WeDo Student Selected for Australia’s National Informatics Elite Training Camp
Aimee Zhang (Year 9) invited to the 2026 Informatics School of Excellence
WeDo Education is delighted to share some exciting news. Year 9 student Aimee Zhang has been selected for the 2026 Informatics School of Excellence, a national elite training camp run by the Australian Mathematics Trust (AMT).
Her selection follows a strong run in the Australian Informatics Olympiad (AIO), including a Gold Award and an invitation to the AIO Invitational Round.
From Credit to Gold
The Australian Informatics Olympiad (AIO) is one of Australia’s leading algorithmic programming competitions for secondary students. It tests algorithm design, logical reasoning, computational thinking and complex problem solving. Aimee’s progress over three years:
- 2024 — Credit Award. Her first AIO, and the start of her informatics journey.
- 2025 — Silver Award. A return to the AIO, with more mature algorithmic thinking.
- 2026 — Gold Award. A standout result that earned a place in the AIO Invitational Round.
- 2026 — School of Excellence. After further selection, an invitation to the national elite training camp.
One of About 30 Places Nationwide
The Informatics School of Excellence is not an ordinary coding camp. It is a key part of the talent pathway for Australia’s team at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI). Each year, the AMT invites up to about 30 outstanding students from across the country.
Through advanced algorithm training, competition practice and academic exchange, the camp builds students’ ability to solve complex problems. Standout students may be invited to further training and selection on the road to the IOI.
The 2026 camp will run from 9 to 18 December at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, where Aimee will spend ten days learning and exchanging ideas with like-minded students from around Australia.
Thinking, Not Just Coding
In informatics olympiads, the programming language is only a tool. The real challenge is how to think. Faced with an unfamiliar problem, students must spot patterns, break a complex task into clear logical steps, and design a solution that is both correct and efficient. Some problems take many attempts; sometimes a small change in approach brings the breakthrough.
What students gain along the way is more than the answer to one problem: the courage to face the unknown, the habit of independent thinking, and the ability to push past the edge of what they thought they knew.
Interest First
At WeDo Education, we believe every child has their own interests, pace and potential. Students are not streamed — they are guided. Education should not send everyone down the same road. It should help students find what they truly care about, build confidence through exploration and grow through challenge.
We hope to nurture young people who think critically, create, communicate and adapt — who explore actively, judge independently and keep learning. Aimee’s journey reflects this: start from interest, and grow through thinking.
Congratulations, Aimee
The invitation from the AMT recognises years of effort and marks the start of the next chapter. We are delighted for Aimee, and look forward to her meeting like-minded peers, working through more challenging algorithms and returning with new inspiration.
May you always keep your curiosity about the unknown, your focus on what you love, and the courage to keep moving forward when challenged. The road ahead is long, and the best is still to come.
For the kids, With the kids, By the kids.
Some More News
Cloud Classrooms to Campus Life
Four years of online English classes led to a real Melbourne classroom. See how WeDo Education’s cloud-to-campus study tour brought students face-to-face with the world they’d only seen on screen.
A Refreshed WeDo Education Website
A clearer structure, refined design, and a renewed focus on how we support learners, families, and schools.