The Allan Labor Government is empowering thousands of young Victorians to protect and care for the state’s natural environment and wildlife into the future.
Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh today welcomed the news that Wurruk Primary School near Sale would be one of the 103 groups to share in more than the $409,000 statewide provided through the Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants program.
Other recipients will include childcare centres, kindergartens, schools, Scouts, Guides and youth groups across Victoria.
Grants of up to $5,000 were awarded for educational activities that engage children in conservation and projects that improve and expand habitat for native plants, insects and wildlife.
The Wurruk Primary School received $4,475 for a Corroboree Frog project, including a trip for students to Healesville Sanctuary.
Since 2018, $3 million has been invested to support more than 47,000 young people undertake on-ground conservation projects and activities.
Since then, these initiatives have achieved incredible results – including 99,000 new indigenous plantings and more than 1000 student excursions to wildlife sanctuaries.
The Victorian Landcare Program forms part of the Labor Government’s continued commitment to combat the decline of the state’s native plants and animals, building on a record $609 million investment in the delivery of Victoria’s landmark 20-year Biodiversity plan since 2014.
For more information on the Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants program, visit environment.vic.gov.au/grants/victorian-junior-landcare-and-biodiversity-grants.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos
“We are proud to support the next generation of Victorians to learn and take action to protect our natural environment.”
"We’ve invested more than any other government to protect our biodiversity and improve our natural environment.”
Quote attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh
“Wurruk Primary students will learn about local biodiversity and then get their hands dirty improving habitat for local species.”
“As the Secretary of the recently established Parliamentary Friends of Landcare, I’m excited to see our government supporting Junior Landcarers as they learn how to look after the environment and boost biodiversity in a practical way.”
Quotes attributable to Wurruk Primary School STEAM Teacher Sarah Collins
"This funding has provided us with the opportunity to become immersed in an engaging project to care for our environment."
"The Landcare funding meant we furthered our studies into the endangered Corroboree Frog and take the whole school on an excursion to Healesville Sanctuary to learn about their breeding program."
"All students participated in designing, preparing and building a frog bog within our school which would hope to increase biodiversity and encourage local species of frogs to thrive."
