Sustainable Schools

The CERES Sustainability Outreach Group researches available grants, awards and competitions for schools to help fund environment projects. Feel free to share this information with your networks but it would be great if you acknowledged you got the information from the CERES Sustainability Hub.

Current Grants

2012 Australia Post Kids Teaching Kids Week
Applications open: February 1st 2012
About: The free 2012 Australia Post Kids Teaching Kids Week program supports schools and students as they develop workshops to find solutions to environmental problems.  Last year there were hundreds of community members such as NRM agencies, local councils, zoo's, businesses and industry experts who eagerly assisted those schools taking part in the Kids Teaching Kids program. In 2012 we are pleased to be offering $330 Teacher Relief Funding grants and $550 Cluster Event grants to financially assist schools involved in the program.
Info: http://www.kidsteachingkids.com.au/conferences/2012-kids-teaching-kids-week/

Coles Junior Landcare Grants
Applications close:
Round 3: Friday 27th July 2012, 5pm (EST)
About: Since 2008 Coles has been providing School Garden Grants of up to $1,000 to schools and youth groups to help create gardens in their grounds or community, such as bush tucker gardens, water wise gardens or veggie gardens.These programs encourage students to learn about the environment through “outdoor learning” and interaction in developing their own school gardens. This is a popular grant program so make sure you MAKE YOUR APPLICATION STAND OUT FROM THE REST (check out the CERES Grant Writing Tips below!).
NOTE: All schools, kindergartens, daycare centers, and youth groups (i.e. Scouts) are eligible to apply for a Junior Landcare grant.
Info: http://www.juniorlandcare.com.au/grants-2/coles-grant

Western Water Garden and Environmental Grants
Applications close: Friday May 11th 2012
About: As part of Western Water's Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy, three new community programs have been launched in 2012. The Environmental Grants program aims to enhance environmental health and biodiversity in our service area by providing financial and in-kind support to not-for-profit community groups undertaking related work (e.g. weed and rubbish removal, revegetation). 

• Sammy’s School Garden Grants - applications close 11 May 2012.
• Sammy’s Community Garden Grants – applications close 29 June 2012.
• Frances’ Environmental Grants – applications close 25 May 2012.

The first two of these programs aim to encourage the development of sustainable gardens by providing financial and in-kind assistance to schools and not-for-profit community groups in our service area. A funding pool of $10,000 is available for each grants program ($30,000 in total).  A maximum of $1,000 is available per garden and up to $2000 is available per environmental project.
Info: http://www.westernwater.com.au/commedu/Pages/GardenandEnvironmentalGrants.aspx

Bunnings - Local Community Involvement
Applications open: Ongoing
About: Looking for some financial assistance with a garden or outside project? Bunnings Warehouse offers contributions to community events, charity fundraisers or heritage projects. Stores also regularly makes donations of goods and services to local community groups in need. This could include a school requiring D.I.Y. repairs, a garden makeover or new facilities. In general, a minimum of six months’ notice is required for contribution, goods or services applications. If you would like to be considered for a local store contribution or donation, please contact the 'Activities Organiser' at your local Bunnings Warehouse.
Info: www.bunnings.com.au/contact-us_in-the-community_local-involvement.aspx

Telstra Foundation - Telstra Kids' Fund
Applications open: Ongoing
About: Have you got someone in your school community who works for Telstra? Permanent Telstra Group employees can apply for a Telstra's Kids Fund grant of $1,200 to support a project or activity run by a not-for-profit organisation involving a child, 18 years or under, in their immediate family. Each year $750,000 is given to local community organisations on behalf of children related to Telstra employees. There are three funding rounds per year.
Info: www.telstrafoundation.com/dir148/tfweb.nsf/telstraskidsfund/telstraskidsfund2?OpenDocument&menu=3

Council Grants

The City of Monash is presently accepting applications for community grants until 12th June. http://www.monash.vic.gov.au/community/grants.htm

The City of Whittlesea is presently accepting community grant applications until 11th May.
http://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/your-council/grants-and-major-programs/community-development-grants

Maroondah City Council’s Community Grants Scheme is open for applications until 1st June. http://www.maroondah.vic.gov.au/CommunityFunding.aspx

Nillumbik Shire Council’s Community Fund grants are open for applications until 31st May.  http://www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Lists/News/Nillumbik_Community_Fund_grants_now_open

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Current Awards

Awards are not just for the 'top' sustainable schools, there are awards out there for everyone. Awards are a great way to fund projects and celebrate school achievements. Also, keep your eye out for a current trend that recognises outstanding student achievement -- you might have your very own budding Tim Flannery or Helen Caldicott (or Bindi Irwin).

