What Inspires Me – Paula McIntosh

It would definitely have to be taking the bins out at Melbourne Girls College (MGC) in 2019. The amount of media coverage we received was enormous. I felt really proud that we (MGC) shone a light on the problem of plastic pollution and got people thinking about the amount of waste our everyday lives produce and how we as a school community drew a line in the sand and said “enough is enough”. It was a great example of teachers supporting young people who want to make a statement and bring about change in their school and beyond. In 2020 Melbourne Girls’ College was awarded ‘School of the Year for Community Leadership’ from Sustainability Victoria. That was a pretty great moment for us.

It’s a really hard one. It can be so deflating to see workmates or students walking past you with disposable coffee cups and the like. Especially after all that we’ve tried to achieve as a school! I guess you need to accept to some extent that you’ll never reach everyone. I don’t get upset or angry with people. If I have a good relationship with them, I might say, “Ahhh, I now know what to get you for Christmas!” In fact, I gave a Keep Cup to a colleague that I often saw using single-use coffee cups and he was so rapt. He used it all the time from then on.

I try and influence as many people as I can through my Instagram @zerowasteschoolsaustralia. I have many students, colleagues and parents that follow me. People get an insight into what we’re doing as a school but also what I do in my own home and life to reduce waste and pressure on the planet. It can be done even when you’re a mum who’s also a full-time teacher!

I really try and keep the message positive and upbeat. It really is the way to go to keep young people engaged and enthused. Otherwise, it’s too easy to get depressed about the state of the planet. We’ve got to give kids hope but recognise that this only comes through action. We’ve got to be prepared to look at the impact we’re having as individuals and organisations and try and do something about it. If we don’t, we’re just hypocrites and hypocrites don’t do so well in schools.

I also try and lead by example. You have to be prepared to live your values. In my home we’ve eliminated all single-use plastic and very little plastic in general makes its way into the house. We haven’t put our landfill bin out on the curb for about 10 months. I’m pretty proud of that. We’re a vegan household so this really helps reduce our carbon footprint too.

This year at Melbourne Girls’ College we are lucky enough to be working with Australian Period Underwear Company, Modibodi. They saw our Eco-Friendly Periods 4 Vic Schools online petition that we have started at MGC to try and get reusable sanitary products into Victorian Schools, alongside single-use products. They were impressed and wanted to work with us, so we agreed to do a pilot project at MGC. Our collective aim, is to show the Victorian Government that period poverty can be alleviated in schools, it can be done in a sustainable way and it will be much cheaper than single-use in the long run. Modibodi are donating 5 pairs of period undies to 60 Year 8 students. It’s totally voluntary and hugely exciting for our students and their families.

The students. If students are inspired and Principals are brave and supportive of young people, as they should be, then the students are the greatest and most powerful resource that can be harnessed. If young people find their voice and have the help, support and guidance of teachers, school communities can do extraordinary things.