Tag / student empowerment

by Champions for Change

Can Kids Change the World? Yes, They Can! 🌍💪

In today’s post we offer support for educators to empower young minds to tackle natural disasters.

In a world where natural disasters seem ever more frequent and severe, it’s easy to feel powerless. But history tells us a different story—a story where even the smallest voices can make the loudest echoes. Let’s dive into how young changemakers can spearhead initiatives for natural disaster preparedness and resilience.

Youth Power: Changing the Climate of Opinion 🌱☀️

Remember the Slip, Slop, Slap campaign?

 

Or how a single voice like Greta Thunberg’s can rally millions for climate action? These examples show us the power of youth-led campaigns in bringing about tangible changes.

 

The Blueprint for Action 📝🌈

Through engaging activities, students can explore how they too can become agents of change. By studying successful campaigns, students learn the ingredients for impactful action: passion, persistence, and the power of a united community.

Sparking Ideas, Igniting Action 🔥🚀

Embrace the journey of empowering young minds to tackle the challenges of natural disasters. By understanding the past and present, we inspire a generation of innovators ready to shape a sustainable future.

Here are some examples of successful youth led initiatives

  1. Youth Influencing Climate Action: This initiative showcases youth-led initiatives driving real solutions for a sustainable future. Young people are becoming catalysts for change in the face of enormous climate change issues. They are at the forefront of building a sustainable future with cutting-edge technology and circular economic models1.
  2. Youth Climate Action Challenge: This program is part of the Global Shapers Community, a network of activists who are leading initiatives in their communities to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals2.
  3. COPE: This initiative focuses on helping children and youth prepare for disasters. It aims to discuss complex topics like climate change with children and explain the recent increase of heat waves, the rise of wildfires, or the melting of the polar ice caps3.
  4. SEED: Australia’s first Indigenous youth ­led climate network. Seed are building a movement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people for climate justice with a vision for a just and sustainable future with strong cultures and communities, powered by renewable energy.

These campaigns are empowering young minds to tackle the challenges of natural disasters and climate change, inspiring them to shape a sustainable future. They are harnessing the strength of youth to promote climate action and protect the environment1.

Here are some more successful campaigns that students can study to understand the ingredients for impactful action:

  1. #Home2V8te: Student unions in the UK contributed to the campaign to legalize abortion in Ireland by offering financial support to students so they could travel home to vote1.
  2. Saving Bursaries: This campaign originated at Bristol University where students spoke out against plans to cut bursaries that helped students fund their studies. The campaign spread nationwide and resulted in bursaries being increased1.
  3. Period Poverty: Undergraduate student Rosy Candlin founded the organization Every Month, which donates 250 menstrual packs a month to food banks, aiming to end period poverty1.
  4. Going Green: Students around the world are campaigning to reduce their universities’ environmental impact. In the US, the 100 Percent Renewable Campuses campaign has had great results, encouraging Cornell and Boston University to buy energy from renewable sources1.

These campaigns demonstrate the power of passion, persistence, and a united community in driving change. By studying these examples, students can gain insights into how to plan and execute their own successful campaigns.

Tools for the Journey 🛠️🌟

  • National Geographic’s Guide to Natural Disasters: Learn about natural disasters and how they affect our world. Explore here
  • Australian Emergency Management Knowledge Hub: A treasure trove of resources on managing disasters. Discover more

Let’s Make a Difference Together 🤝💖

Remember, every big change starts with a small step. By equipping our young learners with the knowledge and tools to tackle these issues, we’re paving the way for a safer, more resilient future.

#YouthInAction, #DisasterPreparedness, #Changemakers, #FutureLeaders

by Champions for Change

SDG 3 Reusable Learning Artifact (RLA). Empowering Young Minds through a Cross-Curricular Approach to Mental Health Education

This blog series is a call to action. It’s a toolkit for teachers, students, and families who want to roll up their sleeves and make a difference. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or a curious learner, this series will equip you with practical strategies, inspiring stories, and creative ideas to tackle the SDGs head-on

Today’s educators face the challenge of preparing students not just academically but also in managing their well-being in an increasingly complex world. This Reusable Learning Artefact (RLA) aims to equip teachers with the tools to integrate mental health education across various disciplines, enriching students’ learning experiences and fostering a healthier school environment.

