‘Balancing Your Body's Business' (BYBB) is the title for one of four winning projects that helped a team of students from The University of Western Australia to scoop the national 2008 Qantas Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) nationals in Brisbane recently.

The competition encourages multi-discipline teams to develop concepts that help communities enhance their business opportunities sustainably.

The UWA winning team, whose main mentor was Dr Donella Caspersz, beat finalists from the Universities of Melbourne and New South Wales and Bond University and will represent Australia at the SIFE World Cup in Singapore in October.

Another mentor, Dr Doina Olaru, from the University's Business School, said BYBB was a program designed to target obesity by encouraging primary school children to balance food and exercise, in a fun game.

Their three other star projects were:

• Finance for Life - a program aimed at increasing financial literacy and awareness amongst high school students through an online resource kit and interactive game;
• Easy Entry Option - a consultancy service that helps family businesses develop strategic advantages in order to ensure sustainability in the market place; and
• The Leadership Conference - a half-day workshop for Year 11 students to equip them in their transition from school to further education and work.

The team members are: Jade Winterton (President) from Midland; Michelle Bacon, Mount Helena;  Urszula Cichy, Midland;  Adrian Rodrigues, Jandakot;  Natasha Ngoma, South Perth;  Hayden Teo, Noranda;  Michael Crossley, Alfred Cove;  and Christina Smolarek, Carine.

From Commerce, Science, Arts, Law, Engineering and Health Science, they range from first year of study to PhD candidates.

Media references

Dr Doina Olaru  (+61 8) 6488 3908
Simone Hewett / Sally-Ann Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8) 6488 7977
(+61 4) 20 790 097 / (+61 4) 20 790 098