Mrs Jo-anne Wembridge from Werribee Primary School has been selected as a finalist for ResourceSmart Primary School Teacher of the Year award in the 2019 ResourceSmart School Awards.

Tim Pallas MP said Ms Wembridge has been instrumental in leading initiatives and reducing the environmental footprint of Werribee Primary School. Additionally, she has been an inspiration to a number of schools in the western metro region — helping other teachers and schools on their ResourceSmart School journey.

The ResourceSmart Schools Awards are Victoria’s largest sustainability awards program and are open to all Victorian government, independent and Catholic schools. The Awards recognise schools across the state who are leading the way in minimising waste, saving energy and water, increasing biodiversity and tackling climate change.

Ms Wembridge’s passion for sustainability is clear. She has been instrumental in initiating a number of programs for Werribee Primary School including:

• introducing zero waste policy and snack shacks
• adding compost and plastic recycling bins
• achieving GOLD Ride2School status
• achieving silver accreditation in the Water–Learn it! Live it! program
• receiving a Wyndham City Council Community Grant for $22,000 to install 27kW Solar Panel System
• installing Active Paths for safe travelling to school
• adding multiple outdoor learning areas – Vertical wall, Mural Garden, Secret Garden
• Regional Award winner – Victorian Schools Garden 2015
• Victorian Energy School of the Year 2017
• receiving multiple grants and prize money adding up to $40,000.

Ms Wembridge’s initiatives have helped the school save $66,731 and has expanded students’ interest and engagement with sustainability.

Winners for the categories will be announced at the awards ceremony on 13 June at the MCG in Melbourne.

ResourceSmart Schools is a free program offered by Sustainability Victoria that has engaged more than 1,300 schools across the state to collectively save over $24 million dollars and avoid creating more than 60,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases.  Visit www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/schoolsawards for information on the finalists.
Quotes attributable to Member for Werribee Tim Pallas

“I’m very proud to congratulate Ms Wembridge as well as the students, teachers and parents of Werribee Primary School.”

“The 2019 ResoureSmart Schools Awards theme is ‘contributing to a better place’ and Werribee Primary School are certainly doing their bit.”