Australian schools can now apply to receive the Westpac Junior Landcare Student Sustainability Grant.
Grants of $1500 are available for schools to help students build their sustainability leadership abilities via a project to improve their school or local community environment.
“We’d love to see as many schools apply for these grants as possible,” Westpac spokesperson Sean O’Malley said.
Westpac has a long history of global leadership in sustainability and sponsors the Education Award category in the Landcare Awards.” he said. “This is a wonderful initiative which allows Westpac to encourage students around Australia to better understand their local environment.”
Projects can incorporate a variety of environmental issues such as biodiversity, habitat restoration, reducing energy and water consumption and reducing waste and greenhouse-gas production through to improving water-harvesting and quality.
“Successful schools will team up with a local landcare group and high school students so that they have mentors to guide them along the way to both get the job done and then share their achievement with their community,” Sean O’Malley said.
Landcare Australia CEO, Heather Campbell said this new Junior Landcare grant program is a great opportunity for students to build their leadership skills through embracing the principles of landcare. It will help create awareness and an understanding about environmental sustainability.
“By getting involved with landcare early, we hope the students will volunteer along with their families for other environmental activities in their local community,” said Ms Campbell.
There will be 60 schools chosen from those who apply for a grant in the Westpac Junior Landcare Student Sustainability Leadership program. Funds will be distributed in early 2011 with projects completed throughout the year.
Grant criteria and application forms can be downloaded from juniorlandcare.com.au with applications closing on Friday 10 December. For further information log onto westpac.com.au/landcare or juniorlandcare.com.au.
The Westpac Group has committed to an aggressive emissions reduction target of 30% by 2013 as part of its five-year climate change strategy. This builds on its 40 percent reduction achieved between 1996-2008. Westpac and Landcare Australia have been partners for 10 years.
