FAQ: Getting started
CSIRO Robot Responders has been designed so young people can take part anywhere, including at home. The activities focus on designing and problem-solving rather than building robots, with a robot component card game and an interactive online game that let participants create and test ideas without needing special materials or equipment.
No prior robotics experience or knowledge is required. The classroom PowerPoint presentation introduces key robotics concepts and can be used to build participant understanding before commencing activities in the classroom. For use outside of the classroom, refer to our Community guide for tips and ideas. These resources are available in the Education Resource Library.
The program is aimed at Years 5–8 (approximately ages 10–14), so it is suitable for both older primary school students and those just starting secondary school. The real-world robotics challenges and creative design tasks help keep older participants engaged while remaining accessible for younger learners.
FAQ: Resources and learning outcomes
Absolutely! Like the CSIRO Robot Responders online game and classroom resources, the card game is designed for Years 5-8 (ages 10-14) but can be easily adapted for younger or older players.
For younger children, you can keep things simple by using only the core robot component cards to build a basic robot. As players grow in confidence, you can introduce bonus components, missions, tasks and action cards to add new challenges and encourage deeper problem-solving.
For older students and adults, you can increase the complexity with budget constraints and more advanced design challenges.
The game is designed to be flexible, so you can tailor the level of challenge to suit the age, experience and interests of your group. Whether you're playing with younger children, teenagers or a mixed-age group, there's a version of the game that's right for you.
CSIRO Robot Responders helps young people develop:
- Problem-solving skills
- Critical and creative thinking
- Engineering design processes
- Collaboration and communication skills
- Understanding of robotics and STEM application in the real world.
These activities are inspired by authentic CSIRO science and engineering and align with elements of the Australian Curriculum.
The resources are flexible and can be used individually or in combination. Educators may adapt activities, groupings and timing to suit available technology, classroom needs, schedules and learning goals.
FAQ: Competition
The competition is open to young people in primary/home school (Year 6 and under) and senior students (Years 7–9).
Building your robot is completely up to you. You can bring your idea to life with a drawing, diagram or prototype. Whether you choose to draw it or build it, we're looking for creative ideas and an explanation of how your robot would complete its mission. A video is not required for entry. Designs can be submitted in PDF, JPEG, PNG only.
The competition opens at 08:00am AEST on Saturday 15 August 2026 and closes at 11:59pm on Sunday 23 August 2026.