Awards for the state's largest celebration of sustainability in schools are now open, and a new category has been added to encourage schools just starting their sustainability journey.
The new Emerging School of the Year category will be judged on sustainability actions by schools who have signed up with the ResourceSmart School program from July 2019 onwards.
Every primary and secondary school registered in the ResourceSmart Schools program is eligible to enter the awards and go in the running for prizes. The awards are also an opportunity to showcase their school's sustainability efforts and attend a prestigious awards ceremony at the MCG.
Award categories include:
- Emerging School of the Year
- Teacher of the Year
- Student Action Team of the Year
- Community Leadership School of the Year
- Curriculum Leadership School of the Year
- School Volunteer of the Year
- ResourceSmart School of the Year.
This year's theme - Now for the Future - focuses on the actions we can do now that will benefit the environment and our communities in the future.
Positive sustainability actions can give students a feeling of agency over their world. Helping young people focus on what they can influence now for their future is more important than ever.
The ResourceSmart School Awards also give students a sense of pride and achievement in their sustainability work.
Robyn Smith, Sustainability Coordinator from Killara Primary School and previous finalist of the Teacher of the Year (Primary) award, said her school used competitions to showcase work and increase sustainability resources at the school.
"Killara Primary School's ResourceSmart journey has been so exciting for many of our students. We're always on the look-out for competitions to enter. Thanks to those competitions we now have water tanks, friendship seats, money for more sustainable initiatives and more," said Robyn.
As the awards follow a one-year hiatus, schools will be judged on activities conducted over the previous 24-month period.
Entries close on 18 March 2022. A live Q&A will be held early February to assist applicants in completing their entries.
For more details, view the ResourceSmart Schools Awards page.
