University of the Sunshine Coast students have outpitched rival teams from across Australia and New Zealand to win a coveted advertising competition for the first time.

UniSC students Kenadee Faulkner, Sunil Handy, Tomas Klass-Noonan and Gabby Williams won the 2026 Advertising Capstone Challenge (ACC).

“When our team was announced as the winners we all looked at each other in disbelief. It was so exciting. It was amazing to be the first UniSC team to win the challenge,” Ms Faulkner said.

The annual challenge brings together 10 finalist teams from five universities who are tasked with developing and pitching a campaign for a real client.

This year students tackled a complex brief developed by Sunshine Coast-based Sunny Advertising for leading Australian ladder manufacturer Bailey Ladders.

Sunil Handy, Gabby Williams, Kenadee Faulkner, Tomas Klaas-Noonan with their award (supplied)

Students were asked to develop a 12-month integrated advertising campaign to reposition Bailey Ladders as the ladder of choice for younger tradies.

“Our campaign built on Bailey’s existing 70-year heritage. We wanted to make the brand synonymous with ladders,” Ms Faulkner said.

“Our overarching message was ‘Don’t ask for a ladder, ask for Bailey,’ positioning the brand as the first choice for tradies.”

Two top teams from each of the five participating universities, Auckland University of Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Curtin University, Western Sydney University and UniSC, progressed to the final after highly competitive internal university competitions.

UniSC Senior Communication Lecturer Dr Harry Dugmore, who was the final convenor, said the challenge gave students an experience that’s hard to replicate in a classroom.

"The Advertising Capstone Challenge is one of the most valuable learning experiences any advertising, design and marketing students can undertake,” Dr Dugmore said.

“Each year participants work on a real brief for a real client. They also build their strategy and creative to a budget and timeline and then present to the client in a professional agency environment.

“I congratulate all participating teams, and it was incredibly rewarding to see a team representing UniSC win this year’s challenge.”

UniSC secured first place ahead of Swinburne University of Technology and Curtin University, with the winning team earning internship and industry mentoring opportunities.

A second UniSC team, comprising students Taylah Chad, Kaleb Johnston, Kevin Sim and Michelle Watts, was also recognised for reaching the final with their Bailey’s ‘Unshakable’ campaign, which also impressed the judges.

Sunny Advertising was the first agency outside Sydney or Melbourne to stage the ACC final.

Sunny Advertising CEO Sarah McNeil said holding the final on the Sunshine Coast reflected the agency's commitment to nurturing emerging talent.

“We were super impressed with all of the participating teams, and we congratulate the winning team from UniSC on their commitment to deliver an outstanding proposal to Bailey Ladders,” Ms McNeil said.

“Their advertising concepts and delivery were incredible, and this is a great sign for the future of our industry.”