Climate Action Team News

Hello Beaumaris Secondary College! 

We are the Climate Action Team, CAT for short, and we’re here to share the good news about our plans to help our school improve its bioethicality as well as to encourage all of you to care about and take steps to save our environment. Our goals for the Climate Action Team are environment, education, and sustainability. This newsletter is simply one of the many parts of our mission to spread the good word and inform you about how you can help.

Current Projects

We’ve got two main projects at the moment that we’re working on. Our first project is what we’re calling “Wildlife Day”. September 4th is National Wildlife Day, established in 2005 by philanthropist Colleen Paige in order to spread awareness around the globe to endangered animals all over. We want to make this Wildlife Day an incredible opportunity for us to spread more information about endangered animals and give everyone an opportunity to contribute as well! Keep an eye out for posters and information coming soon. 

Our second project is to rehabilitate and revitalise the school garden! It needs some good loving and care, so we’re planning to establish new plants there as well as across the school in order to provide healthy food to the school population. We’re just in the beginning steps for our garden plans, if you’re interested in helping out, feel free to drop by and let us know! The more the merrier.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

We know that many of you care about the environment but aren’t quite sure how to get started in helping our world. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered! With every newsletter we make, we plan to share with you an array of opportunities you can use to give back to the environment. Even if you aren’t in it for the planet, you can easily get in it for a fleshed-out resume! For more opportunities, we recommend websites such as https://govolunteer.com.au to find them.

TreeProject Inc. - Become a grower

If you have a lot of space in your backyard and are concerned about the state of Australia’s wildlife, becoming a grower with TreeProject Inc. is the perfect opportunity for you. Lasting from 4 to 6 months, you can dedicate space in your backyard to growing plants that will be transported and taken to where they’re desperately needed. There are dozens of other volunteering opportunities with TreeProject Inc. as well, such as donating your time to both help out in the field with their projects or to assist from home to help their organisation function. The choice is up to you. For more information, please visit https://treeproject.org.au/

Parks Victoria - ParkConnect

If you’re looking for a long list of opportunities all around Victoria, ParkConnect is the place to go. Parks Victoria volunteers help to protect, maintain and restore Victoria’s unique and special places. By volunteering with them, you’ll be able to contribute to one of many different projects and areas in need. For more information, visit https://www.parkconnect.vic.gov.au/Volunteer/

Victoria Landcare Gateway

To find local volunteering opportunities, Victoria Landcare Gateway is a great resource. They help you find groups in your area where you can contribute your time. In our area, they can connect you with groups at Donald MacDonald Reserve, Bayside Community Nursery, and the Bay Road Heathland Sanctuary. For more information, visit https://www.landcarevic.org.au/

Conservation Volunteers Australia

For a variety of opportunities to contribute to our local wildlife, Conservation Volunteers Australia is a great resource. Their website and app allow you to connect with groups and lend a hand as you can. Join efforts such as “Bring Back the Eastern Barred Bandicoot”, where you can help this critically endangered species recover. For more information, visit https://conservationvolunteers.com.au/

Marine Ambassadors

The Marine Ambassadors is an ocean-based group led by Mr Seddon, another environmentally conscious group at our school. The Marine Ambassadors take on a variety of projects regarding what’s going on in Bayside’s waters, with current efforts such as crab-counting down at the beaches. This group also goes on a variety of excursions with diving and research in order to do what they can. If you love our oceans and are interested in learning more, please contact Mr Seddon directly. 

Duke of Ed

If you like volunteer work, making new hobbies, camping, hiking, strengthening relationships with your friends, or contributing to your community, then this opportunity is for you! The Duke of Ed is an incredible organisation that aims to guide young students towards appreciating their community and environment. This highly prestigious award system can go to anyone who puts in the effort and is absolutely recommended for anyone looking to push themselves further. Any award level from the Duke of Ed is viewed positively by any employer, with the effort of being able to organise and achieve one is a feat of its own. If anyone aged 14 or older is interested, please contact either Ms Murphy or Ms Zhou. 

Contact Information

More information on these is soon to come, we promise you that, but if you have any immediate questions or ideas for projects, we highly encourage you to join us at our next meeting! 

The Climate Action Team

Dino M, Jack F, Eve D (Year 12 students) and Ms MacGregor