Cross-Curricular Approach to Mental Health

By weaving Sustainable Development Goal 3, which focuses on good health and well-being, into the curriculum, educators can offer a rounded educational experience. This RLA suggests activities that merge subjects such as Health and Physical Education (HPE), Science, English, Creative Arts, Mathematics, Geography, Technology, Social Studies/HSIE (Human Society and Its Environment), and Music to create a comprehensive mental health education experience for students in Stages 2 and 3.

Activity Suggestions

Health and Physical Education + Science: Brain Science and Emotions

Activity: Conduct a joint project exploring the biology of emotions and the brain’s role in mental health. This could involve experiments, such as heart rate measurement during different emotional states, and discussions on how physical activity affects mental health. Objective: To provide a scientific basis for understanding emotions and the importance of physical health in maintaining mental well-being.

English + Creative Arts: Expressing Emotions through Art and Story

Activity: Students create personal narratives or artworks that explore themes of mental health and emotional expression. This can be showcased in a class exhibition or a digital portfolio. Objective: To encourage emotional expression through creative means and facilitate discussions on mental health themes in a supportive environment.

Mathematics + Geography: Analysing Global Mental Health Trends

Activity: Use statistical data to map global mental health issues, exploring factors that influence mental health statistics across different regions. Objective: To develop an understanding of the prevalence and impact of mental health issues worldwide, fostering global empathy and awareness.

PDHPE + Technology: Digital Well-being Campaign

Activity: Students leverage digital tools to create campaigns promoting mental health awareness, incorporating video production, social media, and web design. Objective: To combine health education with digital literacy, empowering students to spread positive mental health messages.

Social Studies/HSIE + Music: Cultural Perspectives on Mental Health

Activity: Explore mental health perceptions in different cultures through music and social studies, including discussions, presentations, and music composition or analysis. Objective: To appreciate diverse mental health views and practices, enhancing cultural competency and understanding.

Science + PDHPE + English: Environmental Influences on Mental Health

Activity: Investigate how natural and built environments affect mental health, culminating in reflective essays or community projects aimed at enhancing local environments. Objective: To understand the link between environment and mental health, promoting advocacy and action for healthier communities.

Creative Arts + Health and Physical Education: Drama on Emotional Well-being

Activity: Use drama to explore emotional health topics, role-playing scenarios that teach empathy, communication, and support strategies. Objective: To develop emotional intelligence and communication skills through performative arts, offering practical strategies for emotional support.

All Subjects: Well-being Week

Activity: Organize a school-wide well-being week with lessons or activities in each subject related to mental health, culminating in a community event or assembly. Objective: To highlight the importance of mental health across all areas of study and life, fostering a school-wide culture of well-being.

Implementation Tips

  • Collaboration: Encourage teachers from different subjects to plan together, ensuring activities are complementary and provide a cohesive learning experience.
  • Student Voice: Involve students in the planning and execution of activities, catering to their interests and providing leadership opportunities.
  • Community Involvement: Engage local mental health organizations, inviting guest speakers or utilizing resources to enrich the curriculum.
  • Reflection and Feedback: Allocate time for students to reflect on their learning and share feedback, fostering a continuous improvement mindset.

The Role of Educators in Mental Health

The key to successful integration of mental health into the curriculum is collaboration among educators, who can draw on each discipline’s strengths to provide a richer, more engaging learning experience. Involving students in the planning and execution of activities not only caters to their interests but also enhances their leadership skills.

Community Engagement and Reflection

Engaging with local mental health organizations and inviting guest speakers can further enrich students’ learning. Additionally, setting time aside for students to reflect on their experiences helps them internalise their learning and fosters a continuous improvement mindset.

Conclusion

Integrating mental health education across the curriculum doesn’t just inform students—it empowers them. It equips them with the skills to navigate their mental health and builds a supportive school community that recognises the importance of mental well-being.

This holistic approach not only enriches the educational experience but is also crucial in developing resilient, well-rounded individuals ready to face the world’s challenges.

