Sustainability Victoria is inviting Macedon Ranges schools to join its sustainability program.
ResourceSmart Schools is an award-winning free program that supports schools to embed sustainability across school facilities, the curriculum and community, while reducing resource use and saving money.
Sustainability Victoria said that since 2008, more than 1600 schools have participated in the program, and have saved more than $68 million on bills, diverted 170,000 cubic metres of waste from landfill, planted more than five million trees, saved 1.9 million kilolitres of water and more than 110,000 tonnes of CO2e greenhouse gas emissions.
ResourceSmart Schools facilitator for the Loddon Mallee, Emily Condon, said schools that join the program will learn, practice and share ways to integrate sustainability across the school with access to a free online portal, professional development and teaching resources.
“As the local ResourceSmart Schools dacilitator, I provide personal support to schools and offer sustainability sessions online and face-to-face for the whole school community – teachers, students, maintenance and administration staff, school council, and parents – helping drive positive changes both in the classroom and across school operations,” she said.
“As well as generating savings on utility bills and enhancing biodiversity, the ResourceSmart Schools program provides student leadership opportunities, supports student and community wellbeing, and enables connections with other schools, local organisations and community groups.”
ResourceSmart Schools recognises and rewards schools through sustainability certification. Stars are obtained through completion of modules and meeting benchmarks for resource use and are valid for four years. Schools can progress at their own pace from one star up to five stars and move towards becoming a leadership school.
Kyneton Primary School, Sacred Heart College in Kyneton and Newham Primary School are all part of the program, with Newham achieving five star status and was a ResourceSmart School of the Year finalist in 2024.
Details: sustainability.vic.gov.au/about-us/what-we-do/resourcesmart-schools
