University Park Primary School is planting the seeds for a sustainable future in Brimbank, with a group of passionate youngsters overseeing the school’s environmental efforts.
Principal Jude Azzopardi says the group of about 10 pupils holds weekly lunch meetings where they brainstorm ways the school can be more ‘green’.
“They have given speeches at assembly and we try to put in place initiatives in class about saving water, watering gardens and waste management,” Mr Azzopardi said.
Initiatives such as these may be why Brimbank won the state Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria award, and will go on to represent Victoria at the national awards, with winners to be announced on November 28.
“As an adult, I think we get set in our ways, but if we can empower our young people to see where there’s issues, they’re often quite passionate and can carry ideas through to action,” Mr Azzopardi said.
The St Albans school has a bush foods garden filled with indigenous plants. Pupils prepare their own compost.
The Brimbank Schools Sustainability Resources Program supports all the area’s 70 schools, providing a resource kit and covering topics including recycling, biodiversity and energy.
“[We] anticipate teachers will adapt these resources over time, sharing their ideas and success stories with other schools, creating a network of sustainably minded local schools,” Brimbank council’s infrastructure and environment director Paul Younis said.
