Sustainability

According to new data from the Mission Australia Youth Survey, the environment is now the number one concern for young people. In today’s episode of Teacher Staffroom, we run through some of the ways that schools are tackling issues of sustainability in their communities, both here in Australia and internationally.

Six high schools from across the world have been named winners of the 2023 Zayed Sustainability Prize for their innovative solutions to sustainability issues and will take home their share of a US $600,000 prize pool to continue their work.

‘What can we learn from one school that is showing the way in supporting sustainable education using a whole-school approach throughout its entire systems and operations?’ Julie Bosevska and Dr Jeana Kriewaldt, from the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, share four ‘lighthouse practices’ to help schools strengthen their approach to sustainability.

‘Planting my vegetable patch has been the best self-care I have ever experienced.’ Anne Marie Stephenson, a teacher at Villa Maria Catholic Primary School in New South Wales, shares how her time at home due to COVID-19 inspired her to finally build the organic veggie garden she’s always dreamed of.

Research shows that spending time in a garden improves a person’s overall wellbeing. In today’s article, we explore the physical and mental health benefits of gardening and why spending time in the garden is proven to relieve stress.