Sustainable Schools Network Journal - Issue 17

Issue 17 | July - August 2021

l a n r u o J

Duranbah Public School | Ed Burton Radian Energy | Serina Lawson | Melati Wijsen

ISSUE FEATURES

The SSN acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respect to Indigenous Elders past, present and emerging.

WITH THANKS: ISSUE 17 Managing Editor - Patricia Lee Designer/Partnerships - Katie Norman Columnist - Dr Alison Sammel Book Review - Carmelo Fedele Hints & Tips - Ed Burton School - Duranbah Public School Teacher - Ed Burton Organisation - Radian Energy Community - Serina Lawson Youth - Melati Wijsen

The Sustainable Schools Network Journal is published by the Sustainable Schools Network Pty Ltd. Copyright Sustainable

Events Calendar

3

Dr Ali’s CPD Column

4

Schools Network, Australia 2021.

Issue 17 | July - August 2021

School Feature

7

Jou rnal

COVER STORY Thank you to Duranbah Public School

Teacher Feature

10

Book Review

13

Organisation Feature

14

Business Manager Feature

18

for being our Issue 17 school feature.

To read their story check out page 7.

Duranbah State School | Ed Burton Radian Energy | Serina Lawson | Melati Wijsen

JOYFUL DISCLAIMER The SSN Journal is designed and created to share stories of

Hints & Tips

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how schools and their communities educate for sustainability.

Some people featured are just getting started, whilst others have been at this for a long time. We share these different

Youth Feature

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perspectives to demonstrate the importance of the lived experience and the value of every point in the journey.

To share your story or ask questions please email: info@ssn.org.au

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r a d n e l a C s t n Eve

The Sustainable Schools Network Journal Events Calendar is presented to help you align your school’s sustainability initiatives around special events, whilst also keeping track of professional development opportunities.

JULY PLASTIC FREE JULY

Join millions of others to reduce plastic waste Take the challenge <

NAIDOC WEEK

4-11 July: Heal Country, heal our nation Teaching resources available now <

WORLD POPULATION DAY

11 July: Understanding world population More info here <

NATIONAL PJ DAY

17 July: Support little people, with big dreams Get involved in 2021 <

SCHOOLS TREE DAY

30 July: Plant some trees in your school in 2021 Call to action <

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FRIENDSHIP

30 July: Celebrating friendships & social sustainability More info here <

ONLINE NETWORKING NIGHT

30 July: All welcome - informal, online SSN catch up More info here <

JEANS FOR GENE’S DAY

AUGUST

6 August: Raise money. Find cures. Jean-ius Teaching resources available <

INTERNATIONAL DAY oF WORLD’S INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS

9 August: Celebrating & recognising Indigenous people More info here <

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY

12 August: Youth engagement for global action More info here <

NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK

14-22 August: Food - Different by Design Teaching resources available <

KEEP AUSTRALIA BEAUTIFUL WEEK

16-22 August: Let’s keep our schools beautiful Get involved <

WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY

19 August: #RealLifeHeroes More info here <

BOOK WEEK

21-27 August: Old world, new worlds, other worlds Check out the resources here <

GC NETWORKING NIGHT

27 August: All welcome - informal EfS catch up More info here < Page 3

Professional Development Column

Dr. Ali Sammel ’s

Sustainability Education Musings

“

Revised changes to the Australian Curriculum and the ACiQ: Sustainability Education in an under-questioned curriculum

scientific work. Its critical, political and reformative directions are greatly altered in conservative ways to fit a system that benefits from maintaining the status quo of unsustainability.

”

In the primary years, knowledge tends to reflect topics related to the natural environment and the protection of nature with the word environment used

What sustainability education will look like after the

interchangeably with nature (rather than socio-cultural

ongoing review of the Australian Curriculum may

or individual environments). Sustainability education

slowly unfold over time.

tends to be confused with conveying knowledge on topics related to nature. If sustainability education is

As an educator caught up in the business of day to day

mostly equated with environmental knowledge, will

teaching, I wonder what role I play, or could play, in

more knowledge alone, no matter what viewpoint

the current process of political educational reform.

it supports, be enough to generate change? Within

I know democratically, I should play a role, and like

the curriculum, when it comes to sustainability -

all teachers, I have changes I would like to see in

what really is the ultimate goal? Is it to promote

the curriculum, but before I stop time to create the

comprehension of the countless puzzle pieces that

opportunity to be part of the public [relations] feedback

comprise ecological sustainability? Can this actually be

process, I have to think about what sustainability

achieved conservatively, while maintaining the status

education means in this era of dramatic change.

quo? In what ways does it promote the understanding of personal and political responsibility, or provide the

When it comes to the curriculum reform and

skills and strategies to build students’ capacities to

envisioning Australia’s future, the major changes I

undertake and experience being part of the process

would like to see are not necessarily related to changes

of change?

in the acquisition of types of knowledge, but rather a shift in our taken-for-granted understandings of

Research highlights that topics traditionally associated

education’s manufacturing of future

with sustainability in the primary years are mostly

(agential/actional) citizens.

associated with Science and HASS. Reviewing the context of education in Australia at the inception of this