#EmpoweringYoungMinds, #HolisticEducation, #MentalHealthAwareness, #CrossCurricularLearning, #BuildingResilience, #TeacherCollaboration, #StudentEmpowerment, #DigitalWellBeing, #CulturalEmpathy, #EmotionalIntelligence, #SchoolWideCelebration

Resources:

Here are some Australian resources that can help you with your RLA on mental health and well-being:

  1. The Student Wellbeing Hub: A website that provides information and resources on strategies to build and sustain the well-being of the whole school community. The Hub offers tools and knowledge that will enable all members of the school community to promote the social and emotional development and well-being of students, nurture student responsibility and resilience, build a positive school culture, foster respectful relationships, and respond to key contemporary issues and topics that impact on student well-being1
  2. Student Resilience and Wellbeing Resources: A website that provides resources for educators, parents, and students on strategies to promote student safety, well-being, and learning outcomes. The website offers curriculum-aligned, age-appropriate classroom resources for primary and secondary students for the focus areas of well-being and online safety, a detailed introduction to the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework with case studies, interviews, and support materials for individual educators and whole school staff to help inform safety and well-being programs, professional learning modules that build understanding of issues impacting student well-being including bullying, health and wellness, and online safety, and a School Audit Tool to help schools identify the strengths of their current safety and well-being programs and policies and discover strategies to address areas for improvement2
  3. A Framework for Promoting Student Mental Wellbeing in Universities: A framework that aims to assist institutions to develop a ‘whole-of-university’ approach to promoting student mental health and well-being. It identifies key action areas for promoting student mental health and well-being as well as institutional enablers for achieving those actions3
by Champions for Change

Shaping Tomorrow. How Programs Like Kreative Koalas are Cultivating Intrinsic Values in Youth

In our rapidly evolving world, the values that underpin societies are undergoing a significant transformation. This shift, prevalent not only in the United States but globally, including in Australia, presents both challenges and opportunities. Programs like Kreative Koalas are stepping up to nurture intrinsic values in young people, values that prioritise community, sustainability, and personal growth over materialism, consumerism, and competition.

Looking into why this is crucial.

The Shift in Global Values 🌐 Contemporary society is increasingly defined by materialism and consumerism. The relentless pursuit of wealth, luxury goods, and a culture of affluence has permeated many aspects of life. Coupled with rising individualism and a competitive ethos, this has led to a world where personal success often overshadows collective well-being.

The influence of celebrity culture and the commercialisation of society are shaping values across nations. Political polarisation and blame culture further exacerbate societal divisions, diverting attention from structural issues. Environmental concerns, although critical, often take a backseat to short-term economic gains.

The Role of Kreative Koalas 🐨

In this context, programs like Kreative Koalas play an essential role. They offer young people a different narrative – one that focuses on intrinsic values such as empathy, cooperation, and environmental stewardship.

  1. Empathy and Community: By involving youth in community-based projects, Kreative Koalas fosters a sense of empathy and collective responsibility. It helps young people see beyond material success and understand the importance of social bonds and community support.
  2. Sustainable Thinking: Amidst the environmental challenges we face, Kreative Koalas emphasises the importance of sustainable living. It encourages young people to think about the long-term impact of their actions on the planet, promoting a shift from exploitation to conservation.
  3. Collaboration over Competition: In a world obsessed with competition, Kreative Koalas teaches the value of collaboration. It shows that by working together, we can achieve more than by striving to outdo each other.
  4. Redefining Success: The program helps young people to redefine what success means to them. It encourages them to find fulfillment in personal growth, creativity, and contributing to the greater good, rather than in material accumulation or celebrity status.
  5. Mental Health and Well-being: Today’s youth are often overwhelmed by the world’s wicked problems. Kreative Koalas shows them they can make a difference, empowering them to take action and be confident they can be part of the solution. It’s more than an activity; it’s about nurturing future leaders who value personal growth and societal contribution over material success.

Building a Values-Driven Future 🌟 As we navigate the 21st century, it’s crucial to encourage intrinsic values in our youth. Programs like Kreative Koalas are not just extracurricular activities; they are incubators for a new generation of leaders and changemakers. They offer a path to a more equitable, sustainable, and cohesive future, counterbalancing the pervasive extrinsic values of our times. Programs like Kreative Koalas hold the key to shaping a world we all aspire to live in.

