Hurry! Applications close Dec 10th for Westpac Grant

The Westpac Student Sustainability Leadership grants of $1,500 each will be awarded at the beginning of 2011 to help Years 5 and 6 students plan and implement environmental sustainability initiatives.

Funds from the Westpac Student Sustainability Leadership grants will help students improve their school or local community environment and encourage life-long learning for sustainability. Students will receive mentoring from a local secondary-level student and Landcare Group. Projects may address a range of areas including reducing energy and water consumption, reducing waste and greenhouse gas production, and improving water harvesting and quality, through to increased biodiversity and restoration.

Any school with Year 5 and 6 students seeking to develop their leadership skills through management of environmental related projects is eligible to apply.

Application Forms and Guidelines

Important Dates:

Applications close Friday 10th December 2010

What is the Westpac Student Sustainability Leadership Grant?

The Westpac Student Sustainability Leadership grant provides funding for Year 5 and 6 student teams to undertake an environmental project in their school or local community. Students are required to undertake an environmental review of an area of their local community or school and develop a project from this review to implement using the grant funds. The student teams are encouraged to work with a local Landcare group and high school students to undertake their project.

Note: The review may be linked to the school’s existing SEMP (School Environmental Management Plan) or sustainability action plan but must have been conducted by students.

Who can apply?

Any school with a team of Years 5 or 6 students who is committed to developing the leadership skills of these students through exposing them to learning opportunities in the natural environment.

How much is available?

Westpac Student Sustainability Leadership grants are for $1,500 (including GST) and in the form of a Westpac bank account containing the funds.

How does the Westpac Student Sustainability Leadership Grant work?

This is how the Westpac Student Sustainability Leadership grant works:

  1. A team of Year 5 or 6 primary school students, supported by the school principal and a mentor, will identify an area in their school or local community that they believe could benefit from a sustainability review.
  2. The primary school team and their mentor will identify a local high school team and a local Landcare group to aid them in undertaking the environmental review and later, to implement the projects. While involvement from these groups is beneficial in the environmental review stage, it is not mandatory. These groups should, however, be consulted regularly throughout the implementation phase of the projects.
  3. Once the review is complete, the primary school team, working closely with the Landcare group and high school team, will select certain outcomes for which to prepare project plans. The Westpac Student Sustainability Leadership Grant will enable the student team to implement the projects on-ground

What projects does the Westpac Student Sustainability Leadership Grant support?

  • Protection of significant natural assets either on the school grounds or in the local community
  • Biodiversity or restoration initiatives either on the school grounds or in the local community (eg. biodiversity plantings, indigenous gardens, nesting boxes, revegetation plantings)
  • Water harvesting, conservation or quality initiatives
  • Waste reduction, reuse, recycling or composting initiatives
  • Energy or greenhouse gas reduction initiatives

Applications should also:

  • Show the process through which the sustainability review outcomes will guide the on-ground project plan development
  • Engage students directly in on-ground environmental sustainability from planning through to implementation.
  • Incorporate student leadership, including ownership and decision-making.
  • Demonstrate strong environmental education outcomes and links to the school curriculum across a range of disciplines.
  • Identify a local secondary student (or students) and a local Landcare Group as mentors.
  • Be approved by the Principal.
  • Support at least two of the activities listed previously.

Your application will be assessed on its:

  • Expected level of inquiry-based learning, e.g. students identifying local problems and designing and implementing solutions.
  • Integration into the school curriculum across key learning areas to maximise environmental learning.
  • Expected environmental benefits, e.g. overall reduced consumption of resources, increased biodiversity or restoration.
  • Potential to develop the school’s skills and ability for ongoing contribution to environmental sustainability.
  • Expected level of involvement of the broader school community or local community, e.g. links with a Landcare Group or Network and local secondary school mentor/s.
  • Project activities and budget, which must be feasible and technically sound.
  • Merit, equity and need.
  • Practical and sustainable activities.

FAQs and more information about the grant available in the Westpac Junior Landcare Grant Guidelines [Download PDF].