As students ask questions about hotter summers,

current national curriculum in 2008, it could be argued

drier weather, bush fires, habitat destruction, species

that a shift was beginning to take place to revise the

extinctions, it seems we, as teachers, are encouraged

process of teaching and learning. For example, science

to frame future learning experiences around the

education in the national curriculum moved away from

transmission of specific knowledge. As international

interpreting or recalling science concepts, towards

research shows, knowledge around sustainability in

student understanding and explaining what they have

schools tends to shrink to apolitical, naturalistic and

learned by undertaking scientific processes. What was

Page 4

Professional Development Column

invigorating about the discussions at the time was the

are to guide their daily choices and practices.

intrinsic worth of learning about environmental issues to complete a well-rounded education. This change

The second stands in ideological contrast to the first.

encouraged F-10 teachers to grow their pedagogical and

Instead of compliance with an external, ideal set

socio-cultural knowledge of sustainability.

of environmentally friendly actions or behaviours, students actively participate in social actions

In 2020 a nationwide review of the curriculum

concerning ecological sustainability and develop the

commenced. The examination of the Australian

ability to take initiatives and propose alternative

Curriculum centred on the latest research and

frameworks. Even though the students should

international developments, as well as Australian wide

understand what the excerpts advise, the focus on this

consultation. So far it seems the revisions improve

approach is placed on the collective process of social

conceptual sequencing and provided more guidance for

assertions to bring about social change. This second

teachers by offering greater clarity and specificity about

approach can be viewed as radical within our current

what needs to be taught. Concise examples decreased

system as it promotes a completely different way of

ambiguity. Even though important steps have been

students, and teachers, addressing sustainability. It

taken to introduce certain aspects of sustainability,

bumps up against conservatism and fear by

these often take conformist approaches that do not

demanding new ways of engaging students in

correspond to sustainability education’s transformative

community-based action.

aims. It forwards information and skills in the direction of technocratic solutions, that may not offer connections

So, do the current curriculum reforms promote

to the underlying causes of the problems.

the second type of citizenry? Probably not, but they do open new opportunities for teachers who

Looking at a bigger picture of what is valued in

already see sustainability education in everything

contemporary education, it seems classroom-based,

they teach. I celebrate the many teachers currently

knowledge-centered educational practices are

undertaking actions within their classrooms, schools

promoted as what teachers should do in classrooms,

and communities by providing hands-on examples to

rather than individual or community based displays

allow students to collectively participate in generating

of democracy to instigate change. This is reflected in

change and learning by doing. As you are reading this

our current society where people coming together

SSN journal, you are most likely one of these inspiring

to recognise the need for urgent political or social

teachers! So, no matter what future direction any

climate action, or group expressions around animal

curriculum takes, I believe there are many places where

loss, are being demonised as radicals, with liberties

we can advocate and teach for change - if we desire it

and freedoms being curtailed. The curriculum

and are bold!

seems relatively silent about real, community-based, democratic expression, where students develop skills for authentically advocating for change.

ACARA’s public consultation is open until 8 July 2021.

Research shows that in environmental education

Please jump online and review the proposed

there are generally two types of citizenry promoted.

curriculum documents and complete an

The first is based on a corrective approach where the

online survey to provide feedback.

aim is to shape citizens who have positive attitudes and behaviours towards ‘the environment’ and are happy to adopt practices experts recommend to protect nature. It is viewed as necessary to teach students to be guided by expert opinions where the correct choice is

Dr. Alison Sammel is a Smithsonian Fellow at Griffith University’s School of Education, Australia.

underpinned by science and facilitated by technology.

Expert opinions, rather than their own understandings,

Please email info@ssn.org.au if you have any questions or would like further support.

Page 5

Have you ever felt that your school is not doing enough around its own environmental footprint?

Sure, classroom learning around environmental stewardship and how we all need to recycle or compost better has begun, but little is actually being done in the

Right now, until the end of term August, it is available to the Sustainable Schools Network

schoolyard itself to fix the problem there? As we know

community for $188.50 (+GST) by using the

there is a problem with plastic, and if your school isn’t

code:

doing something about its own waste management these days, it’s being left behind. And by “doing something about it”... that doesn’t mean putting out a few extra recycling bins and hoping for the best... but a complete system that diverts up to 90% of waste.

The start of Term 3 is approaching. Wouldn’t it be nice

SSN50 at checkout.

to end the school year with a complete waste solution in place in your school?

The Down To Earth Movement has a downloadable framework and program which is normally $377 (+GST).

It comes with a 100% money back guarantee if your school is not satisfied.

Page 6

School Feature

Duranbah Public School is a small rural school nestled

Learning for Life

in the foothills of northern NSW. Surrounded by natural vegetation and neighbouring the world-famous Tropical

DURANBAH PUBLIC SCHOOL

Fruit World, Duranbah Public School is committed

The SSN had the pleasure to visit Duranbah Public School and meet Principal

to offering its students an

Jason Ellem and Miss Alexandra Anderson, in charge of running the

extensive outdoor education.

Sustainability Program at Duranbah Public School. Enthusiastic students

The school has strong

proudly showed the ‘fruits’ of their education, like pineapples, tomatoes, and

community partnerships

avocadoes. It was clear Duranbah Public School really are Learning for Life!

supporting all innovations and initiatives that benefit student

“Our kids engagement with the world today impacts the future, and we support

learning and preserve local

their curiosity and the passion of their teachers by making sure they have the

and cultural characteristics.

tools they need to develop sustainable activities,” explains Duranbah Public School Principal, Jason Ellem.

