Sustainability Everywhere all at Once

Sustainability needs to be front of mind, so schools like St Patrick’s Parish Primary School in Port Fairy, Vic, are making sustainability a constant companion to pretty much everything they do.

An example of this approach is how they link a field trip to studying a novel like Storm Boy. Taking students to a beach brings the story to life in a way that no classroom lesson can. Being in the same kind of environment as the characters helps deepen their understanding of the themes such as connection to nature, conservation, and loss while building empathy and critical thinking. It also opens the door to exploring coastal ecosystems, Indigenous perspectives, and local environmental issues in a meaningful, integrated way.

“Sustainability is woven into many areas of our curriculum,” Teacher Benson Steere says. “In Maths, for example, we’ve begun experimenting with real data collected during our beach monitoring sessions giving students a chance to analyse patterns, make predictions, and understand data in a practical context.

“In Religion, we focus on values such as The Common Good and Care for Our Common Home, helping students link faith to action and ethical decision-making. Through Inquiry projects, students have been involved in planting native trees with the Friends of Griffiths Island group, connecting science, civic responsibility, and environmental stewardship. These kinds of learning opportunities empower students to become informed, compassionate, and active citizens of the future."

Events like the Trashion Show, where students transform recycled materials into stunning fashion pieces, happen regularly.

“At our school, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword - it’s a shared commitment embraced by our entire community. More than just a creative showcase, the Trashion Show event sparks meaningful conversations about waste, reuse, and the role we each play in protecting the environment. The show was expertly led and organised by our talented art teacher, Samantha Kenna, whose passion for creativity and sustainability brought the event to life,” says Steere.

“Our commitment to sustainability extends far beyond designated sessions - it’s embedded throughout school life. From our termly Sustainability Days to preparing meals with produce from our school garden in the Hands on Learning program, sustainable thinking is woven into a wide range of learning experiences. All of our initiatives reflect a whole-school approach, where ideas flow from staff, students, and parents alike. This collaborative spirit keeps our sustainability journey fresh, dynamic, and ever evolving.”

Steere has been learning from the program too, “It’s deepened my understanding of how everyday actions, both big and small, can make a lasting impact on the environment. Having the students not just be a part of our process but giving them the student agency to create ideas and run sessions in sustainability is where real growth occurs within our school. I've also seen firsthand the power of a whole-school approach, where students, staff, and families work together toward a shared goal. Most importantly, it’s shown me that sustainability isn’t a one-off activity, it's a mindset that can be embedded into every part of school life.”

The students get it and are on board, a Year 6er says; “Sustainability means we are friendly to the environment. Our school is very sustainable! We have retained our five stars for sustainability. We are excellent at not using plastic, we also have lots of biodiversity at school, as well as veggie patches."

“I know that we have a garden where the sustainability group is growing fruit and vegetables. Also, the sustainability group has a chook pen and selects different kids to help feed and look after them,” adds one of the Year 2 Students.

There are other perks, the school won the Community Leadership School of the Year at last year’s Sustainability Victoria ResourceSmart Schools Awards and bought a pizza oven with the proceeds, it has been enthusiastically embraced by the students.

“I was absolutely blown away by the creativity our students showed on our pizza-making day. I won’t lie there were definitely a few classic cheese and sauce only pizzas made. But the standout was a Year Six student who loaded his pizza with nearly every vegetable we grow in our school garden and I was lucky enough to try a slice. It was absolutely delicious!

“Every single student had the opportunity to create their own pizza, and we made sure to cater for all allergies.”

St Patrick’s bases it’s sustainability initiative on the ResourceSmart Schools program.

“It encourages teachers to think creatively, develop cross-curricular connections, and provide students with authentic, hands-on learning experiences. The program also strengthens our community partnerships and allows students to see the real-world impact of their learning, which boosts engagement and purpose,” he says.