We know schools play a vital role in educating and engaging our young people on the importance of our environment and we want to acknowledge and celebrate the incredible work schools do.
To participate we ask you to complete as many sustainable actions as you can during the school year – you may already be doing many of these! Every participating Whitehorse school will receive a prize and certificate. The school that completes the highest number of actions will be recognised as Whitehorse Hero School, receiving a major prize and feature in the Whitehorse News.
Step 1 - Sign your school up
Let us know your school details, best contact, and your sustainability goals for the year by completing a 2-minute form online. Aim to have this done in Term 1-3.
Step 2 - Plan and complete your actions
Actions can range from big to small commitments and involve your whole school community (green teams, staff and parents). Choose any actions on the checklist or our website. You can also let us know any additional actions you are completing.
We encourage schools to book a school visit or an online meeting with the Whitehorse ResourceSmart Schools Facilitator to hear more about the ResourceSmart Schools Program. Aim to complete your actions by the end of Term 3.
Please note: Schools must provide evidence for actions completed throughout the year. Ensure evidence is clearly recorded (e.g. photo, screenshot, booking confirmation).
If you have any queries about the challenge or would like our support and free plants to create a wildlife-friendly garden at your school contact our Environmental Education Officers.
Find more information about teacher resources and free incursions and excursions on our Environment Education page.
Step 3 - Celebrate your sustainability wins
Our Environment Education and Sustainable Whitehorse team will check evidence of actions your school has completed or will complete. Prizes will be awarded in Term 4 to all participating schools. The winning school will be announced as our Actions for Earth Hero School, will receive a major prize and be featured in the Whitehorse News and on our social media.
Actions Checklist
General Sustainability
- Book a free Environment Education Excursion at one of our reserves.
- Book a free Incursion.
- Join the Victorian ResourceSmart School (RSS) program.
- Book a ResourceSmart School audit.
- Create sustainability posters (bin education, wildlife, save water, turn off lights).
- Share sustainability tips with the school community (newsletters, website, social media, assembly).
- Create a Sustainability Team of students, staff and/or parents.
- Incorporate First Nations Perspectives for caring for country, native plants and water.
- Apply for grants (water, energy, waste) using the using the Whitehorse Grant Finder Tool.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- Introduce or improve recycling or food waste bins.
- “Wrapper-free” day/week/month.
- Introduce alternative recycling programs (Container Deposit Scheme, e-waste, batteries).
- Reduce litter at school (regular pickups, Clean Up events, working bees, encourage wrapper free food lunches).
- Introduce reuse stations (paper, stationery, books, uniforms, cup or mugs).
- Upcycle, craft or mend using rescued or found “waste” items.
Biodiversity and Gardening
- Plant or expand a wildlife-friendly habitat garden.
- Add or create habitat structure (e.g., rocks, logs, bird bath).
- Introduce or improve composting.
- Become a Fighting Extinction School with Zoos Victoria.
- Plant trees.
- Take part in local biodiversity activities (National Tree Day, Friends Of groups working bees).
- Participate in a citizen science program (e.g., ClimateWatch, Bioblitz, Aussie Bird Count).
Water
- Improve gardening practices to retain water in the environment.
- Install or connect water saving solutions (rainwater tanks, buckets under taps, plugs, install a low flow tap/tap timers).
- Litter free drains and waterways (regular checks at pits/drains).
- Participate in local water education (Healthy Waterways excursion with Whitehorse Council, Melbourne Water Watch, Water Bug Kit).
Energy
- ‘Turn off engine’ zones for drop off/pick up.
- Walk/ride to school days.
- Use a timer or switch to turn off unused lights and appliances.
- Create signage to encourage energy reduction practices.
- Borrow an Energy Efficiency Tool Kit from your local Whitehorse Manningham library.