Our Story
In the early 1970s, Australian mathematician Peter O’Halloran was an energetic and highly motivated individual with a revolutionary idea. He believed that students across Australia should be given greater and more meaningful opportunities to develop their interest in and ability for mathematics. This vision inspired Peter to initiate a movement that later became the Australian Mathematics Trust (AMT).
As a not-for-profit organization, AMT operates with the support of a dedicated group of passionate volunteers, many of whom have contributed their time and expertise for more than 40 years.
Peter founded AMT with the goal of enriching students’ learning experiences, and we continue to look toward the future with the same energy, drive, and commitment. This means creating new opportunities, developing innovative programs, and offering engaging pathways that help students grow into creative and confident problem solvers.
We believe that every student deserves the opportunity to discover their full potential in mathematical problem solving in a way that is accessible, enjoyable, challenging, and creative.
Our vision is to cultivate a nation of creative problem solvers. We believe that fostering an enjoyment of mathematical challenges is the most effective way to achieve this goal.
Our Competitions and Programs
The Australian Mathematics Trust delivers a range of distinctive competitions and programs designed to inspire, extend, and recognize mathematical understanding among primary and secondary school students.
Each year, we run six unique competition events and two long-term in-school programs, engaging hundreds of thousands of students across Australia and around the world.
Since 1978, our flagship event—the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC)—has been held in schools both in Australia and internationally, immersing generations of young learners in the enjoyment of mathematics and problem solving.
All problems used in our competitions and programs are uniquely designed each year by our professional mathematicians and experienced mathematics educators to challenge and engage students meaningfully.
Key Competitions and Programs
KSF Kangaroo Maths Competition (Australia)
A 60–75 minute online mathematics competition for students in Grades 3–12. Inspired by the AMC, the Kangaroo Maths Competition has grown to become the largest mathematics competition in the world.
Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge
An engaging and enjoyable computational thinking challenge for students in Grades 3–12. This international initiative involves over 2.9 million students from more than 60 countries.
Computational and Algorithmic Thinking (CAT)
A 60-minute problem-solving competition for students in Grades 5–12, designed to encourage curiosity and the development of diverse thinking strategies.
Oxford University Computing Challenge (OUCC)
A 60-minute online programming competition aimed at developing computational thinking skills for students in Grades 5–12. The second round is invitation-only.
Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC)
A 60–75 minute mathematics competition for students in Grades 3–12. The AMC is Australia’s oldest, largest, and most well-known mathematics competition.
Maths Enrichment
A mathematics enrichment program for students in Grades 3–10, delivered by teachers in a classroom setting over 3–4 weeks.
Mathematics Challenge
A mathematics extension program for students in Grades 4–10, running for 12–16 weeks, with additional enrichment materials provided outside of class time.
Australian Informatics Olympiad
A 3-hour online programming competition for students in Grades 7–12 who possess coding skills.
Australian Intermediate Mathematics Olympiad (AIMO)
A 4-hour mathematics competition designed to identify and extend mathematically talented students in Grades 7–10 through the solution of complex and challenging problems.