Sustainability at Albion PS

Albion Primary School signed up to become a ResourceSmart School in July 2019 aiming to achieve 5 stars and hold a 5-star rating. In 2024, we were awarded our 5th star and are now a 5-star ResourceSmart school.

The ResourceSmart Schools program has five modules:

The Core module sets the groundwork for our school's sustainability journey and assists us to evaluate where we are, where we want to get to, and how it will get there.
The Biodiversity module helps us to protect and improve the land (school grounds and surrounds), the local ecosystem, and plant and animal habitats.
The Waste Module helps our school to minimise waste sent to landfill through the operational practices of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’. In addition to saving money, there are many social and environmental advantages to reducing waste. consumption, such as minimising our impact on the environment. At our school, the majority of waste is made up of food, paper and packaging, as well as plastic.
The Energy module helps our school reduce energy use and save on bills. Schools work on energy conservation, energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gases and improving air quality.
The Water Module assists our school to reduce water use and save on bills. Schools can improve water use on school grounds and through partnering with their community on river health, waterway protection and coastal care projects.

Schools must accomplish a set number of actions to complete each module to receive their star rating that is valid for five years. Now that we have our five stars, we must continue to certify our rating for each module:

Core module - recertification by September 2026
Biodiversity module - recertification by August 2030 (having had this recertified in August 2025)
Waste module - recertification by December 2026
Water module - recertification by August 2028
Energy module - recertification by March 2029

In 2022, we were a finalist for the Emerging School of the Year in the ResourceSmart Sustainability Victoria Awards. Our school house captains represented the school at this event. While we did not win, it was a great honour and validation for the work we are doing.

In June 2024, we had a visit from representatives from Sustainability Victoria and ResourceSmart Schools. Our school leaders talked to them about and showed them the work we have done over the last four/five years to reach this point. The students impressed the visitors and they could see the work the school has done and is doing. We found out on 8th August 2024, that we have received our 5-star rating - very exciting!

You will find reports, policies and other infomation in the boxes below.

10c Bottle Bins and our completed bottle cap mural - made from bottle caps collected by the school community (and other helpers from outside the school).