Victorian schools go green
As Australia and the world begins to implement a range of green measures to protect the environment and promote sustainable living, Victorian schools are doing the same.
The Victorian Government has announced Eltham North Primary School, Balnarring Primary School and Aitken College as the first schools to be awarded five stars for sustainability under its ResourceSmart Schools program.
To achieve this certification each school has been involved in a range of green activities, including:
- participating in Environment Week
- using outdoor learning spaces
- planting indigenous flora
- recycling
- mentoring other schools
- starting their own environment committees.
The ResourceSmart Schools program is a Victorian Government initiative that is managed by Sustainability Victoria, which aims to embed sustainability into school and community cultures. The program has also been designed to incorporate the Federal Government's Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative into Victorian schools.
Currently more than 600 Victorian primary and secondary schools participate in the program.
To support the program, over four years $3.6 million is being invested in funding an additional 400 Victorian schools to participate in the program and $4.6 million will fund the implementation of energy-efficient infrastructure.
Schools can join the initiative by first obtaining environmental learning resources from the ResourceSmart website, which will enable them to educate students on environmental issues and commit to implementing a school-wide program.
Schools can then work towards achieving their own five-star rating by setting targets and implementing actions across specific resource areas through modules on biodiversity, energy, waste and water.
