What's on around your region
Grampians
Ballarat Teacher Network Meeting
Teacher Network Meeting for schools in Ballarat. Join us at Wendouree Primary School to hear from local sustainability stakeholders and teachers and find out about available support and opportunities.
For more information, visit Ballarat Teacher Network Meeting.
Discover the world around you with Nature Stewards
Nature Stewards is a 6-to-10-week program that connects curious people with their local and wider habitats. It’s a great way to gain knowledge, learn practical skills and meet like-minded people in the local community. You will discover all sorts of ways to help nature at home and through local volunteering.
Find out more by visiting Victorian National Parks Association.
Food is Free Ballarat
Food is Free is a community-led not-for-profit benefiting all Ballarat citizens, focusing on those experiencing disadvantage, with the purpose of assisting food security education and community inclusion. School students are offered regularly along with Little Sprouts workshops to encourage those under 5 to learn about all things compost, worm farms and growing vegetables.
Visit Food is Free Inc to find out more.
Friends of Canadian Corridor
The Friends of Canadian Corridor continue their amazing work with upcoming events.
An active group, they encourage community interaction through their website and support schools in the education of students. Some of their projects include the Ballarat to Buninyong Forest River Loop. Their clear purpose is to link the community with Woowookarung Regional Park and the Canadian Corridor.
For more information, visit Friends of Canadian Corridor.
Hepburn Shire Council Incursions
With the introduction of Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO), Hepburn Shire now is an opportune time to educate students about sustainability. The Council is offering workshops on waste, biodiversity and energy, to give students knowledge on how to best support the environment.
For more information, contact Hepburn Shire Council.
Hepburn Shire Teacher Network Meeting
Teacher Network Meeting for schools in Hepburn Shire. Join us at Daylesford Dharma School to hear from local sustainability stakeholders and teachers and find out about available support and opportunities.
Local sustainability workshops
Free workshops are available for staff, students and the school community focusing on sustainability and regeneration. If you want to reduce waste, save costs on energy and water, and get to know your local environment these workshops are the answer.
For further information, contact Inga.Hamilton@sustainability.vic.gov.au
National Water Week at Central Highlands Water
Central Highlands Water celebrates National Water Week by running education tours and a poster competition for schools in the Central Highlands region. This year’s theme United by Water celebrates water’s vital role in connecting us all.
For more information visit Central Highlands Water.
Smart Living Ballarat
Sharing Smart Living ideas on sustainable living practices in Ballarat.
Upcoming events: Cheap Eats – 24th April, Co – housing – 22nd May, Non- financial Economies – 26th June
Find out more on their Facebook page.
Gippsland
Apply for an Environmental Detectives activity in 2024
The Environmental Detectives school education activity program endeavours to connect students to a sense of wonder and help them develop a sense of care for the environment. The program also gives students an insight into the extraordinary complexity and integrity of the natural world and the role it plays in our wellbeing. With limited spaces available for the Environmental Detectives Program this year, get in quick to learn about your local environment.
Find out more at Bass Coast Landcare Network
Energy Audit Kits
The Energy Innovation Cooperative has partnered with Myli to stock local libraires with Energy Audit Kits that can be loaned, used and returned. This toolkit will help you find the most energy consuming appliances in your schools and show you how to make changes.
Contact the Energy Innovation Cooperative for more information.
Friends of Drouin’s Trees
A special poster developed with a collaborative venture in 2020 between Friends of Drouin’s Trees, the Baw Baw Shire and local artist Helen Timbury is now available for schools.
Pick up your hard copy (A2 size) at the Baw Baw Shire offices in Drouin, or from Friends of Drouin’s Trees. Explore 56 images ‘hidden’ in the poster, which are just a glimpse of the rich biodiversity in the Baw Baw Shire.
Find out more by visiting Friends of Drouin’s Tree.
Gippsland New Energy Web Portal
The Gippsland New Energy Web Portal is designed by Gippslanders, for Gippslanders, to tell the story of our new energy journey.
This portal brings together easy to understand information about types of renewable energy technologies and the location of proposed infrastructure developments in Gippsland. It will also connect you to information about cultural and environmental considerations, community engagement opportunities and local skills and training you can participate in.