#ValuesShift #21stCenturyValues #GlobalTrends #Materialism #Individualism #Competition #Consumerism #PoliticalPolarisation #BlameCulture #EnvironmentalImpact #SocietyAndCulture #ModernValues #YouthEmpowerment #SustainableFuture 🌍💚🐨🌱🤝

by Lynne Strong

Shining the spotlight on Tarrawanna Public School and the power of the Living Classroom Concept

 

Kreative Koalas – Design a Bright Future has wrapped up for another year with students from multiple schools exploring the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDG) and taking their peers, their families and their communities on a sustainability journey. One such school is Tarrawanna Public School.

“Tarrawanna Public School (TPS) has been building a culture of sustainability over the past three years. When our principal, Bronwyn Jeffree, started at TPS, she recognised the gaps in sustainability learning and introduced ‘The Living Classroom’ project run by Aaron Sorenson at Elemental Permaculture. Aaron is amazing at what he does and has been instrumental in encouraging sustainability at TPS.” assistant principal Kelly Judd says.

The Living Classroom provided foundations and focus for the school’s sustainability journey.

“The Living Classroom is a permaculture classroom where students establish and maintain different systems,” Aaron says, examples of which include a 4-seasons vegetable garden, composting, biodiversity and themed gardens such as tropical food forests where pawpaw and banana now bear fruit.

The Living Classroom demonstrates care of country. We are informed by the legacy of Indigenous people and are setting up frameworks to work with traditional land owners. At Tarrawanna it is, most importantly, a reconciliation garden,” Aaron continues.

The Living Classrooms are designed by Aaron Sorenson and Dan Deighton of Elemental Permaculture 

Sustainability at Tarrawanna comes from kids teaching kids. As older students (known as Environmental Leadership Ambassadors) progress through The Living Classroom project, they impart their knowledge and understanding to the younger children so that all students from K-6 have some form of sustainability participation. That may be food-scrap collection for the compost, weeding, mulching or harvesting.

“What we hear from our students is they will correct each other if something is placed the in the wrong bin.  They understand the value of the food scraps and how important it is to the garden and the ecosystems,” Kelly says.

The message also reaches families and communities.

“Our experience shows sustainability conversations go home. We’ve had parents ask if they can come in for our Living Classroom lessons (joining their children in a lesson). In these instances, the child becomes the teacher, as students excitedly share ideas about sustainability and the things they can improve around the home to be more sustainable. Families report they have planted vegetable gardens, have chicken coups and are composting,” Kelly says.

TPS furthered their sustainability journey in 2022 when they participated in Kreative Koalas, which inspired them to connect with Wollongong City Council to jointly create a Tiny Forest for the preservation of local wildlife.

“The project has encouraged wildlife back into the area and the students and community monitor the types of animals returning,” Kelly says.

Combining the Tiny Forest, which provides food for native animals, and permaculture gardens, which provide food for students and the community, led TPS to study SDG 2: Zero Hunger for their Kreative Koalas project.

The artwork on their koala Mr T B Kind (short for ‘to be kind’) depicts the animals seen in the permaculture garden and in the Tiny Forest including native bees, kookaburras, the black cockatoo and the iconic Tarrawanna water dragons. These mosaic animals, on Mr T B Kind, are made from re-purposed broken tiles that were discovered as garden beds were created.

“Our Kreative Koala has our community talking. He is the icon in our garden and the children take great delight in sharing the story of why a decorated koala now lives in our school,” Kelly says.

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Rounding out the Kreative Koalas project was an open day held at the school with invitations to parents and community members to visit classrooms and see firsthand the sustainability learning that is happening at Tarrawanna Public School.

“We are very proud of our sustainability efforts and how it has connected our community,” Kelly says.

Congratulations to everyone at Tarrawanna Public School for being a leading light on how sustainability, through programs such as The Living Classroom and Kreative Koalas, can become embedded in the community.

 

 

by Lynne Strong

Robertson Public School making sustainability sustainable and preparing their students for the Green Jobs of the Future .

Students from Robertson Public School with teacher John Crompton and Costa Georgiadis at the Kreative Koalas Awards and Celebration ceremony on December 1st 2022 at Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens

“Young people increasingly see the green credentials of businesses and industries as a key factor influencing their  career choices.”

Kreative Koalas, with generous support from the St Vincent de Paul Society, sees many forms of sustainability and environmental commitment in primary schools. At Robertson Public School they believe in making sustainability sustainable.

“We promote environmental protection and education at Robertson Public School in a couple of ways. We work with the Robertson Environmental Protection Society, to preserve remnant rainforest on our extensive grounds (10 acres), which has inspired us to establish a Tiny Forest.