Through collaboration with staff and the school leadership team, Duranbah Public School has successfully expanded their K-6 environmental program to embody the larger concept of sustainability. One of the first things the school achieved was the creation of an outdoor classroom in one of the gardens; where the students brainstorm, experiment, discuss and collaborate.

“Duranbah’s Sustainability Program is a reflection of the environmental priorities and awareness that runs through the region, and the school culture that has been created by a dedicated and collaborative staff,” says Alexandra.

Page 7

Professional development column Duranbah Public School considers sustainability as an

Alexandra mentions;

educational approach that moves beyond just imparting knowledge about the environment, giving students the space to appreciate nature and the ambition to protect it. “Education for sustainability is also about creating an environment where students can ‘learn for life,’ in every aspect of their schooling experience,” says Alexandra. “In providing the students with these opportunities at school, we are sharing skills and mindsets that they can carry throughout their lives, and an ongoing education that can be shared at home and within the community,”

“Sustainability, in its context, is being accountable for the future.”

The school has a very strong focus on sustainability.

This focus is supported and appreciated by many valuable community partnerships and aligns with the strong values shared by the students’ parents and families.

In the school’s sustainability journey there have been

“it was the funding that became the biggest challenge. For a K-6 program that runs four afternoons a week, the human resources alone increased in necessity. The collaboration of tradespeople, maintenance, administration, planning teams and teaching/non-teaching staff occurs monthly to assist with the expansion of the program.

By implementing various project plans we ensure that the program stays sustainable.”

challenges, nevertheless, they have been successful in attaining grants for several sustainable programs across

Other challenges include creating inclusive groups

the institution. These include:

considering social and behavioural challenges, and most importantly, ensuring that sustainability is

• Irrigation and water storage

spread across the curriculum in a variety of learning

• Staff training

experiences. So, how has Duranbah Public School

• Indigenous gardens, and

overcome those challenges?

• Equipment upgrades.

Page 8

“Through collaboration!” says Alexandra. “Collaborating

and hammers. Learning experiences like this fit well

with staff, parents and community partnerships to create

with the school’s objectives to enhance student welfare

support networks and scaffolds for learning. Through

through healthy eating and physical activity.

School Feature

“Collaboration with staff allows sustainability to run relevantly through classroom learning experiences as a cross-curriculum priority and collaborating with parents allows sustainable practices and skills to be used at home.”

these support networks, we develop plans and apply for community based and governmental grants.”

Some of Duranbah’s most important delivered projects include the planning, designing and construction of the chicken coop, which has been a favourable project for the whole school. “It fulfilled the sustainable cycle in our program from waste management, to food, to fertiliser, to fruit and back to waste,” says Alexandra.

The project – a students, staff, and parents’ favourite – has engaged the students since day one by learning about animal care, maintenance, and food production.

The eggs and fresh produce from the garden have been regularly sold at mini markets upon school pick-up and has provided students with the opportunity to promote sales and manage the market, with food the students have grown themselves.

Duranbah Public School’s sustainability journey has been incredibly rewarding for the community.

Through the collaborative support of staff, the school was successful in receiving two large grants this year, totalling $ 15,000. They are currently implementing a native walkthrough bush tucker garden with signage, a yarning circle that overlooks 25 tropical fruit trees, and native stingless beehives; this will be complemented by a sustainable rainwater catchment and irrigation system.

The SSN would like to congratulate Duranbah Public School for their fantastic achievements and commitment to enrich the student’s education by empowering them with wholesome learning experiences!

With the help of the whole primary class, the school now has a garden full of healthy organic vegetable seedlings which the primary students are looking after with great enthusiasm. They have also created ‘haybale’ gardens with the infants’ class with the help of community partners such as Farmer’s Choice Organic Nursery in Murwillumbah. During this process the students learnt about soil preparation, garden design and planting activities using tools such as spades, hoes, Page 9

Teacher Feature

Ed Burton

“You can’t sustain a sprint start in a cross-country race...”

Ed Burton is a Year Six teacher, compost collector,

thought, let’s see how our weekly waste stacks up.

sports coach, reigning handball champion and an

The amount collected in a week was around 35kg (as

educator passionate about opening up conversations

a year level), that wasn’t surprising for me, but the

that facilitate student understanding of respect for

startling realisation that it was over 50% food waste,

themselves, others and the world they live in.

and 20% recyclable, was. It was shocking for us all.”

“After multiplying our year level by seven and the kilograms by forty weeks of the year, we realised our whole school contributed nearly 10 tonnes of waste to landfill a year! And considering we are only one school, it is truly shocking!”

After that experience, Ed and his team applied for a grant to purchase some compost bins and a composter, and their now five-year long journey began. Like many other schools, Ed recalls his school had paper recycling in classrooms but only landfill bins around the school. So students did

Sharing how his teaching story began with the SSN Ed

not have an option but to place resources (waste)

explains, “I always thought I would like to teach but

into landfill until the compost bins arrived.

