Aussie schools leading the way on sustainability

Carrum Primary School has been named the 2019 ResourceSmart School of the Year for inspiring other schools to act on climate change with a curriculum that makes sustainability fun for not only the school but also the local community.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio announced the winners of the Resource SmartSchools Awards at a ceremony at the MCG this week and congratulated all the schools involved for ‘contributing to a better place’ – the theme for this year’s awards.

Carrum Primary School was applauded for their biodiversity promotion, recycling programs and solar energy initiatives.

Ms D’Ambrosio said: “The winners and finalists in this year’s ResourceSmart School Awards are a great mix of schools that are doing their bit to create a better place for future generations.”

Schools across Victoria were recognised for their efforts to inspire sustainability action in their communities, reduce the environmental impact of their campuses and protect the environment.

Other winners include: Beaconhills College, Truganina South Primary School, Mount Lilydale Mercy College, Truganina South Primary School, Nossal High School, Warrnambool East Primary School, Footscray City College, St Aloysius Primary School Queenscliff and Kyneton Secondary College.

The ResourceSmart Schools Awards is Victoria’s largest sustainability awards program recognising schools leading the way in minimising waste, saving energy and water, increasing biodiversity and tackling climate change.

The ResourceSmart Schools Program teaches students about the importance of sustainability and has engaged more than 1,400 schools across the state to collectively save over $25 million through energy, water and waste efficiencies and reducing more than 60,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases.

The Government is investing $2.8 million in the program in the Victorian Budget 2019/20, helping schools incorporate sustainability into the curriculum and provide practical learnings for students.

“The awards highlight the incredible work Victorian schools are doing to make a positive impact on the environment.”

“Congratulations to the finalists and winners – you are leading the way when it comes to protecting the environment and acting on climate change.”