We are part of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden initiative and we have a potting shed and raised garden beds to grow vegetables that go back into our canteen. We have introduced a beehive into the school and will be adding another next year to encourage native bees into the school grounds and to further promote sustainability.

We have a Sustainable Schools grant to establish a glasshouse where we can raise vegetable and native plant seedlings. We are going to create a Farm Gate and sell vegetable seedlings, surplus produce and honey to our local community and whatever money we raise from that goes back into our sustainability practices and in particular into building our Tiny Forest.

But most importantly, we want to make sure our sustainability is sustainable and is something that we can carry forward through a number of years.” principal Gordon Parrish says.

Gordon realises that to do this requires not only the support of students but also their parents and the wider community. Parents and grandparents come into the school to work in the gardens alongside their children and to share their own knowledge. The school is part of the Share Our Space program that encourages community members to use the school grounds during holidays and after school hours, and the students connect with local businesses with a similar sustainability mindset.

“Moonacres is a local café that also has an ethical farm out of town that supplies to restaurants in the area. Our Stage 3 kids will be visiting the farm four times next year to look at crop rotation in different seasons, and then we are going to try and mirror that back at school,” Gordon says.

 

While Robertson Public School currently reports to parents on activities such as recycling, 2023 will see the students take a bigger responsibility in sharing the sustainability message with the community. They plan to create instructional videos on school activities such as building native bee hotels and vegetable gardens and post these to social media.

In 2022 the sustainability message was informed by participation in Kreative Koalas where students raised awareness of all 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The SDG were painted on their koala named Koala T, a reference to the number of times the word ‘quality’ appears in the goals (quality education, gender equality, reduced inequalities). Koala T will become part of the Tiny Forest once planting is completed but for now she sits in the school’s bush medicine garden.

“I think the koala will take centre stage on all our sustainability programs and be a good strong reminder of the practices we are aiming for within our school and community. The kids are the driving force behind our projects and the koala will be the symbol of that,” Gordon says.

https://youtu.be/PFQoOiLHSHM

With all the Christmas rush over and the New Year beginning, why not take some time and have a walk around the Kreative Koalas on display in the Birchgrove at the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens

by Lynne Strong

Announcing the Action4Agriculture Grand Champion Koalas and Archies

 

The Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens in Bowral came alive with cows and koalas on December 1st as Action4Agriculture crowned the winners of  The Archibull Prize and Kreative Koalas.

 

Celebrating resilience and grit, the awards ceremony was a testament to teachers and students who explored ways to show leadership, inspire hope, strengthen their communities, and design a bright future despite the challenges of the pandemic years

 

Special guest Costa Georgiadis was on hand to crown the champion schools who were:

  • 2020 Grand Champion Archibull – Penrith Valley School from western Sydney

  • 2022 Grand Champion Archibull – the Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Education from western Sydney

  • 2020 Grand Champion Kreative Koala – St Brigid’s Primary School from Raymond Terrace

  • 2022 Grand Champion Kreative Koala – Tarrawanna Public School from Wollongong

All schools were tasked with examining the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, designing, and delivering a community action project, creating a movement to embed sustainability thinking and actions in our way of life

 

The students presented their learnings through art on either their fibreglass cow (secondary schools) or koala (primary schools).

 

Special awards presented on the day were:

  • The Carmel Mills Memorial Award for Learning with Impact – Chevalier College from the Southern Highlands (The Archibull Prize) and Scot’s All Saints College from Bathurst (Kreative Koalas)
  • The Alan Eagle Watershed Moment Award – Hill Top Public School for reporting sustainability alongside core curriculum subjects on student report cards

Action4Agriculture is grateful for the support of Corteva Agriscience, NSW Government, St Vincent de Paul, Austral Fisheries, Wingecarribee Shire Council and Southern Highland Botanic Gardens which allows The Archibull Prize and Kreative Koalas to be delivered into schools.

These programs empower our students to look at our world differently, explore sustainability and environmental issues that affect our planet and design local solutions to global challenges.