I ended up having the incredible privilege of working as a volunteer in youth development in the Solomon

However, learning to create a good compost batch

Islands, through sport instead. I was so humbled by

has not been without challenges. The school size

the opportunity to set up sports clinics in these joyful

of 750 students and 100 staff creates on average

communities and work with disengaged youth, but

of 35kg to 40kg of food waste a week. Therefore,

it was then I truly realised the incredible need for

understanding how to get enough carbon and

quality educators and that getting into the classroom

oxygen through the compost required some

would give me the chance to work with those youth,

experimentation and time to get it right.

potentially before they became disengaged, and foster the sharing of important values through a positive,

Ed highlights that it is difficult at times to

respectful classroom.”

get the ‘reducing school waste’ message out.

Sometimes the message just doesn’t reach

Always connected to nature, Ed loves to surf and hike.

everyone. Although schoolwide systems

However, the environmental education journey for

require buy in from all Ed acknowledges,

Ed and his school’s small but enthusiastic team began around 2017, when Craig Reucassel and his ‘War on Waste’ team brought the waste issue front and centre.

“Our students were working on a data unit and I

“teachers are swamped and their passions naturally differ so we are always seeking feedback and reviewing our systems to make it more feasible for staff and students to participate.”

Page 10

Ed’s schools initiatives are ever evolving and the Teacher Feature

next important step is to work with the school administration to integrate sustainability more readily into planning and daily teaching practices across the school.

“As a team, we can plan together key areas that kids will need to succeed academically, but this also means a decision will be made as to what is left out. Sometimes those things are areas that kids are more naturally engaged towards like sustainability and technology.

we have been talking about sustainability, the more

We do our best to integrate those subjects into the kids’

teachers and staff collaborate to turn ideas into a

reading areas; however, I believe this is challenging for

reality. Just this year, three new teachers have joined,

teachers. Daily we try to keep the students engaged in the

each with their own original initiatives,” he adds.

areas we need to work with whilst delivering the content we need them to learn. It can be a struggle when teachers

Ed is clearly passionate about delivering sustainability

who are keen to integrate things like sustainability or

projects, especially resource recovery initiatives. One

gardening into school life realise that there are many

of his favourites has been the roll out of the school’s

time constraints and set priorities for schools’ principals

new bin system this year. The school purchased new

and departments. I am concerned that those subjects

landfill, compost and paper recycling bins for each

where kids gain social development skills and develop

classroom and matching colour and shape coded bins

important citizenship values, in a cramped curriculum,

for the eating areas. “The cleaning team has said the

are the first to be dropped.”

overall waste and bin contamination rates have dropped significantly with the smaller landfill bins. Not only that,

“Implementing sustainable practices in schools might

but the savings we are making on not purchasing huge

seem like an obvious and necessary goal economically

plastic bin bags for the traditional 240L landfill bins can

and environmentally, but in an education system that

pay off the bin purchase within two years.”

challenges schools towards academic data progress rather than holistic understanding of our world and

“I believe we can provide our future generation with the

their students’ place in it, it’s hard to ask teachers and

holistic education that can assist the federal governments

administration to put resource sustainability front and

ongoing challenge of waste education and at the same

centre.”

time, saving schools and state governments money, while taking the load off local council waste management.”

Nevertheless, in their path towards a more sustainable school community Ed and his students have also

In the future, Ed is looking forward to seeing the

celebrated triumphs, like the purchasing of three

resource sorting program running by itself and

Subpods® with the school’s Containers4Change funds

encouraing his school to invest in further supporting

raised from recycled poppers and community container

the cleaning team to manage the composting. According

drop-off days. Setting up the Subpods® around the

to Ed, “sustainability is ultimately about collaboration.”

eating areas in the school allows students to more easily empty compost rather than taking it to the garden.

The SSN are so grateful for all that Ed has offered our community as a volunteer and for his new role in the

“Another important detail is having such a diverse

Journal (see page 19). Ed is community minded (as you

and active committee in the school,” Ed reflects. The

can tell by how he tells his story) demonstrating how he

facilities, cleaning team, after school care, local

embodies sustainability in his mindset and approach to

kindergarten, parents, and teachers can sit in the

teaching. Thank you Ed for all that you do!

school’s committee. Time also has helped, “the longer

Page 11

Page 12

Book Review

Book Review

By Carmelo Fedele The Future We Choose

by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac the most recent science, however; the book transports us beyond the cold facts to an immersive sensory experience. It attempts to speak to us in language that overcomes the mind’s temporal hurdles which have prevented us from urgent action.

Part two covers ground rarely touched by authors in the genre; mindsets, or as is described in the book “who we choose to be”. It presents a compelling challenge to the way we see ourselves and the world by advocating for stubborn optimism, endless abundance and radical regeneration as fundamental mindsets.

The book has been frequently described as a call to arms, so it should be no surprise that the final part, dedicated to action, is also the lengthiest. The ten actions range from the lofty to the practical and set a clear path to effect meaningful change.

Given the choice between two worlds, how do we write

The book balances the urgency of climate action with

the story of the better future? This is the question sitting

the hope required to initiate change at an individual

behind the many choices Christiana Figures and Tom

and global scale. It is, “an invitation for you to take

Rivett-Carnac compel us to consider, in their inspiring

part in creating the future of humanity, confident that

book, The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate

despite the seemingly daunting nature of the challenge,

Crisis. Figueres and Rivett-Carnac, who led negotiations

collectively we have what it takes to address climate

for the UN during the historic Paris Agreement of 2015,

change now. This invitation requires your immediate

could not be more qualified to write a survival guide to

response.”

a climate crisis.

