ResourceSmart Schools
Work with CERES to make your school more sustainable with ResourceSmart Schools, a free Victorian Government program.
READY TO MAKE YOUR SCHOOL MORE SUSTAINABLE?
ResourceSmart Schools is a free Victorian Government program that helps schools embed sustainability in everything they do. Schools minimise waste, save energy and water, promote biodiversity, and take action on climate change to benefit their school and community.
Over 1400 Victorian schools have taken part in ResourceSmart Schools since 2008.
About the ResourceSmart Schools Program
Sustainability is a big, complex concept which can make it challenging to know where to begin. The ResourceSmart Schools program helps to make it achievable with five modules: Core, Biodiversity, Energy, Waste and Water.
Core
Energy
Waste
Biodiversity
Water
In each module there are clear actions and ideas to put into practice. While some schools set out to complete them all, many pick and choose aspects of the program best suited to their needs. The online portal makes it easy to track your progress and your impact, to keep your school and community across all of your achievements.
key benefits
The program has been proven to have huge benefits for students, schools and the planet.
As part of the ResourceSmart Schools program you benefit from a running start on your sustainability journey. The program is designed to complement the curriculum, work in school ecosystems and inspire students of all levels to get involved.
A recent study found that 59% of Aussie kids are very or extremely worried about climate change, and 84% are at least moderately worried. The RSS program empowers students to make change in their immediate environment, and has been proven to have a positive impact on their wellbeing*. It creates a new stream for achievement beyond academics and sport, building confidence and recognising students for their efforts.
* Wellbeing study. RSS improved student happiness, optimism and perseverance. Also marked improvements in engagement in learning and connection to and pride in school.
Support: Get support from the CERES team and be connected with like minded educators, schools and partners in your area.
Recognition: Track your impact and be recognised for your efforts including the ones you are already taking.
Savings: Saving the planet also happens to save money. Banyule Primary school in Rosanna saved close to $100,000 on bills in their time in the program.
Since the inception of the program ResourceSmart Schools have:
- planted 5,271,038 trees, enough to create an 18,000 acre forest
- saved more than 118,000 tonnes CO2e greenhouse gas emissions
- diverted 194,000 cubic metres of waste from landfill, enough to fill 78 Olymplic sized swimming pools.
- saved 1,884,783 kilolitres of water, that’s almost 755 Olympic sized swimming pools.
Case Studies
Learn how these schools have transformed their sustainability practices with ResourceSmart Schools.
“The CERES ResourceSmart Schools (RSS) program has been a pivotal part of our sustainability journey as we work towards becoming a 5-star sustainable school. Currently sitting at four stars, we are focusing on completing the water module, and the support from our facilitator, Claire, over the years has been invaluable.
The structured nature of the RSS program, particularly the guidance offered through the platform’s actions and policies, helps us stay organised and inspired to achieve our 5 star accrediatation. Claire’s facilitation is not only supportive but also tailored to our school’s needs, ensuring we can make steady progress.
The workshops and services provided by CERES are both engaging and informative, giving us practical tools and insights to embed sustainability in our school community. The program continues to empower us to take meaningful actions that make a real difference.”
“CERES/RSS is an organisation and a program that our school has been searching for!
Our school wanted to introduce practices into understanding and managing sustainability, but we weren’t exactly sure how to go about it. CERES/RSS has provided us with an in-depth, yet, easy-to-understand program that requires the participation of the entire school community – which is exactly what we are after, as ‘sustainability’ cannot be managed by just a few people, but requires the assistance and ongoing participation of many.
So many benefits to this program:
- Dedicated CERES staff member to help guide us through our journey
- A user-friendly dashboard for all people to understand
- Dozens of engaging and education workshops for staff and students to attend
- Learning practices that can be taken to our own homes and put into place
Wanting to achieve a 5-star sustainability rating, it’s a goal that helps keep us all accountable for our own actions – which is what sustainability is all about!
A lot of staff and students have been appreciative of introducing sustainability practices in the school, and have noticed a change for the better within the school’s environment and we have CERES/RSS to thank.”
CERES Support
CERES is a not-for-profit organisation that has been educating students in sustainability for over 40 years. Built on an unwanted tip site, our 10-acre Brunswick East park is now a thriving oasis, sustainability and community hub.
We’ve worked with hundreds of schools to implement the RSS program. Our team is on hand to help you every step of the way.
What Teachers Say
FAQs
Ready to make your school more sustainable? Looking for support to help make it happen?
There is no cost to be part of the ResourceSmart School Program which is fully funded by Sustainability Victoria and the Victorian Government.
Some schools choose to purchase materials and infrastructure to become more sustainable (for example, water tanks) but this is not expected or essential. There are many grants and fundraising opportunities for schools to explore to help pay for these types of projects, should you choose to do them.
The CERES team is on hand to support you as part of the ResourceSmart Schools program. Schools have access to unlimited support from their designated facilitator via email. In addition, each year you will have access to:
- Four in person check-ins with your facilitator
- Professional development workshops for your team
- A resource-based audit (waste, water, energy, biodiversity)
- Full day professional learning for up to two staff members twice per year
- Student voice in sustainability sessions run online each term
- Module assistance and reviews to make sure you receive certification and stars for the activities you complete
ResourceSmart Schools is a flexible program, it’s designed to assist you in making progress right away but also supporting meaningful, long term improvements. Schools typically take at least a year or more to complete each module, and there are five modules in the program.
Once all the modules are complete and schools have 5 stars they can remain in the program and continue to improve on their sustainability initiatives. Some schools have been in the program for 15+ years.
The long term and centralised nature of the program also assists if team members change over time, the school’s information and overall journey is recorded and able to be picked up so progress isn’t lost.
For each module completed, schools have the opportunity to acquire a corresponding star. There are five stars in total. Once a module has been completed, there are usually a couple more actions that need to be undertaken to achieve the star, including achieving a certain level of reduction in resource use.
Schools receive a sign for their gate to proudly share your stars and achievements with the whole school community. There is also an annual Resource Smart School Awards where schools and students are recognised for their initiatives.
Five stars is a big goal, but it is absolutely achievable. CERES works with multiple 5 star schools in the North and South metro areas of Melbourne.
Ready to get started?
Or get in touch with the CERES team below for more information.