2025–2026 Season Policy Update - Australia operations only
Supporting Student-Centered STEM Education through VEX Robotics Competitions
Program Principles: A Commitment to Student-Centered STEM Education
At the heart of the REC Foundation’s mission is a commitment to student-centered learning. Through the VEX Robotics competition platform, we empower young people to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in a hands-on, engaging, and educational environment.
Our program is built on the belief that:
- Every student deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed in STEM, regardless of their background or resources.
- Robotics competitions should prioritize learning over winning, fostering creativity, teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience.
- Schools and educators play a critical role in shaping the student experience and deserve our focused support.
- Community teams that align with these values can extend opportunities to students in unique or underserved contexts.
To protect these principles and ensure equity for school-based programs, we are making structural updates to how community-based teams participate.
Summary of Program Changes
Effective May 2025, the REC Foundation in Australia will implement the following changes, which are intended to rebalance the playing field, ensure fair competition, and keep student development at the center of all we do.
Academy Exclusion
Commercial or for-profit academy teams will no longer be eligible to register or participate in REC Foundation-sanctioned events unless approved under the new policy criteria outlined below.
Focus on School Teams
Per the Organizational Policy, a school-based team is defined as an accredited full-time academic institution. A school can be a public school, charter school, or private school. Teams who are school-based must:
-
- Do all or most of the physical construction and programming of robots on school grounds
- Have a faculty member as a team coach
- Submit proof, either through email or a pdf attachment, that the school recognizes the team and confirms that the team meets the requirements of the previous bullet points
Pathways for Community-Based Team Participation
We recognize that not all students have access to robotics through schools. In such cases, we will continue to allow participation through vetted and approved community teams under the following criteria.
Eligible Community Team Types
To be eligible to apply for participation, community-based teams must be organized as one of the following:
- A not-for-profit (NFP) or charity with a clear student development or educational purpose.
- A Registered Training Organisation (RTO), which includes universities and TAFE institutions offering formal educational programs.
- A home-based or private team formed by families or students in areas without access to school programs.
- An outreach initiative affiliated with a public library, youth group, community center, or local council STEM program.
- A corporate-sponsored team that operates in partnership with a school or NFP and demonstrates no commercial intent.
Application & Approval Process
All prospective community teams must:
- Submit a formal application to the REC Foundation’s Regional Manager (Australia/New Zealand).
- Provide documentation showing their organization’s type and educational mission.
- Explain their commitment to student-centered learning, accessibility, and inclusion.
- Provide details of why the student’s school will not support VEX teams.
- Undergo a review and approval process conducted by the Vice President of International Programs.
Applications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with decisions guided by the REC Foundation’s mission and values.
Note of Appreciation
We deeply appreciate the efforts of all educators, mentors, and organizations that work to bring STEM opportunities to students. As we evolve and grow, our focus remains on what matters most: inspiring and empowering the next generation of problem solvers, engineers, and innovators.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we work together to build a more equitable, inspiring, and student-centered robotics community across Australia and New Zealand.
For questions please contact australia@recf.org.