Part memoir, part manifesto, part manual for creating The book is comprised of three parts. The first is a lucid

a habitable world, this book should be at the top of

portrait of two versions of our future; one ominously

the reading list for anyone concerned for our future

dark and one optimistically bright (green). Both visions

in the face of a changing climate and especially

of Earth in 2050, the one 3 degrees warmer and the

those attempting to lead their community to greater

other limited to 1.5 degrees of warming, are rooted in

sustainability.

Page 13

Organisation Feature: Paid

“We simply must find better ways to do things. To achieve a net zero balance, a lifestyle change in society is needed. As an electricity retailer, offering electricity with net-zero emissions is essential. Finding an efficient and transparent way to bring those levels down was a challenge that we gladly took as an opportunity,”

Dave Aaskov

Proudly 100% Australian-owned and operated, Radian

networks. The Radian team are proud to have joined

Energy was founded by Dr David Ireland and Dave

Microsoft, Sony, SAP, and others across the globe to take

Aaskov with the aim of minimising the financial and

the lead on climate action.

environmental cost of energy. What began as an endeavour to reduce a school’s energy bill with solar

The Radian team are 100% committed to investing in

panels, has evolved into an impassioned operation

activities that reduce not only carbon emissions, but

helping all Australians, organisations, and communities

that also deliver meaningful, sustainable benefits. They

reduce their bills and their impact on the environment

do this in Australia and around the world. Projects are

using the same smart thinking.

carefully selected which help save and re-build forests, irreplaceable plant life, and endangered wildlife, while

The SSN spoke to Dave Aaskov, Co-Founder of Radian

improving the lives of locals through training and

Energy to learn more about what Radian is doing to

employment, education and literacy, and the provision

lead the charge on climate action, creating sustainable

of clean water and much more. Radian also works with

communities and educating kids to reimagine a

regional communities to create circular economies

sustainable future.

by building virtual power plants for households and businesses to share 100% carbon neutral electricity.

Radian invests in world-first programs and technology that deliver environmental and social impact, as well as

The Radian team believes in educating kids to lead the

financial savings for customers and their communities.

way and create their own sustainable future. That’s

Dave says, “at Radian, we believe every Australian should

why Radian co-founded Zero Positive, a world-first

be able to help power a renewable and sustainable energy

emissions reduction program for schools. “As one of

future. And today, we are proud to drive this ambition by providing a genuine, accessibly priced green alternative to traditional energy products and providers.”

Radian is Australia’s first and only provider accredited by the United Nations’ Climate Neutral Now initiative.

To avoid the worst effects of climate change, Climate Neutral Now partners with organisations, governments, and citizens to work towards global climate neutrality.

This is achieved by addressing the climate footprint of individual entities and being called to incentivise behavioural change within their industries and Page 14

Radian Energy is an Australian owned energy provider, offering electricity with netzero emissions and accredited by the United Nations’ Climate Neutral Now initiative.

Organisation Feature: Paid

Radian Energy Radian is a proud member of a group of leading organisations and individuals that are committed to incentivising behavioural changes which in turn will drive change within their industries and networks, helping align with the Sustainable Development Goals.

the largest emitters of Carbon Dioxide and Equivalent

“depending on how much of your carbon emissions

(CO2e) in Australia, schools and their communities now

you would like to reduce, the additional cost can

have a practical program to help them take immediate

range anywhere from over 60 cents a day to $1 a day,

action on climate change,” explains Dave.

essentially negating any price advantage. At Radian, we don’t charge you to offset your emissions, as we believe

Endorsed by the United Nations, Zero Positive was

that all electricity in Australia should have net zero

developed specifically to empower Australian schools

emissions.”

and their communities with the right tools, education and support to begin the journey towards reaching net-

On face value, price discounts and incentives might

zero emissions targets and becoming climate positive.

seem significant. In most cases though, the discounts

Dave asserts, “For Radian, co-creating a positive cost-

equate to a difference of about $1.50 a day between the

and-emission-reduction program to help schools take

cheapest and the most expensive plan over the course

action on climate change was not rational but vital.”

of a year. Radian Energy typically sits towards the cheaper end, usually around 50 cents a day more than

At Radian, the energy supplied to costumers has

the cheapest provider. And with Radian, the discounts

net zero emissions, at no extra cost. For most other

are offered for the life of the chosen plan, not just the

providers, costumers need to spend time researching

first 12 months. Dave adds, “choice in electricity should

to find out if they offer carbon reduction or renewable

be based on more than just price, which is why all our

energy plans, and in most instances, they are charged

electricity comes with net zero emissions. It’s why we

an additional amount for this efforts. Dave explains,

offer highly discounted solar and battery plans. It’s why we support programs like Zero Positive, helping schools get to net zero emissions. When you are picking an electricity provider, make them work for it. Sure, look at price, but look at everything else they are doing too.”

To support the SSN & the Zero Positive Team, Radian Energy will donate $50 for every household or business that signs up to Radian Energy using the special link during July and August: SIGN UP HERE The SSN thank you & Radian Energy for your support!

