A middle school robotics team from Victor Harbor is showing that Australian students can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the smartest teens from China and the United States.

Team ‘Invictus’ from Investigator College shot to 7th in the world and 1st in Australia after a dominant win at a VEX Robotics Competition at Woodcroft College on 25 September.

Year 9 team members Aidin, Ollie, Charlie and Ben have been spending their lunchtimes and robotics classes refining their robot, and now have their sights set on the state, national and international championships.

With their Senior School Team 40% Luck also finishing first in their most recent tournament, there’s no limit to what Investigator College’s teams can achieve, says Principal John Robinson.

“This shows that with the right opportunities, Australian students can hold their own against the very best from around the world.

“Results like these prove that talent isn’t limited by geography. We can be very optimistic about the future of innovation here in Australia, knowing that we have such bright young minds on our shores.

“As a school, it is affirming to see what can happen when you support your passionate teachers and invest in your programs, giving students a chance to shine.

“Our new centrepiece building will feature purpose-built robotics studios—who knows what our students will achieve once they have these at their disposal?”

The new building is under construction and is scheduled to open in 2026.

After a busy stretch of international competitions, Investigator College’s team Invictus now sits 20th globally while maintaining its top spot in Australia.