At Lilydale Heights College, sustainability is not a subject — it’s embedded in everything we do. Under the leadership of our Sustainability Leader, Sustainability Captains and Team, the College is working towards becoming a 5-star accredited ResourceSmart School, a program endorsed by Sustainability Victoria and delivered through the Eastern Alliance for Sustainable Learning (EASL).
We are proud to excel in implementing authentic, integrated sustainability practices across our entire school. Our Rebuild Project reduced waste and conserved resources by repurposing existing buildings, while Sustainability Week empowered students to make eco-friendly choices through initiatives such as reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable fashion.
Our commitment has been recognised through major awards, including the ResourceSmart Schools Curriculum Leadership School of the Year (Secondary) Award in 2023 and the ResourceSmart Schools School of the Year Award in 2025. These accolades highlight the impact of programs like our Year 8 Ocean Plastic Waste unit and Year 9 There is NO Planet B! project, which challenge students to address real-world environmental issues.
Beyond the classroom, our students actively contribute to broader sustainability efforts. As a Monash University Idle Off pilot school, our students have raised awareness of vehicle emissions. Through our partnership with Zoos Victoria’s Fighting Extinction project, students have helped conservation efforts for endangered species such as the Mountain Pygmy Possum. Other projects, including No Plastic Wrap, nesting box construction, and a collaborative town square bottle top artwork, have made lasting contributions to our school and local community.
Our Sustainability Team meets weekly to drive initiatives, competitions, and whole-school programs, while also engaging in EASL events and workshops to share learning with other schools. Professional learning opportunities ensure our staff continue to embed sustainability across the curriculum, inspiring students to be proactive, aspirational learners in an inclusive environment where they are challenged and celebrated.
Together, these initiatives are bringing us closer to our goal: to increase the sustainability of the College and to be recognised as a leader in sustainability education.
