ResourceSmart Schools Awards Entries Open

Victorian schools leading the way in minimising waste, saving energy and water, increasing biodiversity and tackling climate change are set to be recognised as part of the 2020 ResourceSmart Schools Awards.

Minister for Environment Lily D’Ambrosio today encouraged all schools across the state to enter Victoria’s largest sustainability awards for schools.

The 2020 categories are:

  • ResourceSmart School of the Year
  • Teacher of the Year (Primary and Secondary)
  • Student/Student Group of the Year (Primary and Secondary)
  • Community Leadership School of the Year (Primary and Secondary)
  • Curriculum Leadership School of the Year (Primary and Secondary)
  • Campus Infrastructure and Operations School of the Year (Primary and Secondary)
  • Community Leadership Volunteer of the Year

The awards are part of the Andrews Labor Government’s ResourceSmart Schools program, which teaches students the knowledge and skills required to help build a sustainable future.

The program received international recognition this year from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and its Energy Smarts Communities Initiative as the 2019 Gold winner in the Smart Jobs and Consumer category.

Since 2008, the program has reached more than 1,400 schools and more than 200,000 students, with participating schools saving $27 million through energy, waste and water efficiencies and savings.

In 2019, Carrum Primary School won the ResourceSmart ‘school of the year’ award for embedding sustainability into its school curriculum and inspiring other schools to act on climate change.

Entries close on Monday 16 March, 2020. To enter visit sustainability.vic.gov.au/schoolsawards.

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

“It’s great to see so many schools getting on board and teaching our young people about how they can make a difference to the environment around them.”

“These awards are a great way to recognise the efforts of school communities across the state that are reducing waste and saving money – while sharing these learnings with their local communities.”