8 October 2014
St Louis de Montfort’s Primary School in Aspendale has won the Education Award in the 2014 Premier’s Sustainability Awards for their program – ‘St Louis de Montfort’s Leaders in Sustainable Education’.
The school has created a one-of-a-kind educational program and sustainable precinct that supports a whole school approach to developing active environmental citizens. Its educators and students place a strong emphasis on utilising their site and local area within the teaching curriculum.
Students have opportunities to be immersed in hands-on learning through their ‘Garden to Kitchen’ program, in their sustainability precinct, at local wetlands and at the nearby Bay.
Sustainability Victoria CEO, Stan Krpan, congratulated the St Louis de Montfort’s team for their innovative work saying they were an excellent example of leadership in sustainability.
“The school provides opportunities for students to learn about the environment and sustainability in a real life context, with a focus on building leadership skills,” he said.
In the past three years, the school has gained ResourceSmart Schools accreditation in Core and Waste modules, won the City of Kingston ‘I Sea, I Care’ Marine Ambassador Program’s School Ambassador and Teacher awards, and created a sustainability education precinct.
Their achievements are the result of forging partnerships with the City of Kingston, Melbourne Water, South East Water and the Dolphin Research Institute.
Overall winner for the night, recipient of the Premier’s Recognition Award, was the Port Phillip EcoCentre’s ‘Life Support for the Bay’ project in which community members collected and analysed small pollutants which affect the health of Port Phillip Bay.
Earthco Projects Pty Ltd won the Premier’s Regional Recognition Award for collaborative industry and council development of their road stabilising agent, PolyCom Stabilising Aid.
Winners of the Premier’s Sustainability Awards 2014 are:
- Cleaner Yarra and Bay – Port Phillip EcoCentre – ‘Life Support for the Bay’
- Community – Knox City Council, Alpine Shire, City of Melbourne, City of Port Philip, Yarra Ranges Council – ‘Seedlings: Sustainability in the Early Years’
- Education Award – St Louis de Montfort’s Primary School Aspendale – ‘St Louis de Montfort’s Leaders in Sustainable Education’
- Environmental Protection Award – Barwon Water, Plenary Environment (Barwon), Water Infrastructure Group – ‘The Barwon Water Biosolids Management Project’
- Infrastructure and Buildings Award – Regional Rail Link Authority – ‘Regional Rail Link Project’
- Innovative Products or Services Award – Fieldtech Solutions Pty Ltd – Fieldtech Solutions
- Large Business Award – Toyota Motor Corporation Australia – Sustainability – Toyota’s ‘Next Big Step’
- Small and Medium Enterprises Award – Interface Constructions Pty Ltd – Interface Constructions Pty Ltd
- Tourism Award – Zoos Victoria – Healesville Sanctuary
- Premier’s Regional Recognition Award – Earthco Projects Pty Ltd – PolyCom Stabilising Aid – Collaboration with local government to achieve sustainable roads’
- Premier’s Recognition Award – Port Phillip EcoCentre – ‘Life Support for the Bay’.
For photographs from the Awards dinner and more information on the winners, visit www.sustainabilityawards.vic.gov.au.
Media release: Cath Newell
