News

From suburban school grounds to bushland scout halls, young Victorians are rolling up their sleeves to restore habitats, protect threatened species and build stronger connections with nature. Supported by the 2024 Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants, schools and youth groups across the state are delivering hands‑on conservation projects that leave lasting ecological and community benefits.

Three projects from Ballarat, Melbourne’s green wedge, and the Mornington Peninsula highlight how junior landcare led initiatives are making a meaningful difference on the ground while building environmental knowledge, confidence and stewardship.

Turning Learning into Action at Mount Clear College

At Mount Clear College in Ballarat, every Year Nine student is played a role in restoring local ecosystems through the Pay It Forward – MCC Community Impact for Local Biodiversity project. What began with garden beds stripped bare during major building works has grown into a comprehensive, place‑based learning program with tangible environmental outcomes.

Working alongside local partners including the Leigh Catchment Group, Ballarat Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation Inc., and the school’s own Legacy Garden initiative, students have helped establish more than 650 indigenous plants across school grounds and nearby community sites. They have also undertaken extensive weeding, rubbish removal and site maintenance to protect the adjoining Woowookarung Regional Park.

Beyond planting, students learned how to assess biodiversity through surveys, species identification and sound‑recording technologies, linking classroom learning directly to real environmental challenges. Many students described the experience as rewarding and grounding “switching off and helping” particularly when working alongside community members, including residents at a local aged care home. The project has not only improved habitat quality but strengthened students’ sense of belonging and purpose.

Creating Habitat Corridors in Melbourne’s Green Wedge

In Melbourne’s north‑east, Research Primary School has taken a whole‑school approach to biodiversity conservation through The Paradise Project. Set within the city’s green wedge, the project focuses on creating critical habitat for the endangered Gang‑gang Cockatoo while improving ecological connectivity across the school’s grounds.

Over 400 indigenous plants ranging from towering eucalypts to understorey shrubs and ground covers—have been planted across approximately one hectare, forming a habitat corridor that links remnant vegetation. Students were involved at every stage, from planning planting days to ongoing maintenance and monitoring.

Learning extended well beyond the school fence. Guest speakers from Nillumbik Shire and Zoos Victoria, excursions to Healesville Sanctuary, and curriculum‑linked activities including an art competition themed on the Gang‑gang Cockatoo connected students to broader conservation efforts. Families and community volunteers also joined planting days, reinforcing shared responsibility for protecting local ecosystems.

The result is a project that blends ecological restoration with creativity, collaboration and long‑term stewardship, leaving a living legacy for both students and wildlife.

Nature Guardians on the Mornington Peninsula

On the Mornington Peninsula, members of the 1st Red Hill Scout Group are proving that biodiversity action can be both educational and empowering. Through the Nature Guardians project, Scouts aged 8 to 18 transformed their Scout Hall grounds into a hub for habitat restoration within the Manton and Stony Creeks Landcare Biolinks network.

Scouts compared biodiversity at their own site with a nearby National Trust‑protected forest, learning how different land uses affect plant and animal life. Supported by Landcare facilitators and local council staff, they developed practical skills in species identification, ecological monitoring and data collection using tools such as quadrat surveys and iNaturalist.

The project culminated in hands‑on action: removing invasive weeds, planting indigenous gardens and installing microbat boxes to support native wildlife. Families and community volunteers worked alongside Scouts, strengthening community ties and ensuring long‑term care for the site. The experience built confidence, leadership and pride, as participants could see the direct impact of their efforts on local biodiversity.

A Lasting Impact

While each project responds to its own local environment, together they demonstrate the power of youth‑led, community‑supported action. Whether restoring school gardens, creating habitat corridors or strengthening bushland connections, these initiatives are delivering real ecological benefits while nurturing the next generation of environmental stewards.

These achievements would not be possible without the dedication of educators, landcare facilitators, conservation partners and community volunteers who generously shared their time, knowledge and hands‑on support. By guiding students, mentoring young people and connecting learning with real‑world action, they have helped turn ideas into thriving habitats and lasting learning experiences.

As these young people plant, monitor and care for their local landscapes, they are not just improving biodiversity today they are building skills, values and connections that will shape how Victoria’s natural environment is cared for into the future.

The next round of recipients of the Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants will be announced in June 2026.  To keep up to date with the latest news from Junior Landcare subscribe to our newsletter here.