Empower yourself, visit the Energy Web Portal.
Gippsland Teachers Environment Network Meeting
Join us for our first in person Gippsland teacher network meeting of the year to share ideas and experiences on implementing sustainability initiatives and education with other local teachers.
Find out more by visiting Humanitix.
Get Grubby in East Gippsland
East Gippsland council has a subscription to the Get Grubby program, which schools can use to access learning resources and get students involved in waste minimisation and sustainability. If you are interested in accessing the funded program for your school, contact East Gippsland Shire Council’s Waste Officer on 5153 9500.
For more information, visit Get Grubby Program.
Let’s Grow Food with John Mauger in the Latrobe Valley
Latrobe Community Health Service is offering all Latrobe Valley schools a free educator’s guide to growing food, based on John Mauger’s Let Us Grow Food book. Find lesson plans, seeds, cookbooks and much more to support your school to grow fresh food from anywhere.
For more information, contact Elise or Emily from the Health Promotion team at Latrobe Community Health Service. Call Elise on 0417 662 681 or email at elise.tulloch@lchs.com.au and call emily on 0428 142 906 or email at emily.koppen@lchs.com.au.
Want to start growing fresh food? Submit your Let's Grow Food registration.
New Giant Gippsland Earthworm information and resources
Two exciting new resources are available to help us learn about and protect our threatened giant Gippsland earthworm (GGE). The first is an interactive tool that helps landholders identify GGE habitat on their property, provides them with a planting list, along with advice on how to modify revegetation to avoid drying out GGE colonies. The second is an exciting interactive tool that will take you on a journey through the landscape and under the soil, learning about the GGE and meeting landholders who are doing projects to protect them.
Find out more at New Giant Gippsland Earthworm information for landholders.
Old Energy - New Energy project by Energy Innovation Co-operative
Explore the Energy Innovation Cooperative’s Old Energy - New Energy project at Wonthaggi coal mine. Students can look up how much solar is being produced each day, how much CO2 emissions are saved and how many trees would have to be planted to achieve the same outcome.
Learn more about Energy Innovation Cooperative’s Old Energy - New Energy project.
Phillip Island Nature Parks
Autumn is a great time for you and your students to explore the unique fauna and flora that Phillip Island has to offer. Discover attractions, self-guided tours or book a guided tour with a ranger.
Phillip Island Nature Parks is a self-funded organisation, meaning that booking an excursion contributes to world leading conservation, research and education programs.
Find out more at Phillip Island Nature Parks.
Renewable Energy Trailer, Gippsland Climate Change Network
Gippsland Climate Change Network is giving the community an opportunity to participate in their Renewable Energy Demonstration Trailer program to help promote renewable energy options and raise awareness.
This high demand trailer gives schools and students the opportunity to learn about energy in their community.
To find out more, visit Gippsland Climate Change Network.
South Gippsland Conservation Society
The South Gippsland Conservation Society provides a range of programs that school groups can book. Programs include excursions to the Inverloch area and other parts of Bass Coast and South Gippsland. You can learn about rock pooling, coastal and estuarine ecology, human impacts, plastics in the marine environment, forests and woodlands, and climate change.
For more information, visit Bunurong Coast Education.
Upcycle4Better
Baw Baw Shire Council has partnered with UpCycle4Better to introduce textile recycling in Baw Baw Shire. Textiles such as clothes and shoes that can’t be recycled as part of your kerbside collection can now be recycled for free at the Lardner and Trafalgar Transfer Stations.
To find out more, visit Baw Baw Shire Council.
Wellington Shire Sustainable Living Education Program
The sustainability team at Wellington Shire Council is committed to supporting schools, kindergartens, and community groups to step up their sustainability actions. They can help embed practices and learning that reduce waste and emissions, contributing to a healthier community for everyone. Programs can be delivered at your location, or at a local venue including Nakunbalook, the brand new Environmental and Cultural Education Centre at Lake Guyatt in Sale.
For more information, visit Wellington Shire Council.
Which threatened species live in your patch?
