FIRST Tech Challenge

From one team to five

FTC is where our students trade LEGO for aluminium, motors and Java. We started with one team, 24961 Wombat — among the youngest at its first event — and now field five Sydney teams.

Library

Joining guide & resources

How to join FTC

Who it is for
Students aged 12–18 (Grades 7–12).
Team size
Up to 15 students per team.
What you do
Design, build and code a robot (goBILDA / REV hardware, Java) for 2½-minute alliance matches, and write an engineering portfolio for the judged awards.
Commitment
Build season from the September kickoff; qualifiers run in November–December, followed by the Australian Nationals.
What you need
No experience needed. Many FLL graduates move up here; our veteran students coach newcomers.
Costs
Team registration, robot parts and event fees apply. Ask us for this season's amount.
How to join
Email team11429@newai.com.au with the student's age and school.

Official resources

Every season below has its own rules, materials and results.

Jump to seasons
Highlights

Achievements & milestones

2026

Asia-Pacific Open

Two of our teams finished inside the top 16 of their divisions at the FTC Asia-Pacific Open Championship in Sydney.

2025

Sustain Award

Team 24961 won the Sustain Award (1st) at the Sydney South qualifier.

2025

Australian Nationals

Team 24961 played the FTC Australian Nationals.

2026–27

Five Sydney teams

From one team in 2023 to five — 24961, 27574, 37014, 38356 and 39031.

2026

Founded by students

Our veteran students formed team 39031 themselves.

Stories

FTC DECODE match
Story

One team became five

Every year more students finish FLL and want to move up, and every year school teams invite some of our members into key roles. Instead of turning newcomers away, we start new teams — and our veterans coach them. Each team builds its own robot and writes its own portfolio, so five teams means five different stories.

FTC award moment, DECODE season
Story

Sustain: the award for teams that last

The Sustain Award recognises a team with a plan to keep going — people, skills and funding. For 24961 that plan is the pathway itself: FLL feeds FTC, FTC feeds FRC, and the older students bring the younger ones through.

Season by season

Every FTC season

Pick a year to see its photos, rules, materials and results.

2025–26 season

DECODE

Teams 24961 · 27574

Results

  • 24961: Sustain Award (1st), Sydney South qualifier.
  • 24961: played the Australian Nationals.
  • FTC Asia-Pacific Open, Sydney 2026: two of our teams in the top 16 of their divisions.
Official results ↗

Rules

Materials

Ask us for our season notes.