 

Please contact Lynne Strong for photos from the event M: 0407 740 446 IE: lynnestrong@action4ag.com.au

 

 

 

 

by Lynne Strong

The Living Classroom Project – more than just a school garden

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Kreative Koalas 2022 has once again introduced us to a cohort of exciting, future-focused young people in primary schools with vivid imaginations and a drive to create a better and brighter world. It has also introduced us to The Living Classroom Project, an outdoor classroom where students build permaculture systems and become leaders as Garden Ambassadors.

The Living Classroom is the brainchild of Aaron Sorensen and Daniel Deighton from Elemental Permaculture, who together have over forty years of experience in making the Illawarra region a better place to live. Daniel is a specialist in environmental restoration and a landscape architect, who has previously been involved with the transformation of Tom Thumb Lagoon at Port Kembla. Aaron has a background in education and art and a life-long appreciation of the power of permaculture to make positive change.

“We both shared a vision to create a life-long learning pathway for young people and respond to what was happening in the Illawarra with the environmental, social, cultural and spiritual impact of industry and the port. We found permaculture a positive movement that we could use as a tool to engage communities in a conversation and initiate projects,” Aaron says.

The first school Aaron and Daniel worked with was Cringila Public School.

“BlueScope wanted to invest money in a school that was directly impacted by industry and Cringila was on the site of an artificial coal seam fire, which was created by slag and coal wash that could not be processed by existing technology, We built a garden using permaculture ethics, which are care of earth, care of people and fair share and from there created a program for the children to maintain the garden and become leaders, or Garden Ambassadors, for students coming after them.” Aaron says.

Cringila Public School Living Classroom 

The Living Classroom Project took flight.

When a Living Classroom is established in a school it becomes much more than just a garden; it becomes a living environment with systems that balance food production, biodiversity and sustainable natural resource management, while also a social environment where children and the school community can come together to share and learn new skills. Projects include:

  • Soil building
  • Composting
  • No-dig gardening
  • Green Manure
  • Chop and Drop (with woodchips to inoculate fungi)
  • Food gardens
  • Animal systems such as chickens and bees
  • Wildlife corridors
  • Aquatic systems
  • Outdoor kitchens, and
  • Spaces for people to gather

Daniel now works with schools across the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane following his relocation to Queensland. Aaron continues to work with schools in the Illawarra including Tarrawanna Public School who participated in Kreative Koalas this year.

“Teaching and learning are so enriched through The Living Classroom Project.  Aaron has been leading the way on permaculture gardening for 3 years at Tarrawanna Public School.  The lessons develop student understanding not only of permaculture, but also of science, mathematics, history, geography and art.  The program runs with our S2 students, but what we find is so many students want to continue with their learning in the following years, they want to come back as mentors and leaders [Garden Ambassadors] to the younger students. Aaron makes an unbelievable connection with the students; his passion ignites and engages the eagerness in the children to want to continue their learning of sustainability,” Kelly Judd, Tarrawanna assistant principal, says.

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Garden Beds at Tarrawanna Public School

Food produced in Living Classrooms is prepared for school consumption or taken home to families and communities, which has encouraged backyard gardens, one visible and practical impact of the project. David Lamb, director of Education Leadership, Wollongong Network with the NSW Department of Education sees other impacts.

“The number one impact is engagement; it makes kids want to go to school. Kids that may be disengaged in the normal classroom become champions in the Living Classroom because learning has meaning for them and it is real. It also encourages cross-cultural respect as kids work together in the garden and it taps into caring for the earth and caring for people, which develops compassion and empathy. It is a wonderful, wonderful project,” he says.

The ethos of Kreative Koalas is to enable young people to design a bright future, particularly in the face of challenges such as COVID and climate change. The Living Classroom Project lives by similar aspirations.

“Something as small as composting waste or growing food is about taking the power back. It gives kids hope and an opportunity to be in control and I truly believe young people, who become creative learners through engagement with nature, have the capabilities to lead us to where we need to go,” Aaron concludes.

https://youtu.be/HTcVhf610SQ

Action4Agriculture founder Lynne Strong joined Aaron and teacher Mrs Harris at Fairy Meadow Demonstration School to see what a day in the garden looks and feels like for the students

The Living Classroom has been sponsored by BlueScope Steel for 18 years and there are currently 24 schools in the Illawarra region in various stages and sizes with full Living Classrooms at Five Islands Secondary College (year 12 HSC subject in permaculture), Warrawong High School, Cringila Public, Port Kembla Public, Tarrawanna Public, Fairy Meadow Public, St Pats at Port Kembla, Illawarra Sports High and Warrawong Public.

