Story Title: Waterwise Schools Program
Episode: Four
Date: October 25th 2009
Presenter: Neville Passmore

Neville takes a look at some of the leading educational facilities to find out about their waterwise garden projects, and shows us what we can learn from these schools.

About the Waterwise School Program

• The Waterwise Schools Program aims to educate students, their families and wider communities about the need to value, protect and conserve our precious water resources.
• The program is a long-term, whole-of-school approach to water and education and complements the Curriculum Framework across all major learning areas, especially Society and Environment.
• Most importantly, the program tackles real issues facing the community.
• It provides the opportunity to change students' behaviour towards the use of water so that they become responsible adults able to make informed decisions.

Featured School – Ardross Primary School

• Ardross Primary School is recognized as a Waterwise school by our Water Corporation.
• In 2008, Ardross Primary School P & C Environmental Committee helped pupils establish the Ardross Nursery and Waterwise Garden Project.
• One of the goals was for students to measure the environmental footprint of the school and to find ways to minimize or offset the school’s use of resources.
• Some of the activities related to this include Rethink, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle resources. For example, students collect “worm whizz” from their worm farms and sell it at $2 for 2 litres. The profits will go to a Greening Australia project called Gondwana Link which aims to create wildlife corridors for native flora and fauna.
• The school has established a nursery for growing plants from seed.
• Seedling trees have also been grown specifically for rural areas as part of Landcare work on farms.
• Through educating students it is hoped that they will take on board knowledge of water issues and Waterwise behaviours into their adult lives. 
• Also through the program they become pivotal in educating their parents about water issues through the activities that they bring home.  This is a crucial part of the Waterwise Schools Program.

Contact
Water Corporation
629 Newcastle Street
Leederville  WA  6007
Contact Us

www.watercorporation.com.au