FROM Inverloch to Phillip Island, a wave of environmental action is sweeping across the Bass Coast, powered by passionate students, innovative educators, and the support of the 2025 Victorian Junior Landcare Biodiversity Grant program.
These grants mark the eighth round of this successful program which supports grassroots environmental action across the state, delivered through a partnership between Landcare Australia and the Victorian Government’s Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.
This year, a total of $405,003 in funding has been distributed to 111 outstanding projects, all designed to educate and inspire young Victorians to value and protect their state’s unique biodiversity. Through hands-on learning, community engagement, and real-world conservation efforts, this program is empowering the next generation of environmental stewards.
Six local schools have been awarded funding for inspiring biodiversity projects that will restore habitats, empower young leaders, and reconnect communities with the natural world.
- Powlett River Primary School in Dalyston is creating a sanctuary of culture and conservation with their “Indigenous Garden and Habitat” project. Around a central Learning Stone, the school community will collaborate with Indigenous groups to plant native flora, forming a space for environmental learning and cultural storytelling. Their $4,725 grant will bring this living classroom to life, uniting students, families, and elders.
- At Inverloch Primary School, students are “Branching Out for Koalas” in a project aimed at restoring crucial habitat within a biolink corridor that connects Inverloch to Wonthaggi. With $3,865 in funding, students will plant around 1,000 native species to support threatened wildlife such as the Swamp Antechinus and Koalas, and help improve water quality flowing into the nearby Yallock-Bulluk Marine and Coastal Park.
- Over on Phillip Island, the Village School in Ventnor is embarking on a “Regenerative Planting” journey. Their project, kickstarting with student leadership training at CERES in Melbourne, will culminate in planting 460 native grasses and shrubs to support local ecosystems. With $4,396 in support, this initiative blends education, community action, and environmental stewardship to nurture a new generation of eco-leaders.
- San Remo Primary School is preparing for a “Bugs Blitz Biodiversity Bonanza!” This immersive, hands-on program will see the entire school engaged in five interactive workshops with Bug Blitz educators, exploring everything from aquatic invertebrates to live spider shows. With $2,850 in funding, the program aims to spark curiosity and conservation-minded thinking from prep to grade six.
- At Bass Coast College in Wonthaggi, senior students will roll up their sleeves for the “Sustainable Environments” initiative. Working alongside Bass Coast Landcare, they will contribute to biolink plantings and participate in environmental education experiences, such as bush pantry walks and seed propagation. Their $4,150 grant will support hands-on learning that connects students to community and country.
- The Village High School in Ryanston is embracing the mantra: “I Don’t Just Look, But Truly See, The Living World Surrounding Me… And I Help.” Their $4,508 project will equip students with citizen science tools, biodiversity audit skills, and firsthand experiences in native planting, all designed to turn observation into action.
Member for Bass Coast Jordan Crugnale said, stepping up, getting out!
“It’s incredibly inspiring to see young people across our region stepping up to protect and restore our precious environment,” Jordan said.
These grants are not just an investment in biodiversity; they’re an investment in our future leaders. By getting their hands dirty and working together, these students are showing us all what community-driven conservation can achieve.”
These projects are more than just garden beds and green thumbs; they’re powerful acts of hope and leadership. As our local youth roll up their sleeves and get planting, they’re also sowing the seeds of a brighter, more biodiverse future for all Victorians.
