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Not every journey follows the path you expect. For Alfie Curren-ragan, a series of unexpected challenges led him away from a traditional ATAR pathway and towards entrepreneurship, innovation and eventually founding Oculum VR. This is his story.

"Growing up, STEM was always part of my world.

My mum is a science teacher and originally worked as a marine biologist, so curiosity, problem-solving and learning were constant themes in our household. I naturally gravitated towards science, technology and engineering from a young age, joining extension programs throughout primary school and looking for opportunities to explore those interests wherever I could.

My educational journey wasn’t entirely straightforward though.

In Year 6, I was homeschooled due to challenges at school, making my final year of primary education very different from most students. Looking back, it was one of the first experiences that taught me there isn’t always one path to success.

When I started high school, I threw myself into opportunities beyond the classroom.

One of the first major programs I became involved in was Curtin University’s BinarX space program. What I loved most was that it felt real. We weren’t simply learning concepts from a textbook; we were solving genuine problems and working on meaningful projects. I eventually became a team leader and later led students across the three schools participating in the program.

That experience reinforced something I was beginning to realise about myself: I learned best by doing.

The opportunity that had the biggest impact on me before joining Bloom came through Subs in Schools, a national competition that challenged students to redesign the interior of a submarine based on a confidential defence industry brief.

Our team wasn’t just building a technical solution. We were effectively building a company around it.

As Enterprise Manager, I was responsible for sponsorships, industry engagement and many of the business-focused elements of the project. For the first time, I was speaking directly with industry leaders, pitching ideas, managing partnerships and helping drive a project beyond the classroom.

The experience exceeded anything I could have imagined.

Our team won the WA State Championships before travelling to Adelaide and becoming National Champions, taking home every category we entered. One of the achievements I’m most proud of was securing a $50,000 sponsorship from Thales to support future STEM programs at my school. While those experiences were incredibly rewarding, they also highlighted a growing disconnect.

I loved creating projects, solving real problems and working with industry, but I struggled to see the same relevance in traditional classroom learning. I was motivated by building things and making ideas happen. Around that time, I started exploring alternative pathways to university. I had heard it was possible to gain entry through portfolios, projects and achievements rather than relying solely on an ATAR, but finding clear information was difficult. Despite speaking with teachers and mentors, there didn’t seem to be a definitive roadmap. Eventually, I decided to continue pursuing ATAR while building projects on the side.

Then everything changed.

At the beginning of Year 11, I became seriously ill and spent approximately two months in hospital. I missed most of the year while recovering, effectively ending any realistic chance of continuing along the traditional pathway I had planned.

At the time, it felt devastating.

Looking back now, it was probably one of the most important things that ever happened to me.

During recovery, I began thinking more seriously about business and entrepreneurship. I started developing the idea that would later become Oculum VR and began searching for opportunities that aligned with my interests.

That search eventually led me to Bloom.

For the first time, I found an environment where entrepreneurship felt tangible.

Through programs like Youthpreneur and later Launchpad, I was surrounded by founders, mentors and ambitious young people who were building real projects and businesses. Suddenly, entrepreneurship didn’t feel like something that happened somewhere else to someone else. It felt possible.

Bloom opened doors to opportunities I didn’t know existed.

One of those opportunities was exhibiting at West Tech Fest. While the event created valuable connections and generated genuine interest, it also taught me an important lesson that continues to shape how I approach business today.

Generating opportunities is only part of the equation.

I learned that relationships, follow-up and execution matter just as much as creating initial interest. Looking back, I didn’t yet have the systems or experience to fully capitalise on every opportunity that came my way, but those lessons became invaluable as I continued building.

Launchpad helped me develop practical skills, grow my confidence as a founder and build relationships that still support me today. Many of the opportunities Oculum VR now pursues can be traced back to people I first met through Bloom.

Since then, Oculum VR has continued to evolve, and alongside the business I am completing both a Certificate IV and Diploma of Business. One thing I think about often now is how difficult these pathways can be to see before you’re on them.

Today, I mentor students at John Curtin College of the Arts and Perth Modern School. A large part of why I enjoy mentoring is because I remember what it felt like to be interested in entrepreneurship, innovation and creating things without knowing where to begin.

Once you’re on the pathway, it can seem obvious.

Before that, it often feels invisible.

I believe there are many young people who would thrive in entrepreneurship, innovation and project-based learning if they were exposed to those opportunities earlier. Bloom was one of the organisations that helped make those possibilities visible to me, which is a big reason I continue to stay involved and give back where I can.

Along the way, I’ve been fortunate to receive recognition including the Australian Defence Force Young Innovator of the Year Award at age 16 and, more recently, becoming a finalist in the 2026 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards.

Outside of business, I’ve always loved the ocean. I completed my Open Water scuba certification at 13 and have since been fortunate enough to dive throughout Australia and Indonesia.

In many ways, that same curiosity that draws me underwater is what drives me as an entrepreneur.

A desire to explore the unknown, ask questions and discover what’s possible.

And sometimes, the most important opportunities are the ones you never expected to find."

At Bloom, we believe talent exists everywhere, but opportunity isn’t always visible. Alfie’s journey is a reminder of what can happen when young people are given the chance to explore, create and build beyond traditional pathways.