Watch Five Islands secondary College showcased on Gardening Australia here 

Permaculture expert and educator Aaron Sorenson shares The Living Classroom design model 

 

 

 

#Action4Agriculture #KreativeKoalas #LivingClassrooms #YouthVoices

 

 

by Lynne Strong

Catching Up With Ngunnawal – One of our 2019 Kreative Koalas

 

What happens to the magnificent koalas once the Kreative Koalas Challenge wraps for a year? Well, Ngunnawal, the koala from Bob’s Farm Public School, which participated in the program in 2019, has made his home at the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, and today he starts his journey as our newest correspondent.

 

Hello everybody!

 

I hear you’ve been thinkin’ about me and asked for an update… I’ve never had a pen pal before but I’m going to do my best to give you regular updates on what’s going on in my life!

 

For those of you who don’t remember me, I’m Ngunnawal, the Kreative Koala designed by the passionate environmental warriors (the students) of Bob’s Farm Primary School.

 

I’m writing to you all today from my home at the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary. It’s such a great place to live.

 

I spend my days in the Koala Centre, welcoming all the keen koala lovers who come and visit the Sanctuary. Visitors love to take photos with me and I’ve become really great friends with the humans who work here too! I get to be a product tester, trying on all the new merchandise that is sold in the retail store.

 

My favourite item is the beanie. But I’m not sure how I should wear the beanie… Should I have one on each ear or just plop one on the middle of my head? I’d love to know what you all think!

 

I’ll send another update when I’ve got more exciting news to share! In the meantime, if you’re looking for something to do, come visit me, I promise you’ll have a koala-ty time!

 

See you soon…

by Lynne Strong

See how our 2022 Kreative Koala Kids are helping design their own bright future

The final three schools of the 2022 Kreative Koalas – Design a Bright Future challenge have taken three different approaches to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and explored ways we can all contribute to a sustainable future. Let’s have a look at their koala artworks.

The students of Tarrawanna Public School tackled SDG 2: Zero Hunger as they created Mr T B Kind, a koala that brought together the whole school across multiple Key Learning Areas, with the theme of feeding the community.

Mr T B Kind is a mosaic koala inspired by the school environment using broken tiles, which were found as garden beds were prepared, to represent native animals such as cockatoos, bees and dragonflies. Mr T B Kind has a realistic mottled grey body and will be a striking and welcoming mascot to open classroom exhibitions.

“Our Koala created connections between our students, community and collaborators. The biggest and most exciting outcome was not only did the Kreative Koala initiative inspire Zero Hunger for community, but it has triggered special interest projects on sustainability across K-6 which we will be showcasing to community members.”

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At Turvey Public School, near Wagga Wagga, students took a look at SDG 12: Sustainable Consumption and Production as they created Billy Barrandhang, a vibrant and detailed koala. Involving all classes across art, science and geography, Billy aimed to show:

“we all belong to one earth and we are all responsible for protecting its beauty”

Billy was created using ideas the students derived from Australia’s magnificent landscapes and natural features and is a celebration of a place to call home.

“Billy discretely embeds our entire school community and culture through the symbols painted on the koala. The flags in the ears of the koala represent each student and staff member to show our whole school approach towards sustainability and equality. The koala has our school core values written on the feet; resilience, responsibility and respect all which are integral to growing a healthy world. The crow wings are holding up the heart shape Earth on our koala making it unique because it symbolises our school totem and how the world’s future is in our hands.”

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Warrawee Public School took Kreative Koalas literally and launched a campaign to Save The Koalas, naming their creation “Eila”.

“Children chose to call our art koala Eila after one of our sponsored koalas. Elia is a heroic koala who survived the Mambo wetlands fire in Port Stephens in December 2018 with a baby on her back and pregnant with another. The children see her as resilient and a hero for being able to escape the fires and then survive the treatment in Port Stephens hospital as she had badly burnt paws from climbing a burning tree.”

Students realised bushfires effect flora as well as fauna and as a result Eila is adorned with gum leaves, waratahs, kangaroo paw and wattle alongside native animals fleeing the smoke of the fire, which curls across Eila’s back. Indigenous designs illustrate a connection to Country and green represents renewal.