NAB Schools First Awards 2012
Entries close:  Friday June 29th
About: NAB Schools First enters its fourth year in 2012 with $3 million in funding available to 130 outstanding school-community partnerships. This includes:
    55 x Impact Awards ($30,000 each)
    65 x Seed Funding Awards ($15,000 each)
    10 x Student Awards ($5,000 each)
Impact Award winners will also vie for:
    8 x State/Territory Impact Awards (a further $30,000 each)
    1 x National Award (a further $140,000)
Info: www.schoolsfirst.edu.au/sf-awards-landing/
There are also forum information sessions being run to help you with your application - http://www.schoolsfirst.edu.au/sf-dates-to-remember/

National 2012 savewater! awards®
Applications close: Friday 20th July 2012
About: The savewater! awards® are now in their tenth year, and have emerged as Australia’s leading awards for water sustainability. These prestigious awards recognise and reward excellence in water-efficiency by business, government, schools, local communities and individuals.
Info: http://www.savewater.com.au/programs-and-events/savewater-awards
 

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Current Competitions

Don't just limit yourself to grants! Competitions are another great way to fund a project and engage your students in sustainanability action at your school.

2012 National Schools Packaging Design Challenge
Register by: Wednesday May 9th 2012
Submissions close: Wednesday May 16th 2012
About: The Challenge is on again to educate Australian students from Years 5-12 through an insight into the packaging and design industry. This Challenge encourages young people to research issues relating to packaging in our modern society and produce innovative and creative designs in response to current environmental, consumer, business and design issues and problems. It is designed so that senior primary students and students across a number of secondary subjects such as Art, Technology, Design, Visual Communications, Business Studies, Environmental Studies and Food Technology can compete successfully and cover a significant number of curriculum outcomes.
Teacher resources available on the website.
Info: http://pca.org.au/awards2012/schools/

Be a Future Spark!
Entries close:  Monday July 16th
About: Use your imagination and be part of the solution. We want you to help come up with ideas for the future. Use the inspiration part of this website to think BIG! Have you come up with a new invention that uses clean energy? Can you tell us why it is so important that we invest in new energy ideas? Is there a new way to harness clean energy? How do you imagine a life with less carbon? You can enter the competition by creating a video or writing down your ideas and thoughts.
Info: http://futuresparks.org.au/the-competition.aspx

ACMI - Screen It
Entries close:  Friday September 14th
About: This national competition is for school-aged filmmakers and game makers, run annually by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). This year's theme, 'Belonging', provides a valuable trigger for students and teachers to investigate topical issues while learning game and filmmaking techniques along the way. Students can enter through their school or independently. Entries can be live-action films, computer games or animations, but must incorporate the theme.
Winners will be presented at an awards ceremony in December, each receiving a certificate, a trophy and a DVD prize pack courtesy of Madman Entertainment. The primary and secondary school with the Best Overall Entries will each be awarded a state-of-the-art Mitsubishi projector for their school. In addition, the winning entries will be added to the library of the Australian Mediatheque where visitors to ACMI can view moving image works on demand, as well as being exhibited on the ACMI website.
Registration is online and completely free!
Info: http://www.acmi.net.au/media-screen-it-2012.htm

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Do you need help with writing your application?

CERES Incursions offers grant writing workshops! Visit the CERES Incursions Hub page for more information by clicking here. Trained facilitators will support your group with grant writing and provide examples of successful applications. Here are some grant writing tips we help workshop participants 'nut out':
* Add a little bit of sparkle - Give your application PERSONALITY.
* Sell your story - Show potential benefits for the grant provider.
* The benefits - Outline educational, social and environmental, put it in a context.
* Partnerships - Show community links. Team up with others.
* Additional assistance - Get support. Don’t be afraid to make some calls and ask the experts.
* Realistic budgets - Make sure you don’t underestimate or overestimate your costs.
* Communication - Talk to the organisation before you submit your grant. Introduce yourself!
* Provide additional evidence if possible - Pictures, support letters and student work all enhance your appication.

>> Please email Kirsty Costa - kirsty@ceres.org.au - if you'd like to add advertise your grant, award or competition on this page.