Sustainability Victoria

To be crowned ResourceSmart School of the Year takes outstanding sustainability outcomes that create lasting impact.

For this year’s finalists, that commitment to sustainability is embedded across their curriculum, campus and communities in ways that are driving real‑world results. 👏

🏫 Monbulk Primary School
Students are mentoring their peers, other schools, and even presenting to government on the importance of sustainability education. It's a whole‑school approach built over a decade, with student leadership at its core.

🏫 RedGum - the Waldorf School of Central Victoria
Produce is grown, shared with charities and sold locally. Wetlands, gardens and recycled water systems are used as living classrooms. Students work with universities and environmental organisations to study emissions and increase biodiversity.

🏫 St Monica's College Epping
Student volunteers have contributed over 1,200 hours to improve biodiversity and sustainability outcomes. Wetlands and gardens are used across STEM, humanities and creative subjects.

𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮 – 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁
Following the Victorian Government’s response to the Independent Review of the Victorian Public Service in late 2025, it was announced that Sustainability Victoria will close on 30 June 2026.

𝗔𝗰𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟮𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁
As we approach this date, we want to pause and recognise the collective effort behind our work – and the many people and organisations who have contributed over the past 20 years. 🙏🏼

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀
For two decades, we’ve helped make sustainability part of everyday life – turning ideas into action, stopping waste before it starts, improving recycling and supporting the shift to a circular, low carbon economy. 🌏

𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱
While our work as an organisation is coming to an end, the impact continues – in the systems we’ve built, the behaviours we’ve changed, and through our collaborators and partners who will carry this work forward. 🤝

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀
See which initiatives are closing and which are transferring to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action on our website [link in comments]. 👇

Curriculum leadership means turning sustainability into something students can experience – not just learn about. For these ResourceSmart Schools Awards finalists, that approach is being brought to life through creative, real‑world learning.

Whether it's students designing draught stoppers and testing energy solutions, to re‑wilding school grounds and becoming custodians of endangered species, these schools are connecting curriculum to real‑world challenges. 🙌

𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘂𝗺 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀
• Melbourne Girls Grammar
• St James Parish Primary, Ballarat
• Wandin North Primary

𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘂𝗺 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀
• Aitken College
• Box Hill High School
• Camberwell Girls Grammar School

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CERES School of Nature and Climate | Eastern Alliance for Sustainable Learning | Environment Education Victoria | Regional ResourceSmart Schools

Behind every great school sustainability program is a dedicated volunteer – meet our finalists for Volunteer of the Year in the 2026 ResourceSmart Schools Awards. 👏

Whether it's leading waste‑free events that cut landfill by hundreds of kilos, improving compost systems so schools no longer need to buy fertiliser, or supporting hands‑on learning in gardens – by sharing their time, skills and connections, these volunteers are helping embed sustainability as everyday practice in schools. 💁‍♀️

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀
Tan Allaway – Fitzroy North Primary
David Whillas – St. Macartan’s Parish Primary School
Kym Cinel – Tecoma Primary

Thank you to all the volunteers supporting schools across Victoria that are helping turn sustainability into action. 🙏

CERES School of Nature and Climate | Eastern Alliance for Sustainable Learning

Transforming school grounds – meet the finalists for 'Campus Infrastructure and Operations School of the Year' in the 2026 ResourceSmart Schools Awards. 👏🏼

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝘂𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁‑𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲‑𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

These school communities are implementing practical improvements to create healthier, more sustainable places to learn.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀
• Melbourne Indigenous Transition School
• Ocean Grove Primary School
• Siena Catholic Primary School, Lucas

Education Week is a great reminder that caring for nature starts early – and it sticks with us. 🏞️

These free, Victorian curriculum-linked resources are designed for schools, but they’re also a handy watch-and-learn for parents and carers supporting curious kids at home. ⤵️

Caring for the environment can start in the classroom and grow from there! 📚🌿

It’s Education Week – a great time to check out free resources helping Victorian students learn how to protect nature and wildlife.

Our school lesson plans are aligned with the Victorian curriculum, and support learning across primary and secondary levels.

They include engaging videos, printable resources, outdoor activities, and play-based learning, to support a range of teaching methods.

Take a look at the resources supporting environmental learning across Victoria 👉 https://bit.ly/3TXLPx3

Spotlight on finalists for the Emerging School of the Year in the 2026 ResourceSmart Schools Awards! Whether it's students leading garden clubs and waste‑free events, or designing video games to help peers recycle correctly, these schools are leading the way. 👾

From running waste audits to recycling items into new products and embedding circular economy design into their curriculum, they're drawing attention for building strong sustainability momentum in a short time. 📈

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀
• Fitzroy North Primary School
• Greater Shepparton Secondary College
• St Columba’s College

Our thanks to Department of Education, Victoria for sponsoring this award and supporting schools at the start of their sustainability journey.

Congratulations to the finalists shortlisted for Teacher of the Year in the 2026 ResourceSmart Schools Awards. ✨

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗴 𝗯𝗼𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗲𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹‑𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

Across classrooms, initiatives like podcasts, package‑free lunch challenges and recycling projects are bringing learning to life in unique ways. 💡

𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀
👨‍🏫 Steve Crook – Croydon Hills Primary School
👨‍🏫 David Clingin – Eastwood Primary School and Deaf Facility
👨‍🏫 Stephen McNeight – Wendouree Primary School

𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀
👩‍🏫 Jo Menzies, Tristen Haines, Michelle Ponert, Tom Harley and Will Hone – Camberwell Grammar School
👩‍🏫 Nat Di Sauro – Overnewton Anglican Community College
👨‍🏫 Ben Coleman – St. Monica's College

Thank you to Bank First for sponsoring this award and supporting educators to lead sustainability in schools across Victoria.