Victorian schools have been recognised for their environmental achievements in a special online ceremony for this year’s ResourceSmart School Awards.

Mount Waverley Primary School has been named the 2020 ResourceSmart School of the Year for inspiring the local community and other schools to act on climate change and biodiversity conservation.

Due to coronavirus restrictions the awards ceremony was held online for the first time where the finalists were congratulated for their contribution to ‘people and the planet’ – the theme for this year’s awards.

Mount Waverley Primary School took out the top prize for embedding climate change action, biodiversity conservation and knowledge sharing in the curriculum – teaching students to care for the planet and demonstrating how this contributes to wellbeing in return.

The school was also recognised for supporting its local community to play an active role through waste drop offs and the sale of student grown produce and its participation in conservation projects including Zoos Victoria’s Fighting Extinction program.

Other winners include Mentone Primary School, Coburg North Primary School, Viewbank College, Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School, Melbourne Girls College, MacKillop Catholic Regional College, St Columba’s Primary School, and Lowanna College.

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

The ResourceSmart Schools Program, managed by Sustainability Victoria, teaches students about the importance of sustainability and has engaged more than 1,400 schools across the state to collectively save more than $29 million and reducing more than 80,000 tonnes of greenhouse emissions.

For a full list of finalists and winners visit: sustainability.vic.gov.au/schoolsawards

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

“While we couldn’t be physically together this year to celebrate these achievements – it doesn’t diminish the great work being done to protect our environment and shape our future.”

“These awards shine a light on the commitment of these schools to reduce their environmental impact and inspire their local communities.”

“I want to congratulate every school that participated – you all play a vital role in demonstrating the great benefits of sustainability.”