of mechanical engineering, electronics, coding and other STEM disciplines. It helps boost young people' confidence in digital skills and prepares them for the future job market.

Ingleburn Public School principal Graeme Green is thrilled with the students' success and has described it as a "remarkable achievement". I would have to second that. Our community is incredibly proud of all the young students involved, proud of their innovative solutions, proud of their spirit of collaboration, and proud of their hard work and determination. Of course, the students' success is owed, in many respects, to their wonderful and dedicated teachers. I particularly acknowledge the efforts of Melinda Phan, Sandra Nguyen and Caliopi Armamentos. They provided unwavering support, enabling the students to compete and excel at the highest level.

Those teachers also demonstrated their dedication in taking the four students to Japan for eight days. It was an incredible experience for all involved, particularly the young students. In case members are wondering, I heard all about the Pokemon Centre, Universal Studios and eating lots of sushi. Claire, Winston, Flynn and Aarifa had a lot of fun, and they certainly deserved it after their fabulous success. I thank all the outstanding teachers and staff who have been instrumental in the team's success and supported them on this incredible journey. Being part of a team is rewarding, and success is even sweeter together. I am confident that the success of Ingleburn Public School students will inspire the next generation of engineers and problem solvers. Thanks to the students that I have met at Ingleburn Public School and the teachers who are so encouraging of the students, I know that the future is certainly bright for the people of New South Wales and Australia.