Victorian schools who are minimising waste, saving energy and water, increasing biodiversity and tackling climate change are set to be recognised by Sustainability Victoria as part of the 2019 ResourceSmart Schools Awards.

Minister for Environment, Lily D’Ambrosio today encouraged schools to enter Victoria’s largest sustainability awards program, which is open to all Victorian government, independent and Catholic schools.

The 2019 categories are:

• ResourceSmart School of the Year
• Teacher of the Year
• Student Action Team of the Year (Primary and Secondary)
• Community Sustainability Leadership School of the Year (Primary and Secondary)
• Sustainability in the Curriculum Leadership School of the Year (Primary and Secondary)
• Sustainable Campus of the Year (Primary and Secondary)

ResourceSmart Schools is a free program offered by Sustainability Victoria that supports Victorian schools to embed sustainability across the school facilities, community and curriculum, while saving resources and money for the school.

Since 2008, ResourceSmart Schools has engaged more than 1,300 schools across the state to collectively save over $24 million dollars and avoid creating more than 60,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases.

In 2017, St Louis de Montfort’s Primary school won school of the decade for embedding sustainability into its school curriculum and educating the wider community on sustainability practices.

Highlights of St Louis de Montfort’s Primary sustainability efforts include building a kitchen out of converted shipping containers, creating an amphitheatre out of re-used tyres and sleepers, installing orchards, garden beds and composting, and having waste and energy warriors in each class.

Entries close on 1 April, 2019. To enter visit www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/schoolsawards

Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio

“Environmental sustainability is an important part of our future so it’s great to see so many schools getting on board and teaching kids about how they can make a difference to the environment around them.”

“These Awards are a wonderful way to recognise the efforts of school communities across the state who are coming up with practical ideas to reduce their waste and save money – while also sharing these learnings beyond the school gate.”

“I’m sure we’ll see some really innovative and exciting projects nominated this year and I look forward to hearing more about how these Victorian schools are integrating sustainability into their curriculum.”