Environmental Sustainability in Schools

Student-led action

This priority area of environmental sustainability action includes activities that schools may choose to do to foster and support student-led action.

Refer to Case studies and Resources for additional guidance and resources.

Schools can:

• support student-led environmental sustainability initiatives. Students are showing leadership in environmental sustainability action locally and globally and want to see their schools supporting their action as well as taking initiative. Schools should support students where it is appropriate to do so. Students feel reassured and validated by visible and tangible climate change action when schools support them. For example, schools can respond positively to student-led initiatives to minimise packaging in school canteens, planting indigenous gardens, and reducing waste
• work with students to establish a student-led sustainability action group (such as this one at Tyabb Primary School) to foster student-led action on sustainability, and create an environmental leadership position within a student representative council. Schools can also include student members on school council sustainability sub-committee or providing a student-led action group with a regular speaking spot at school council, subcommittee or staff management meetings. Resources to help establish a student environmental group include the ResourceSmart Schools of the Future Challenge, and Primary English Teaching Association Australia.