Co-Lab Social Enterprise Pitch Award winner

Following evaluation and voting by a panel of ACU judges, Co-Lab is delighted to announce Thomas Clark and Xavier Chalkley as the winners of the $1,000 prize for the ACU Co-Lab Social Enterprise Pitch Award 2024.

Thomas and Xavier’s idea Ctrl Your Scroll, an existing social enterprise initiative designed to promote healthier digital habits among young people. The program focuses on educating teens and adolescents about the importance of managing screen time effectively to improve mental well-being.

By offering educational workshops, resources, and engaging activities, Ctrl Your Scroll aims to raise awareness about the negative impacts of excessive screen use and provide practical strategies for balanced digital usage. The initiative extends its reach through partnerships with schools and community organisations, ensuring that its valuable message and resources are accessible to a wide audience.

Xavier (left) and Thomas (right)

Both students at the St Patrick's Campus in Melbourne, Thomas is undertaking a Bachelor of Laws/Global Studies, and Xavier is studying a Master of Teaching (Secondary).

In response to winning the award, Thomas said “The Social Enterprise Pitch Award has been invaluable to our business".

"This grant enables us to enhance our program and expand its reach to more schools, particularly those that typically lack the funds and resources to participate in such initiatives,” said Thomas.

Thomas and Xavier have also recently launched a line of merchandise for Ctrl Your Scroll, including t-shirts and water bottles, which will be available for public purchase. The profits from these sales will be donated to teen and adolescent mental health services and charities, supporting their ongoing efforts to address mental health issues among youth.

The Co-Lab team was thrilled with the range and quality of innovative ideas from budding entrepreneurs who responded to the Social Enterprise Pitch Award.

We would like to thank all entrants for their participation in the initiative, particularly for their time in researching and recording their pitch video. We are further encouraged by the underlying positive impact intended by the various solutions presented.

To keep up-to-date with the Co-Lab programs on the Co-Lab webpage.