ResourceSmart Schools – Sustainability Award winners
Sustainabilty Victoria
Established in 2008 by the Victorian Government, the ResourceSmart Schools program was designed to integrate sustainability into the daily lives of students. The comprehensive program also tackles how waste can be reduced and how that leads to cost savings both at school and beyond.
This year 29 primary and secondary schools competed for a 2026 Sustainability Award, with the theme ‘Our Sustainability Community’.
Sustainability Victoria chief executive officer, Matt Genever said our sustainable community celebrates teachers, students, and stakeholders sharing knowledge, passion, and commitment to drive sustainability for a thriving environment.
Since its inception, students have planted more than 5.1 million trees, saved over $68 million through energy, waste and water savings, diverted 170,000 cubic metres of waste from landfill and avoided over 110,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
Winning Schools
This year’s winners were announced at a prestigious awards ceremony held at the MCG and hosted by TV personality Dirt Girl. 29 schools were vying for an award with 11 schools taking home the top prizes.
Five schools in the Eastsider News readership area were named as finalists: Box Hill High, Camberwell Girls Grammar, Camberwell Grammar, Boroondara Park Primary School and Kew High School. Although all had excellent programs, only one was selected as a winner.
Box Hill High School was announced as the winner of the Curriculum Leadership School of the Year (Secondary) at the 2026 ResoureSmart Schools Awards held in Melbourne on Wednesday, 11 June.
The award recognises schools that embed sustainability across lesson plans and units of work, with Box Hill High recognised for its intersectional curriculum, inclusion of First Nations perspectives and creative engagement through topics relevant to young people.
Through its curriculum and co-curricular programs, Box Hill High builds students’ capacity for critical thinking, social responsibility and meaningful participation in environmental action.
Judges praised the school’s global outlook and strong student connection. ‘This curriculum is engaging, thoughtful and future-focused,’ the judges said.
The 2026 Resource Smart Schools Awards would not be possible without the generous support of sponsors, CDS Vic, Bank First, Department of Education, RMIT and Premier Waste.