Primary students take out Victorian Premier's Sustainability Awards

The winners of the 2016 Victorian Premier’s Sustainability Awards were announced at an event earlier this month, recognising sustainability efforts across business, government, health, education and the community.

Sustainability Victoria CEO Stan Krpan said the awards recognise Victorians who have made a difference to the environment by implementing sustainable measures to better manage their waste, water and energy consumption.

“The awards aim to encourage innovation across all sectors, with a focus on delivering a triple bottom line — environmental, economic and social benefits for our state,” he said.

The top award for the night, the Premier’s Recognition Award, went to Winters Flat Primary School for its Students Leading Change Sustainability Program. The school had already won the Education category before going on to snag the overall award.

Led by its students, the program engaged staff, families and the community to reduce their carbon footprint and encouraged sustainable practices across the school, in the curriculum, around the community, with local businesses and council, and with Indigenous groups. Last year, student leaders engaged with other schools in the Youth Leading the World Congress, and introduced new school-wide polices such as limiting excess food packaging.

The Winters Flat Primary School team on stage with Lily D’Ambrosio, Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change.

Other awards won on the night were as follows:

Built Environment Award: 38 Westbury Street, Green Roof in the City. This upstairs backyard green roof shows the monumental changes a community of apartment residents can make to their physical environment and the quality of their lives.

Community Award: Australian Youth Climate Coalition, Switched on Schools Victoria. This program is empowering thousands of high school students to engage with climate change and take meaningful action in their communities.

Environmental Justice Award: Voices of the Valley. Voices of the Valley was formed in response to the impacts of the 2014 Hazelwood Mine Fire and has since achieved justice for the local community.

Environmental Protection Award: Geelong Cemeteries Trust, Moonah Memorial Walk at Queenscliff Cemetery. This carefully planned nature reserve offers burial and cremation memorials within a protected coastal woodland.

Government Award: City of Boroondara on Behalf of the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action Councils, Biodiversity Monitoring in Melbourne’s East. This project sees local councils, researchers, agencies and government develop a framework for monitoring biodiversity.

Health Award: Melbourne Health, Reducing Waste One Dialysis Patient at a Time. Melbourne Health champions a range of waste reduction initiatives to decrease the amount of clinical waste their kidney treatment service produces each year.

Innovative Products or Services Award: Solvup, Building a Global Standard for Sustainable Retail. Solvup’s technology, used by retail stores and call centres, encourages 100% life cycle from all products, leading the sustainable retail return movement.

Large Business Award: Crown Melbourne, Crown Earth. This program features policy, strategy actions and outcomes that drive sustainability across Crown Melbourne’s operations. Business partners, employees and contractors all play vital roles.

Small and Medium Enterprises Award: Yarra Valley Estate. This conference, wedding and accommodation centre conducts certified sustainability programs spanning energy, water, waste and community development.

Premier’s Regional Recognition Award: Bendigo Sustainability Group. This group has been recognised for its work in bringing the community together to implement more sustainable practices across the region.