Sustainability in schools

This fantastic program offers vegetable and herb seedlings to schools and early learning centres within Brimbank at no charge. Each school campus or early learning centre can order a limited number of punnets which will be delivered to you at no charge. This program is typically run once or twice per year.

Contact our Environmental Education team at Environment@brimbank.vic.gov.au to enquire

As a part of the program, we are offering 50 wildflower seedlings per school to 15 schools in Brimbank. Contact our Environmental Education team at Environment@brimbank.vic.gov.au to enquire.

Schools can purchase heavily discounted compost bins and worm farms via Compost Revolution. Complete the Google form link and a representative from Compost Revolution will confirm your order and organise a purchase order payment.

Join the Brimbank Teachers Environment Network and participate in professional development workshops that will inspire you and other teachers to engage with students on environmental and sustainability issues.

The network meets twice a year. All are welcome including, school staff, educators, teacher aides and playgroup leaders – at no charge.

Watch our webinars

We've adapted our teacher professional development workshops into a series of webinars for teachers.

To join the network and be notified of all upcoming workshops, subscribe to our quarterly schools bulletin.

Each school in Brimbank is entitled to a maximum of 10 recycling bins, the first 6 are provided at no charge and additional bins attract a one-off bin purchase and delivery fee, to find out more email environment@brimbank.vic.gov.au.

Many schools within Brimbank can be uncomfortable places to be in on hot days. They are dominated by heat-absorbing surfaces like concrete and brick walls. Increasing the amount of vegetation on school campuses is a simple way to provide cooling and improve the mental and physical health of the school community.

Last year, almost 60 students from a total of two Brimbank schools, participated in the Climate Oasis in Schools Pilot Program. The program received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the participating teachers and students, so we’re running a revamped version between late-February to June 2024.

As part of this program, students participate in a few co-design workshops whereby they work with a Council Officer from the Environment Department to design a landscape masterplan that would transform their school into a green and cool climate oasis, thereby improving the school's liveability and supporting local biodiversity.

Applications closed February 2024. To learn more about the program, please contact Environment@brimbank.vic.gov.au

• Aussie backyard Bird count: Get help identifying common birds by viewing the common Birds of Brimbank document
• Frog census
• Platypus census
• Museum’s Victoria’s free field guide app: explore and identify Victoria’s unique wildlife

• Check out the Be a good grassland neighbour in Brimbank booklet to learn about our precious and unique grassland reserves. Also available in Vietnamese trở thành NGƯỜI HÀNG XÓM TỐT CỦA ĐỒNG CỎ TẠI BRIMBANK and Cantonese 與 Brimbank 草場睦鄰 而處.
• Ecolinc: Offers onsite, outreach and field trip programs for Foundation to Year 12, and teacher PDs
• Access Brimbank Schools Sustainability Biodiversity Resources: Foundation - Year 2, Year 3 - 4, Year 5 - 6
• Check out the Biodiversity of Brimbank powerpoint to learn about biodiversity within Brimbank

• Find out about the climate emergency through independent media, the Bureau of meteorology, Monash climate change communication research hub and the Climate Council
• Solar Schools: includes teachers toolkit and knowledge bank (Years 1-12) with school resources on solar power, sustainable transport, renewable energy and more
• Brimbank Schools Sustainability Energy Resources: Foundation - Year 2,  Year 3 - 4, Year 5 - 6
• Check out Brimbank’s 'The story of energy' powerpoint

• Planet ark:access recycling information, recycled products directory, and how to set up a recycling system at school
• Check out Nude Food Lunchboxes, Nude food day and recipes
• Why not get your school involved in a Garage sale trail?
• Brimbank Schools Sustainability Waste and Recycling Resources Foundation - Year 2, Year 3 - 4, Year 5 - 6
• Brimbank Schools Sustainability Resources, The Story of Waste and Recycling: Powerpoint
• Access Factsheets: Composting at school; recycling at School

• Melbourne Water: Browse learning resources by year level (Foundation-Year 10) and explore resources by curriculum area. Check out Melbourne Water’s feature programs and resources including; River Detectives, Western Treatment Plant virtual tour and Drip Trip: the game.
• City West Water: classroom incursions, Do-It-Yourself presentations, curriculum resources and downloadable classroom worksheets.
• Water management learn about water supply, storage and use in Brimbank and how we can use water more efficiently.
• Brimbank Schools Sustainability Water Resources: Foundation - Year 2, Year 3 - 4, Year 5 - 6
• Brimbank Schools Sustainability Resources, The Story of Water: Powerpoint

• The Junior Landcare Learning Centre offers 30 minute curriculum-aligned activities for all ages. Their overarching themes include biodiversity, food production, First Nations perspectives and waste management.
• Cool Australia: high quality educational materials including units of work and lesson plans that are learning ‘recipes’ for teachers to follow.
• CERES: The Sustainability Hub has loads of teaching resources and is a great place to connect, share school stories and learn what’s happening in the sustainable education space. 
• Access Walk to school resources and Brimbank’s current bike paths. Check out the strategies to encourage active travel to school booklet.
• Brimbank Schools Sustainability Sustainable Systems Resources: Foundation - Year 2, Year 3 - 4, Year 5 - 6
• Brimbank Schools Sustainability Resources, 'Sustainable Systems' Powerpoint