Woolies offering grantstoschools

WOOLWORTHS and Landcare Australia are on the lookout for primary schools and early learning centres across Latrobe Valley with ideas to help connect young generations with nature and inspire them to play an activerole in ensuring the safe future of their environment.

The latest round of the Woolworths Junior LandcareGrants program is now open,offering primary schools and early learning centres the chance to share in $1 million to support the development of hands-on environmental learning projects Grants of up to $1000are on offerfor projects focussed on sustainable food production, improving waste management practices, enhancing native habitats and deepeningFirst Nations perspectives. This could include setting up anew garden like Avoca Primary School in Victoria has done, where children not only learn how to grow plants and food andcreateanimal habitats, but also learn more about themselves.

“Getting children involved with hands-on activities in and around nature is an incredible way to help them explore sustainability in action,” Woolworths Churchill, Moe, Morwell and Traralgongroup manager, Paul Magyar, said.

“Over the years, we’ve seen some great ideas from schools and earlylearning centres across Victoria that were brought to life through our

Woolworths JuniorLandcare Grants program, encouraging kids to explore, appreciate and care for the environment around them. No idea is too small, and we can’t wait to see what’s ahead for this next round of applications.”

Through its Junior Landcareprogram,Landcare Australia has alsoworkedclosely with First Nations educator and Wiradjuri man Adam Shipp to develop environmental learningactivitiesfor educators and children to learn more about how they can have aconnection to Country.

The activities rangefromexploring First Nations weather to creatinganIndigenous plant-use garden and exploring aFirst Nations peoples’ languages map.

“As aproud Wiradjuri man, Ibelieve it is extremely important thatenvironmentalbased organisationsrecognise and work with First Nations groups,”First Nations educator with Landcare Australia, Adam Shipp, said.

“By teaching younger generations about traditional ways of caring for Country, we can deepen knowledge of and respect for First Nations culture and practices. Ilook forward to seeing how Latrobe Valley students and teachers use the new Junior Landcare resources.

“Junior Landcare has always recognised the vital role children play in taking care of the natural environment and, thanks to the 2023 Woolworths

Junior LandcareGrantsprogram, we look forward to seeing even more children have the opportunity to take on this role,” Landcare Australia chief executive, Dr Shane Norrish, said.

“Moreover, as we continue to grow the number of First Nations perspective resources on theJunior LandcareLearning Centre, we are thrilled to be able to support Latrobe Valley children and educators in building their knowledge of traditional land management and culturalheritage when it comes to caring for our land and water.”

Sincelaunching the program in 2018, the Woolworths JuniorLandcare Grants program, in partnership with Landcare Australia, has supported more than 3814 school groups, with more than $4 million in funding to help kids all across the country get hands-on with caring for the natural environment.

Applicationsfor the 2023 WoolworthsJunior Landcare Grants are now open and close on March 17.

To find out more about the program or to apply, go to juniorlandcare.org.au

To view what local WoolworthsJunior Landcare Grant projects were funded in previous years, search the interactive mapatwww.juniorlandcarewoolworthsmap.org.au