Page 15

Connecting Regional Australia Sustainable Schools Summit 2 0 2 1 - 2 0 2 1

Expressions of Interest

We are seeking schools to host events in regional areas around Australia and sponsors to reduce costs for schools to participate.

Email info @ ssn.org.au to discuss options Check out past Summits here

Page 16

y t i n u m m o C l o o h Sc

NETWORKING NIGHTS • Join us for an informal gathering of like-minded people • Supportive, informative sharing circle • Everyone welcome

O N L I N E 30 July: 5-7pm Register Here

G OLD

COAST

30 July: 5-7pm Register Here

Win a Solar Schools Energy Hero Program for your school.* Find out how here.

Smart Energy for Switched on Students Giveaway! * T&C’s Apply

Page 17

School Community Feature

Seri na y e l w a L

and the thirst for rain could not be quenched. From an early age, Serina learnt to appreciate hard work, responsibility, the value of ‘home grown’ and how precious water is; her family taught her to repair instead of replacing, to not waste anything and to always be grateful for what she had.

“Sustainability is interconnected in how we treat our

Introducing Serina Lawley... Passionate about

environment; the way we function as a society and our

implementing sustainable practices, Serina is helping

economy. It is about ensuring the way we live minimises

schools gain efficiencies to empower and enable the

the use of finite resources and reduces waste. When

whole school community to have the capacity to

sustainability is at the core of all decisions, systems have

take action.

to change to adapt.”

After researching and understanding the science

After finishing high school, Serina started working in

behind sustainability, Serina is focused on sharing her

an accounting firm while studying a commerce degree

multidisciplinary experience to ensure the schools she

externally. Later, she would move to Brisbane to

works with have the knowledge and skills necessary to

attend university full-time. After meeting her husband,

act in ways that contribute to more sustainable

working and travelling overseas for a few years, they

patterns of living. Serina is currently working as a

decided to return home to Australia. “I started working

School Business Manager and is our School Champion

for a mining company. Within this role I gained the

for this Issue.

most insight into the inner workings of mining, the environmental obligations and strict regulations that

Growing up in a small-town west of Warwick in rural

exist.” She adds, “during this time I also got to experience

Queensland, Serina remembers being surrounded by

major natural disasters in the area that allowed me

space, animals, a beautiful landscape, and a severe lack

to understand more about the insurance world and

of rain. Her primary school only had fifteen children,

managing risks in this industry.”

Page 18

industry we all work in, there are ways and means for making that area more sustainable. If we start to exclude people from the conversation, based on the industry they are working in, we lose one of the most powerful ways and means to adapt and affect change from inside these companies.”

After her daughters were born, the family moved down South to the Gold Coast onto small acreage. Serina spent some time in different roles while exploring other

“P&C’s are such great places to get involved to help schools reduce their footprint. To those parents that would like to help their school become more sustainable, I would say start by joining your P&Cs, it is the best place to have your voice heard.”

School Community Feature

“It has taken me a while to realise that no matter what

professional opportunities.

For Serina, it has been hard to accept the reality

I already had a strong focus on sustainability by this stage, and I really wanted to go into a sustainable space,”

of climate change and like many parents, she feels concerned for the future her children will face. While she understands some people’s reluctance to learn more about the subject, she explains, “once you see and learn all about it then you cannot ‘unsee it’. Personally, I feel the most empowered when I am taking positive action.

The severe bushfires around the Gold Coast in August

Wanting to work in a positive space and have a bigger

2019 were a major pivot point for Serina, as it pushed

impact on sustainability, lead me to focus on education

so close to her family home and affected many. “I

for sustainability.”

remember the incredible sadness, helplessness and how scared I felt watching it all unfold. At the same time, my

Serina is now working as a Business Manager in a Gold

hometown and surrounding areas were running out of

Coast high school. Her career has been about bringing

drinking water after years of severe drought. We were

efficiency, systems, and improvement into business

taking water home from our tanks to my family and I

and now she is doing the same for schools. “I get to use

saw the effect this had on my daughters. People were

my CPA professional experience across many industries/

running out of water and feed for livestock. Trucks were

areas of business to assist with sustainability initiatives,

being sent into the towns that were running out of water.

save time for teachers, and make decisions that not only

It was an incredibly hard thing to watch.”

save the school money but reduce its environmental footprint. It has an incredible positive effect on the school

During this difficult time, Serina decided to focus

and the wider community, and it is a great sector to be

on learning as much as she could about the science

working in.”

and solutions to climate change. She committed to finding a way to use her skills for the most impact,

In the future, Serina has plans to regenerate her

“I started digesting research, following groups,

family land and environmental area to keep reducing

watching documentaries, writing hefty submissions

her personal footprint. She would like to see more

on legislative bills, and making huge personal changes

passionate people working on school committees and

for our family. I focused on sustainability through

seeing the positive flow on effects for their school

regenerative agriculture, politics, local government,

community. She intends to support schools to become

business and schools.” She says, “I also assisted our local

more efficient, a skill set she has developed working in

school’s P&C to put in place some scalable composting

business for the last 25 years. More systemising and

measures, provided research and assisted with grants.

efficiencies mean freeing people’s time so there can be

The school leadership team subsequently put in place

a space for sustainability initiatives. The SSN commend

a sustainability committee putting extensive work into

Serina for her approach to business management

including sustainability in the school’s strategic plan.”

within the education sector!

