Spaghetti workshop

Welcome to the Spaghetti Workshop, where you can learn more about what it takes to plan and build a spaghetti machine, catch video episodes of tips and tricks, and get inspiration for your creation from some of the other fantastic machines from around the world.

Tip: Don’t get too complicated! Plan what you think you can achieve in the time you’ve got!

Q & As

  • What do you need to create a spaghetti machine?

    You’ll need a team that’s prepared and able to work together and is also committed to attend both 'Build day' and 'Competition day'.

    You’ll also need plenty of imagination, creativity, and a willingness to experiment and improvise in order to come up with solutions!

  • How many people do I need to form a spaghetti machine team?

    Due to the immersive format of the contest this year, teams should be between 4 and 6 students. Please ensure that all team members are committed to attend both 'Build day' and 'Competition day'. At least 4 members of each team must be able to attend 'Build day', otherwise the team will be disqualified.

  • How do we start creating a spaghetti machine?

    A comprehensive brief will be sent to participating teams on 16 May. All the information on how to start building their machines will be included in that brief. Teams will have a few weeks before attending  'Build day' to plan and design their machine to achieve the set task.

    For now go ahead and do a bit of research into other types of machines that have been created (check out our Video gallery) and discuss with your team what you want to do, and what may be required to achieve it.

    Communication and planning skills are key to be a spaghetti machine superstar!

  • What sort of materials will my team need?

    In 2023, all materials will be provided by the contest organisers. The Telstra Creator Space will support this year's contest with tools and guidance so that teams can bring their machines to life.

    The great thing about spaghetti machines is that they can be made from just about anything. Wood, old bits of metal or plastic, toys, recycled gadgets or machine parts, everyday household items … you name it. We’re interested in seeing how inventive you can be, including your ability to recycle or re-purpose existing objects or materials for your design. Just keep in mind that whatever you use needs to be safe (for you to work with and for spectators to look at).

  • What will 'Build day' entail?

    At least 4 team members from each team will be required to attend 'Build day' at the Telstra Creator Space located on the ground floor of Melbourne Connect near Parkville Campus, to design and build their machine.

    'Build day' will go from 9am to 4pm and will run during school holiday at the end of June. Teams will receive an invitation to attend 'Build day' when successful participating teams are announced. Refer to the contest's schedule for specific dates.

Video gallery

Check out this gallery of videos showing machines we think are pretty awesome. Some are instructional, some are inspirational, and some are just plain funny.

Visit the video gallery