Keilor’s Overnewton Anglican Community College has been nominated as a finalist in the School Volunteer of the Year category of the 2024 ResourceSmart Schools Awards.
Last year’s winner of the Student Action Team of the Year (Primary) and winner of the Emerging School of the Year in 2022, Overnewton College’s nomination in the Volunteer of the Year category comes off the back of the efforts of the school and its parent sustainability group.
More than 30 volunteers with varied skill sets, such as engineers and sustainability experts, collaborate with staff to develop and deliver on curriculum and infrastructure, resulting in many of the school’s ongoing sustainability initiatives.
Their creativity led them to develop the Party Kit Network program for families to host events without relying on single-use plastics.
Overnewton Anglican Community College principal Emily Fitzsimons said the school community is “incredibly grateful” to the hard work and dedication of the parent sustainability group.
“The group has taken an amazing life of its own, with 30 active parent volunteers led by parent Stephanie Mitten,” she said.
“The whole thing speaks to this collaborative spirit at our college, where parents, staff, and students work together to create positive change.
“The group has a passion for making meaningful impact, not just for our college but for wider Brimbank. We are trying to support sustainable initiatives beyond our gates and to the local Brimbank community.”
There are 22 schools vying for an award in Victoria’s largest celebration for primary and secondary school students, teachers and school volunteers taking sustainability action.
This year, Sustainability Victoria is marking 15 years of the ResourceSmart Schools Awards with the theme, ‘Legendary Legacies – what will you leave behind?’.
Details: www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/resourcesmart-schools-awards-2024-finalists
Hannah Hammoud