Page 19

Hints & Tips

New Feature

HINTS AND TIPS WITH ED BURTON The Sustainable Schools Network would like to thank Ed Burton, Gold Coast teacher for creating this new feature of our Journal.

From Issue 17 onwards, we plan to share a short video of hints and tips to inspire you to get

s d r a w A d n Grants a AUSTRALIA POST COMMUNITY GRANTS

Closing soon - 4 July. Up to $10,000 for communityled local projects. Apply Now <

LANDCARE CHAMPION AWARDS

Junior Awards available - Closing dates based on state of application from 11 July (VIC) to 26 November (NT). Apply Now <

REVERSE GARBAGE CREATIVE REUSE

School’s Creative Reuse Competition - entries close 30 July 2021. Apply Now <

started, keep going or to take your programs to the next level.

Ed has been working at this for a while but doesn’t claim to be an expert. He’d love to hear your ideas as much as we hope you benefit from his ideas.

KEEP AUSTRALIA BEAUTIFUL AWARDS QLD

Schools are invited to showcase their sustainability achievements before 1 October 2021. Apply Now <

CANNON OCEANIC GRANTS

1 x educational grant worth $2500 in product and $2500 in cash. Closes 30 July 2021. Apply Now <

Sustainability education is always a work in practice. It’s flexible, responsive and intuitive - as long as you are paying attention to the planet and people around you.

We are grateful to Ed for taking this on in amongst his busy days as a Year 6 teacher. One step at a time we can all take action to future proof our communities.

SCHOOLS TREE DAY COMPETITION

Open to all primary school students and closing on 30 July 2021, you can win cash and National Tree Day merch.

More ideas for Schools Tree Day here <

MOBILE MUSTER FILM COMPETITION 2021

Passionate about recycling old phones and film making? Competition open until 13 September.

More info here <

Hints & Tips

SCHOOLS TREE DAY Here at the SSN we LOVE a tree planting day... getting dirty, volunteering our time to regenerate a piece of the planet, catching up with friends and being in the great outdoors.

Does it get better than that???

Yes, it does... helping schools plant trees is even more enjoyable. As the built environment pervad``es our school landscapes, School Trees Day is a reminder of the importance of the natural environment.

Take action this Friday 30 July to regenerate a piece of your community by organising a tree planting day at your school. Don’t forget to ask your local council for support - you never know they may just offer you some free trees!

More info here <

Su rve y

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Please take our >survey< to share your ideas about Education for Sustainability

Sustainability 101 What are the Sustainable Development Goals?

Adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (or SDGs as most people refer to them) are a framework for people and planet to co-exist peacefully and in partnership.

The SDGs highlight the challenges faced by the planet and address social, economic and natural environment issues.

An urgent call to action, there are 169 targets set for the world to collectively achieve by 2030.

Highlighting how sustainability is a broad concept of inter-related dimensions, to achieve the SDGs all 17 goals need to be addressed. The SSN refer to SDG 17, ‘partnerships for the goals’ as the foundation, because for all goals to be achieved we require collaboration across all facets of human society, including local, state, national and international levels. Unapologetically ambitious and not without criticism, the SDGs offer a focus for our energies individually and the reassurance that as a group we can make a difference if we chose to.

Page 21

N E T-Z E R O E M I S S I O N S E L E C T R I C I T Y

SIGN UP TO: E RADIAN’S EXCLUSIV OLS NETWORK PLAN. SUSTAINABLE SCHO donate $50 l il w e w d n a N IA D A Join R ols Network. o h c S le b a in ta s u S e to th e to join. m o lc e w y il m fa d n a s Friend BLE FUTURE A IN A T S U S A E T A E HELP CR FOR OUR KIDS. Schools ess your Sustainable Scan the code to acc issions Em ero t-Z DIAN ENERGY Ne Network Plan with RA

.

Join RADIAN ENERGY able future for your Work towards a sustain y, nit school and commu Thank You, Dave Aaskov

CEO RADIAN ENERGY

Youth Feature

Me lati Wijsen Is an activist and change maker. At only 20

years of age, Melati along with her younger sister is the founder of a successful not-forprofit organisation Bye Bye Plastic Bags and has recently launched an even more

By organising petitions, awareness-raising

ambitious project YOUTHTOPIA.

campaigns and frequent beach clean-ups, Melati and Isabel went on to start the biggest children driven action campaign Bali had ever seen. Now a successful national and international youth empowerment movement, BBPB is committed to empowering people

The SSN last spoke to Melati in 2019 during the 2019

to do what is right through education, campaigns,

Sustainability Symposium, where she successfully

and political meetings. The values of education,

delivered a keynote presentation sharing the success

innovation, collaboration, passion, sustainability, grit,

behind her organisation Bye, Bye Plastic Bags. Two

and leadership continue to be central in the BBPB

years later, the SSN is excited to share more about her

movement. By raising awareness and educating about

journey and her inspiring new platform.

the harmful impact of plastic on our environment, animals, and health, Melati and Isabel have spoken to

A Journey Begins: Bye Bye Plastic Bags

over 20,000 youth and created two educational booklets for elementary schools in Indonesia.

