School sustainability stars recognised

Published: 1 May 2023
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Victorian schools embracing sustainability, saving thousands of dollars on school operating costs and cutting greenhouse gas emissions have been recognised as finalists in this year’s ResourceSmart Schools Awards.

Innovative recycling programs, carbon neutral initiatives, and a fortnightly sustainability raffle with a prize of fresh vegetables, herbs and fruit from a school’s kitchen garden are just some of the projects that have been selected as finalists in this year’s awards.

The annual ResourceSmart Schools Awards recognise students, teachers and school volunteers across the state who are achieving great things in sustainability on their school campus, in their curriculum and beyond the school gate, into their communities.

The ResourceSmart Schools program is a free Victorian Government program delivering sustainability education to help Victorian schools minimise waste, save energy and water, promote biodiversty and act on climate change.

Since 2008, over 1,400 Victorian schools have participated, saving 118,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases and $41 million.

This year, 35 finalists from 23 schools across Victoria will attend the awards ceremony at the MCG in June where the winners will be announced.

2023 ResourceSmart School Awards Finalists

  • Emerging School of the Year
    • Port Melbourne Primary School, Port Melbourne
    • Ardeer South Primary School, Sunshine West
    • Geelong Grammar School, Corio
  • Campus Infrastructure and Operations School of the Year
    • Ardeer South Primary School, Sunshine West
    • Castlemaine Steiner School and Kindergarten, Muckleford
    • Ocean Grove Primary School, Ocean Grove
  • School Volunteer of the Year
    • St. Therese's Primary school, Essendon
    • Port Melbourne Primary School, Port Melbourne
    • Overnewton Anglican Community College, Yirramboi campus, Keilor
  • Primary Teacher of the Year
    • Alison Lappin, Our Lady of the Nativity Primary School, Aberfeldie
    • Danielle Lamport, Monbulk Primary School, Monbulk
    • Jemma Dunstan, Somerville Primary School, Sommerville
  • Secondary Teacher of the Year
    • Judith Stewart, Lowanna College, Newborough
    • Rowena Archer, Braybrook College, Braybrook
    • Andrew Feher, Mount Lilydale Mercy College, Lilydale
  • Student Action Team of the Year (Primary)
    • Monbulk Primary School, Monbulk
    • Overnewton Anglican Community College, Yirramboi campus, Keilor
    • St Patrick’s Parish Primary School, Port Fairy
  • Student Action Team of the Year (Secondary)
    • Naranga School, Frankston
    • Victory Lutheran College, Wodonga
    • Geelong Grammar School, Corio
  • Community Leadership School of the Year (Primary)
    • Overnewton Anglican Community College, Yirramboi campus, Keilor
    • Eastwood Primary School and Deaf Facility, Ringwood East
    • Mount Scopus Memorial College, St Kilda East
  • Community Leadership School of the Year (Secondary)
    • Viewbank College, Viewbank
    • Braybrook College, Braybrook
  • Curriculum Leadership School of the Year (Primary)
    • Chewton Primary School, Chewton
    • Strathaird Primary School, Narre Warren South
    • Our Lady of the Nativity Primary School, Aberfeldie
  • Curriculum Leadership School of the Year (Secondary)
    • Lilydale Heights College, Lilydale
    • Croydon Community School, Croydon
    • Braybrook College, Braybrook
  • ResourceSmart School of the Year
    • Mount Lilydale Mercy College, Lilydale
    • Eastwood Primary School and Deaf Facility, Ringwood East
    • St Patrick Parish Primary School, Port Fairy.

For information about this year’s finalists please visit ResourceSmart Schools Awards.

Quotes attributable to Katie Pahlow, Director Regions and Community Action

“Congratulations to this year’s ResourceSmart Schools finalists, and to all schools that entered the awards for showcasing your incredible achievements and the impact you are having in your schools and the wider community.”

“This year’s finalists have demonstrated excellence in sustainability leadership, in their curriculum, in pedagogy, on their campus and beyond the school gate, into their communities.”

“Victorian students are some of the most passionate environmental advocates in the country, and the quality of entries in this year’s awards really demonstrate how primary and secondary school students and teachers across the state are achieving great things.”