These are resources for individuals and West and South Gippsland Landcare Groups that would like to know which threatened species have been recorded in their patch. The map shows that there are gaps in the records which might inspire further monitoring or developing projects to benefit these species.
Find out more, view map.
Hume
Active travel to school
The Alpine Shire Council has some fantastic ideas on active travel to schools for students in their council. Working with their school community they have developed some helpful tips and tricks.
To learn more, have a look at Alpine Shire Council's website.
Beechworth Weed Walk
On the wild weed walk you will learn to recognise common plants growing wild in parks, waterways and road sides. How to harvest, what parts are used and what benefit they have for nutrition and medicine.
Check walk dates at Australian Tourism Data Warehouse.
Biodiversity Education
Water and Biodiversity Education is available for all schools within the Greater Shepparton region, with schools eligible for Free RiverConnect sessions. Please contact Allison Trethowan at allison.trethowan@shepparton.vic.gov.au for more information.
Calling for Nature Stewards in Mitchell Shire
Council is calling for residents passionate about the environment who wish to connect with nature and meet like-minded people to apply for the Nature Stewards Program. The program will run every Saturday, from 16 March to 25 May 2024 (excluding Easter long weekend). There are 10 classes from 9:30am to 12:30pm and 4 to 6 field sessions from 1:30pm to 4:30pm.
Find out more at Mitchell Shire.
City Nature Challenge
This 4-day biodiversity blitz is a global effort. As a friendly competition, cities aim to record as many species as possible and make the most observations by the number of observers, shown on the City Challenge global tally board.
Take part at Mitchell Shire.
Community Sustainability Grants Program
Indigo Shire Council comes together for their fifth year of Community Sustainability Grants. The aim is to provide financial assistance to eligible not-for-profit community groups and organisations to implement projects related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste, and climate change.
Learn more at Indigo Shire Council, Community Sustainability Grants Program.
Earth Hour
Earth Hour is back, and this year, the impact goes beyond the hour! Events from 1 March. You have the power to create a brighter future for our planet.
Learn more at Mitchell Shire.
Halve Waste Excursions
Halve Waste offers a range of free waste education opportunities for schools in Albury City, City of Wodonga, Federation Council, Greater Hume Council and the Shires of Indigo and Towong. The sessions are designed to educate students about how waste and recycling impacts the environment, and how students can reduce their waste at home and school.
Find out more at Halve Waste.
Off-Grid Living Festival
The Off-Grid Living Festival is Victoria's most interesting sustainability events. By combining education and entertainment this event appeals to people from all-walks of life. Empowering people of all-ages to take energy needs into their own hands.
Get involved at Australian Tourism Data Warehouse.
Sustainable Bus House Tour
Join us for a day of inspiration and discover the comforts and benefits of local sustainable homes.
Find out more at Greater Shepparton City Council.
Waste Education
Schools in Strathbogie, Mitchell, Murrindindi and Greater Shepparton are all eligible for Waste Education sessions through your local council.
Grace Davis-Willams delivers an array of waste themed sessions to teachers and primary and secondary students in the Strathbogie, Mitchell and Murrindindi council regions. To learn more, send an email at Grace.Davis-Williams@mitchellshire.vic.gov.au.
Hilary Grigg can be contacted in Greater Shepparton to explore waste education via email at Hilary.Grigg@shepparton.vic.gov.au .
Loddon Mallee
Bendigo Sustainability Festival
Come join the Bendigo Sustainability Festival.
Castlemaine and Mount Alexander Regional Teacher Network Meeting
Teacher Network Meeting for schools in the Castlemaine and Mount Alexander Region. Join us at Chewton Primary School for insights into sustainability at a RSS award winning school. Hear from local stakeholders and teachers passionate about sustainability education.
To find out more, visit Teacher Network Meeting.
EV Youth Takeover
Youth Take Over is giving 10 young people the chance to Rally an Environmental Science Squad. North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) are doing powerful work to help protect your waterways and natural environment. They need your help to grow their team of young volunteers to assist their work in environmental protection.
To find out more, visit Youth Takeover.
