Welcome back to a busy year ahead!

Whether you're starting out on your sustainability journey or you're a seasoned professional, welcome.

Exciting times as we collaborate with P&Cs Qld and Container Exchange, see below for details.

Whether you’re in industry or education, we invite you to embrace the opportunities in this newsletter — each one created to inspire, educate, and motivate us all to be better and do better. As a privileged and educated nation, we are fortunate to learn from over 65,000 years of sustainability knowledge thanks to our First Nations people. There’s plenty to do. Enjoy!

Yours in Sustainability

Jules and the CAS team 😊

Queensland state schools only…. Exciting news from P&Cs Qld and Containers for Change! We’re thrilled to announce a fantastic opportunity for our schools to lead the way in sustainability and generate additional valuable funds for your P&C. In the first half of 2026, P&Cs Qld aims to install 20 Containers for Change Donation Station in the South East Region, and your school could be on the priority list. So if you are a state school with an active P&C, and want a system supported program, express your interest in this fantastic initiative by completing this form:

Tired of talent shortages?

Invest 30 minutes a month! Mentor students, share practical skills like LEAN, and build the future Australian industry needs.

Explore what’s possible here: https://climateactionschools.com/industry 🌱

Beyond the Bins: A Holistic Approach

Once your system is up and operational, and the funds are flowing to your P&C, the journey continues!

• 🤝 Industry Connections: We connect your school with industry partners, opening doors for valuable ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) support. This could mean working bees in your school and gardens or exciting collaborations in the classroom, linking students to highly scientific and STEM-based circular economy and functional sustainability systems.

• 📚 Curriculum Integration: Teachers and curriculum areas can then connect directly to your school's sorting area, transforming it into a dynamic Sustainability Skills Centre (SSC). We also provide professional learning for teachers on the circular economy and sustainability, empowering them to inspire the next generation of environmental leaders.

This hands-on program supports senior students to build industry-aligned skills, confidence and clarity around future pathways — including apprenticeship and training opportunities.

Delivered as one day per week over five weeks, starting 5 February 2026, students engage with sustainability tools, systems thinking and industry practice that connect climate action with meaningful work and long-term careers.

👉 Learn more or register: https://events.humanitix.com/year-11-13-industry-readiness-program-in-person

🎓 Calling Logan Region Schools! 🌱

If your school is wanting funds for your Climate Action School project, thanks to our friends Logan City Council’s, the EnviroGrants program could help bring it to life! These grants support initiatives that protect and enhance the natural environment — and importantly for educators, there’s up to $10,000 available for schools and education projects. It’s a great opportunity to get extra support for hands-on sustainability learning that connects to your Climate Action School initiatives.

Check your local council to see if there are grant opportunities for your school!
🔗 https://www.logan.qld.gov.au/community/grants/envirogrants

What is a Climate Action School?

If you're looking for a 'critical support partner' to help your school make a real operational change, then becoming a Climate Action School is for you. We provide a simple, proven system to help you:

• ♻️ Divert student resources from landfill: Starting with cans and bottles, and then expanding to organics, white paper, and more!

• 💰 Join the circular economy: See those diverted resources turn into valuable funds for your P&C.

• 🧠 Change behaviour: Our unique program uses a powerful combination of LEAN principles (for efficiency and waste reduction) and Neuro science (to understand and facilitate lasting behaviour change) to get your diversions in place.  It doesn’t take any more time, just a change of behaviour.

🌱 Principal / Leadership Briefing – Multiple Dates
A 30-minute online session designed for Principals, Business Managers, P&C Associations and leadership teams to explore how the Climate Action Schools (CAS) model supports sustainability, operational alignment and future pathways for your school. You’ll hear how CAS can reduce waste costs, strengthen sustainability practice and help you decide next steps.

🌱 How to Become a Climate Action School – Online Workshop
This 2-hour online session guides educators and school teams through the practical strategies and systems needed to start your Climate Action Schools journey. You’ll gain clarity on tools and frameworks that support sustainable systems and activation planning.

🌱 Workshop 2: The System Explained (In Person)
An in-person workshop exploring the Climate Action Schools system in depth — ideal for school teams ready to strengthen integration of sustainability practice across operations, curriculum and strategy.

🌱 Sustainability Workshop – Teacher PD (Online)
A 1.5-hour online professional development session for teachers and staff focused on building sustainability awareness, LEAN principles, resource recovery and circular systems. This session equips educators with confidence and industry-aligned insight they can bring into their classrooms and school programs.

🌱 Industry Tours – Sustainability in Practice – Teacher PD
A full-day experiential tour showing how LEAN thinking, circular systems and sustainability are applied in operating environments, giving teachers practical experience and insight to support classroom application.