Schools in the region are invited to join ResourceSmart Schools, a program that supports institutions to embed sustainability across facilities, the curriculum and community.
According to Sustainability Victoria, the program helps reduce resource use and saves schools money.
“This free program recognises and rewards schools through sustainability certification,” Sustainability Victoria Regions and Actions director Paul Murfitt said.
“Stars are obtained through completion of modules and meeting benchmarks for resource use and are valid for four years.
“Schools can progress from one star up to five stars and move towards becoming a Leadership School,” he said.
Notre Dame College in Shepparton has been part of the program for several years.
The school has two stars and has won numerous sustainability awards.
According to the college’s website, multiple initiatives have been undertaken over the past four years.
That includes bin audits, education campaigns to encourage responsible disposal of rubbish and increase recycling, the creation of a herb garden at the Knight St campus, and starting a secondhand clothing market.
“Through ResourceSmart the college is committed to progress through the Five Stars Program and become a Leadership School in sustainability,” the website states.
The school was awarded a second star for work in managing and reducing waste.
That came on the heels of being awarded a first star for meeting the minimum requirements of becoming a ResourceSmart School.
Mr Murfitt said schools that joined the ResourceSmart program learned, practised and shared ways to integrate sustainability across school operations through the support of an online portal and a program facilitator.
Practical support is provided to reduce resource use, make cost savings and share knowledge in the community.
According to the Sustainability Victoria website, more than 1600 schools have participated in the ResourceSmart Schools program in the past 16 years.
Together, those schools have saved more than $68 million on bills, diverted 170,000 cubic metres of waste from landfill, planted more than five million trees, saved 1.9 million kilolitres of water, and avoided more than 110,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
Interested schools can contact the Sustainability Victoria ResourceSmart Schools team at resourcesmartawards@sustainability.vic.gov.au
