The Department of Finance is proud to have sponsored GovHack 2025 – the southern hemisphere’s largest open data competition aimed at creating ways to make open government data more useful or engaging.
Finance played an important role by setting challenges for the competitors, who were tasked with transforming raw datasets into apps, platforms and insights to help address some of the biggest problems that we face as a community.
Finance’s challenges focused on improving access to government services and reduce overlapping regulations – areas central to our commitment to driving digital transformation across the APS. These challenges also reflect the ambitions set out in the AI Plan for the Australian Public Service by supporting collaboration and lesson sharing between sectors. The solutions developed at GovHack this year bring that vision to life.
On Saturday 6 December 2025, GovHack rolled out the red carpet to recognise the national winners. Team 2918 and BinChicken LLC won the Finance challenges by developing AI-powered platforms to make government services easier to navigate, and simplify compliance processes for small businesses.
Congratulations to the winners, runners-up and all participants for their outstanding contributions to this year’s event. The winning GovHack teams are invited to further develop and showcase their ideas to interested agencies at the AI CoLab next year.
Thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered or supported GovHack 2025. Together, we’re building a smarter, more connected, and more innovative public service.
Photo credit: Mirko Fabian