Hanging Rock Single-use Plastics Art Competition and Exhibition
We encourage everyone to head along to Hanging Rock to view the diverse range of entries in the Macedon Ranges Shire’s Single-use Plastic Art Exhibition. Entrants should create an artwork that included some pieces of single-use plastic to show the impact plastic has on our environment.
Shortlisted entries were judged by a panel of Councilors. Due to the large volume of entries and diversity in the content, there were multiple winners from each category.
To find out more, head to Macedon Ranges Shire Council.
Macedon Ranges Waste Education
If you are a school, community group, local organisation, or workplace you can request a tailored waste education training session presented by Council’s Waste Education Officers.
For more information visit, Macedon Ranges Council.
MANZWG Energy Assessment
The Mount Alexander Net Zero Working Group (MANZWG) is offering all schools in their shire a free energy assessment. Do not miss this fantastic opportunity.
Find out more at MANZWG.
National Water Week Event
Help celebrate National Water Week 2023 this October at the Bendigo Library. Have you ever wanted to give River Detectives activities a try before making a commitment? Either as a teacher, a passionate parent looking to persuade your school to take part or simply curious about the program that could help you connect better with your local schools? Come along to this event and enjoy a River Detectives 'Come and Try session'.
Sign up on River Detectives website.
Plant Squad Bendigo
Run by kids, for kids – a place for young people to come together, share ideas and set goals for looking after the planet, whatever that looks like for them. From living an eco-friendlier life to acting on climate change, it is more fun with friends.
Working from various resources, with activities and gentle guidance from adults, this group is for kids to create their own ideas for getting involved and doing something positive for the planet.
To find out more, contact Mel Abel at melissa.abel@hotmail.com.
River Detectives
River detective is running PD sessions just in time for the warmer weather diving into the world of water bugs. Running at various schools across Loddon Mallee including Epsom Primary School, St Joseph’s Primary School, Kerang and Carlsruhe annexe of Woodend Primary School there are plenty of options to choose from.
To find out more, visit River Detectives
Teacher Network Meeting for schools in the Bendigo Region
Teacher Network Meeting for schools in the Bendigo Region. Join us at Bendigo Repair shed to learn all about sustainability education through the ResourceSmart Schools program. Hear from local stakeholders and other teachers passionate about sustainability.
For more information, visit Humanitix.
Stories to Action: Free youth environmental video program
Bendigo Sustainability Group is seeking young people aged 12 to 25 who are interested in using creativity to help inspire a more sustainable world. The Stories to Action program will support you to create your own videos or workshops about sustainability. Have fun, get skills, a certificate, meet others who care and make a difference. You can be involved as a co-designer or a video producer. Applications are assessed as they come in, so get in quick.
To express your interest, visit the Stories to Action page.
Sunray Warriors: An Environmental Adventure!
Registrations open for 2023.
Sunray Warriors – An Environmental Adventure! is a free multiagency education event with an environmental focus open to all primary aged school students within the Sunraysia region. Students participate in four 30-minute hands-on, interactive activities covering sustainability, biodiversity and water conservation just to name a few!
The event is being hosted Tuesday 12 September and Wednesday 13 September 2023.
To register your interest please contact Alison at Mallee Catchment Management Authority alison.gercovich@malleecma.com.au or phone 0497 771 994 or Nardia Baker at Mildura Rural City Council on 0417 328 912.
To learn more, visit Sunray Warriors – An Environmental Adventure!
Waste Education
City of Greater Bendigo is offering free waste education sessions to local primary and secondary schools. The sessions run for 35 to 45 minutes (around 25 minutes for prep and grade one students). Sessions are tailored to accommodate group sizes, age ranges, and include group games, activities, worksheets and presentations. Students who attend a session are also provided with a take home pack.
For further education, contact the Resource Recovery and Education team on 1300 002 642 or RR.education@bendigo.vic.gov.au.
Zoo’s Victoria - Kyabram Fauna Park
Thousands of teachers are using Zoos Victoria’s Fighting Extinction Schools Program to bring real-world education into their classroom. Engage your students at Kyabram Fauna Park through excursions, digital programs, teaching resources and professional development workshops to make a difference.
For more information, visit Zoos Victoria.