“The green of the gum represents the regeneration of the Australian bush and though it takes time the children felt this was important as life starts again and gives us hope for the plight of the koalas.”

 

Congratulations to all schools and students participating in the 2022 Kreative Koalas. Collectively students have explored a total of nine Sustainable Development Goals:

  • SDG 2: Zero hunger
  • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 5: Gender Equality
  • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
  • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
  • SDG 13: Climate Action
  • SDG 14: Life Below Water
  • SDG 15: Life on Land
by Lynne Strong

Our 2022 Kreative Koalas entries are caring for their local environments

Despite the challenges posed by a global pandemic, which meant the closing of schools and home learning for students, participants in the 2022 Kreative Koalas have risen to the occasion and come up with some fabulous Koala artworks. Let’s have a look at four schools who chose to focus on their own backyards as they cared for their local community and environment.

Ladysmith Public School, near Wagga Wagga, took a look at the presence and impact of salinity along their local Kyeamba Creek as they created the aptly named “Saltbush” while studying SDG 15: Life on Land.

“On our walking tour of some neighbouring farming land, we observed many trees that appeared to have died. These trees were on land that had previously been identified as a discharge site, where salinity had been a problem. One beautiful [dead] tree, became the focus of our artwork and we used this as the major design element on the back of the koala.”

Saltbush represents a personal journey for the students and community of Ladysmith, highlighting an environmental problem but also celebrating the beauty of their home. In bold colours Saltbush depicts the dead tree and Kyeamba Creek alongside the bright yellow of wattle and the blue/grey of the saltbush plant. White dots across the koala represent rising salt and how it infiltrates the soil.

Also inspired by SDG 15: Life on Land is “Warada” (the Darug name for Waratah), which symbolises resilience and renewal. Warada is the Kreative Koala creation from a group of Hawkesbury schools under the Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Education banner, which includes Kurmond, Bilpin, Windsor Park, Kurrajong, Kurrajong North, Kurrajong East, Wilberforce, Richmond North and Comleroy Road schools.

This wonderful collaborative effort has produced a koala that represents the benefits and beauty of local native flora, depicted on Warada as intricate black and white botanical designs with a stripe of blue representing the Hawkesbury River across his back and a brown seedling of renewal on his chest.

“[Warada is] a botanical journey following Bells Line of Road from Bilpin, through the Kurrajong area, across the Hawkesbury River down to the Castlereagh, Agnes Banks, and Windsor Downs nature reserves.”

Lake Albert Public School (near Wagga Wagga) had only to look out their school windows to derive inspiration from Lake Albert itself and they named their creation Barrandhang, which means koala in the local Wiradjuri language.

Barrandhang is a blue koala reflecting the connection between the students and the lake, with two limbs painted brown to express how the lake would look like with uncontrolled pollution. Striking orange/pink ears represent the sunsets the lake gifts to the students each day and across the body of the koala are detailed footprints representing local wildlife including duck, platypus, honeyant, goanna, frog, turtle,

, fish and possum. Coloured icons represent the school’s goals to recycle, reuse and reduce food waste.

“We are fortunate at Lake Albert Public School to be situated next to the lake and to be able to enjoy its beauty and wildlife every day. We couldn’t aim for a sustainable school environment without including our passion for a healthy and sustainable water environment.”

Also looking at their local waterways was Scots All Saints College from Bathurst who championed the plight of platypus that suffered a local extinction event during the last drought. The students chose SDG 13: Climate Change and used Biladurang (or Bill for short) to express this environmental problem in Winburndale River.

One side of Biladurang represents a robust and healthy ecosystem, the other side is fiery and dark to show the consequences of too little water being released from the dam to the river.  A giant platypus rides on his back and across his body are casuarina leaves, platypus and rakali (native water rat) habitat and insects. Bill is a thoughtful reflection of the local environment and the passion the students have to manage it (and platypus populations) in a sustainable way.

“We want to let people know that climate change is changing our planet, which forced local government to make a decision about the platypus [when] the council stopped releasing water from Winburndale Dam [during the drought]; so the rivulet dried up and we had a local extinction.”

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Congratulations to these four schools who have found passion and appreciation in their local environment and used Kreative Koalas as a vehicle to express their connection and to share their concerns with their communities.

#CreatingABetterWorldTogether #SDGs