In 2013, at the ages of 10 and 12, sisters Melati (18) and Isabel (15) felt incredibly inspired by one of their lessons in their classroom at The Green School Bali.

Learning about people like Nelson Mandela, Lady Diana and Mahata Ghandi the sisters began to ask themselves, ‘how can we as children living in Bali make a difference in the world?’ It was then that ‘Bye Bye Plastic Bags’ (BBPB) was conceived.

Thank you Me lati Page 23

“Starting BBPB with my sister was a lot of fun... My sister and I are still best friends, we balance each other so well, and that has been what leads us to still do this. Of course, the support of my parents who always instilled in us – from a very young age – that we can do anything we believe in as long as we walk the talk.”

Melati Wijsen

“It is about allowing people to see different ways of being

The Next Chapter: Youthtopia

part of the solution. We showcase a lot of these solutions through our hands on projects such as our Pilot Village

In 2020, Melati launched YOUTHTOPIA - a youth

program, River BOOM toolkits, Mountain Mama’s Social

empowering ecosystem where young change makers

Enterprise as well as our campaign One Island One

create content around their skills learned at the front

Voice.” Melati reflects.

lines of change. YOUTHTOPIA hosts online and onthe-ground local workshops and training and wants

Since 2013, BBPB Teams have been launched in over 50

to become the global headquarters for a movement of

locations across the globe and the Founders continue

young changemakers. “We want to help empower other

to share their message to communities and global

young kids around the world to be able to find a tangible

leaders around the world. In 2020, Melati co-chaired

action that they can do,” says Melati, “we want to equip

the final session of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF)

them with the right tools, the right skills and the right

Sustainable Development Impact Summit in New

resources to look into where they can start making a

York. There she told the WEF, “the education system

difference and find their voice as a changemaker.”

is outdated. It is not keeping up with the changes in the real world. It is not preparing us for the real issues, the urgent issues that are happening.” She also shared the message, “you are never too young to make a difference, and it is not too late to take action.”

At the heart of YOUTHTOPIA is a changemaker programme based on the Melati’s and Isabel’s belief that every young person can make a difference, even if they might not know where to start. Melati remembers the time when she first envisioned YOUTHTOPIA. “I remember coming off the stage and this line started to build up. One kid stayed until he was the very last person to talk to me.” He said, “What can I do to be like you?

How can I start making a difference and take action? All I could say was, ‘Use your voice,’ but even then, it didn’t feel like a good enough answer. So, my mind started turning and thinking how we could actually create a place for young kids like him to understand from each other how can we build a world and a future that we want to be a part of.”

Page 24

Melati has spoken on world stages such as TED and

speaking, leadership and how to talk to government

the UN and has also been selected as FORBES top ten

officials – everything the sisters learned from BBPB

most inspiring women in the country. She graduated

over the past 8 years. A central pillar of YOUTHTOPIA

from high school one year early and has since been

is the Masterclass. This aspect involves over 100

honored by TIME as part of the annual list of most

changemakers from around the world delivering a

influential teens in the world along with CNN Heroes

peer to peer program, created for youth by youth from

Young Wonders and FORBES 30 under 30. Today, Melati

concept to delivery.

is excited about her new youth empowerment project;

Youth Feature

YOUTHTOPIA teaches basic skills such as public

YOUTHTOPIA, and she invites you to get involved today.

Individual and school subscriptions are available.

“Youthopia is a community-centric platform with learning at its core.

We use the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a guideline and inspiration for all our programmes.”

“I’ve gone through so many life lessons that a normal textbook and a normal school experience could have never taught me. Being in the front lines interacting other change-makers, world leaders, politicians, media, I have learnt the skills of articulation and story-telling; this has helped me to create momentum and inspire change.”

The SSN are grateful to Melati for sharing her story and invite you to connect with her via socials @melatiwijsen @byebyeplasticbags @youthtopia.world or to learn

Melati’s inspiring vision also includes ‘Youthtopia Voices’. A world’s first speaking agency for young

more about Youthtopia. Keep an eye out on the SSN socials for a special YOUTHTOPIA offer coming soon.

people under 25, Youthtopia Voices have partnered with two existing and well-established agencies based in Europe and Asia to offer a platform that enables young peoples voices to be heard. So, if you don’t know where to start to access an incredible young people for your next event, you could check out Youthtopia Voices.

“Education is why I am focusing now on Youthopia.

I recognise the potential to help create spaces where young people learn in a different way than they usually do, Monday to Friday every day in schools. One of the things I learnt through BBPB is that change happens, and change starts in the classroom, so, I think it is key if we want to see any changes in our behaviour it starts with young people, in the classrooms with teachers. Education has become a huge passion of mine, and where I think the biggest potential is. In making sure that we see change happens in all levels, from individual, to policy and systemic change.”

“I think the message I want to convey is that every single young person can be a changemaker. So, don’t wait until you are older to start making a difference but use your passions and strength and start today, because change starts with you.”

Melati Wijsen 2021

Page 25

n o i t a c u d E g n i n i g Reima The Sustainable Schools Network aims to educate and connect school communities to imagine a sustainable future.

For more information email: info@ssn.org.au www.ssn.org.au