A Resource Smart School

What is Resource Smart?

Resource Smart Schools is an award-winning Victorian Government program that assists schools to embed sustainability in everything they do.

Victory Lutheran College is continuing to participate in the initiative throughout 2021. There are five modules that make up the program:

  • Core
  • Waste
  • Water
  • Energy
  • Biodiversity.

During 2020, both our Core and Waste modules received verification from Sustainability Victoria and in 2021 our student-led team is focusing on Biodiversity and Energy with both modules close to completion.

2021 Initiatives

Our student-led team consists of students from Years 5-12 and staff who are passionate about developing sustainability initiatives that reduce resource use, minimise related costs and promote sustainability within our College and wider community.

In addition to working towards completing the Resource Smart School modules, our students have encouraged our community to get involved with the following local and national sustainable programs throughout 2021:

  • Nude Food
  • Awareness campaign for students to use green and recycling bins at Victory
  • Earth Hour
  • FrogID and Bird Count Australia
  • Recycling programs including Mobile Muster, Wonder Bread bags and tags recycling, terracycling and local can/drink bottle collections

The Resource Smart team meets every few weeks throughout the school Term and welcomes new student members who are passionate about making a difference.

2020 Highlights

  • The awarding of a $500 grant from Roots and Shoots to fund two Solar Cone Composters.
  • Submitting recordings of the Spotted Marsh Frog, Eastern Sign-Bearing Froglet, Common Eastern Froglet and the Eastern Banjo Frog in College Dam to the Australian Museum Frog ID Database to contribute to National Biodiversity records.
  • Crafting ecobricks with our Years 5 and 6 students during Term 1 and then selling our entire stock to raise funds for the Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter in Yackandandah.
  • Connecting with our Indonesian sister school SMA SWASTA KRISTEN BNKP to share ideas on Sustainability programs and initiatives.
  • Networking with Student Leaders across Australia during the National Virtual Climate Conference.
  • Successfully diverting over 1000 items of waste from landfill through the Oral Care Terracycling Scheme.
  • Collaborating with guest speakers Ms Joanne Diver and Mr Ben Howes over Zoom to improve native plant biodiversity and learn more about how to maximise microbial decomposition in new Solar Cones.
  • Participating in the ‘Soil Your Undies Challenge’ to test and record a healthy soil pH of 6.5 at our College Sustainable Learning Area.
  • Implemented eight Compost Bins across our grounds to divert compostable food waste to landfill.