
We're empowering students and schools to make their learning environments more sustainable.
School Infrastructure NSW's Sustainable Schools Grants invite all NSW public schools and preschools to apply for funding up to $15,000 to deliver practical sustainability-focused projects that link to the NSW curriculum.
The grants are part of a four year, $10 million dollar program that gives schools the opportunity to develop and implement innovative hands-on projects that help students learn about environmentally sustainable practices and take real steps to enhance the sustainability of their school environment.
Applications and guidelines
Applications for the second round of Sustainable School Grants have closed. Round 3 will open in Term 4, 2021.
Teachers and Principals can find out more about the Sustainable School Grants on the department’s intranet.
Eligible projects
To apply, schools must summarise their proposal in an online form and attach a Project Plan which sets out a budget, performance measurement and risk management processes. They also need the approval of their Principal or Director before applying.
Grant funding this year is merit-based and applications will be evaluated against the following criteria that the project demonstrates:
- Improve sustainability outcomes in the local school/preschool environment including student involvement
- Link to the NSW Curriculum
- Provide opportunities for hands-on student activities to learn about sustainability
- Building knowledge and collaborative partnerships around sustainability at the school and with a wide range of stakeholders such as Environmental Education Centres, P&C committees, community members, Councils, Local Land Councils and other organisations.
- Originality or innovation
- Adequate project planning of risks, timelines, performance measurement and reporting, ongoing management of program and links to existing school plans
- Value for money.
More project ideas can be found via NSW Department of Education’s learning across the curriculum and via NSW Sustainable Schools’ inspiring school stories.
Examples of projects funded in Round 1 of this program included establishment of kitchen or bush tucker gardens, waste audits and even the creation of bee highways!
Projects
Koala Rescue - Delungra Public School
With less than 30 students, Delungra Public School had previously championed an initiative to protect koalas devastated by bushfires and drought. Students cared for the koalas' trees and set up water stations, and the school became a release point for koalas in the area.
After receiving a Sustainable School Grant, the school have been able to further their Koala Rescue program. Students and teachers have been helping the environment to recover propagate and grow koala-friendly seedlings to distribute to the community.
Despite the impacts of Covid-19 throughout the year, Koala Rescue continues to progress. A small greenhouse has been built, shelving has been set up and seedlings have been planted. These seedlings will be distributed throughout the community for residents to plant around their properties in an attempt to regenerate habitat and food for wildlife.
The project has enabled the school to empower student’s knowledge of sustainability strategies and teachers have used it as an opportunity to transform the school's curriculum. Most excitingly, ABC Landline has been working with the school to document their heart-warming story. Watch the feature: ‘Koala Trees: School children helping save koalas’.


Sensory Garden – Krambach Public School
“Our students and staff really stepped up and as a team working hard, we are so proud of our garden.” – