Sustainability
In 2015 Joondalup Education Support Centre began their journey to become a sustainable school. We are now recognised by Sustainable Schools WA as having measures in place to ensure our ongoing commitment to sustainability. We have a dedicated Sustainability Specialist teacher who delivers authentic learning opportunities to enhance student learning in this area.
At Joondalup Schools we believe that educating the students, staff and community in sustainable practices will lead to more informed choices. We encompass environmental responsibility, staff and student wellbeing and community partnership. These include links with our Noongar community, afterschool garden clubs, wellbeing days, craft clubs and various partnerships with outside organisations.
We are a community recycling hub for coffee pods, Cash for Containers, dental hygiene products, dishcare products, plastic bottle tops, paper/cardboard and writing implements. We have formed a solid partnership with Terracycle Australia who forward these recyclables onto Australian based companies to turn back into products.
Our multi award winning school vegetable garden has been nurtured now for 6 years by the students, staff and the community. For three successive years we have taken out place ribbons for produce at both the Perth Royal Show and the Wanneroo Show and our school program has been showcased at statewide Sustainability Forum.
We have won various grants and partnered with Junior Landcare and Tucker Bush. In 2020 we became a case study school for our vegetable garden and newly planted native bush tucker garden.
We have 2 productive worm farms which produce enough organic ‘worm wee’ to keep our garden healthy and productive. Our two 1500l water tanks that supply water for the summer months and the students have learnt that this is a precious commodity that we need to conserve.
Vegetables and herbs have been planted in raised garden beds. They have been measured, studied, cared for, harvested and used to prepare healthy food. Excess vegetables are now freely shared with the community via a Grow Free Cart. The ethos being, ‘Take what you need and give what you can’. The garden is an inclusive learning environment for all students, based on a sustainable model of reusing, recycling, repurposing and rethinking.
Sustainability is at the forefront of all our decisions. The students are our future.
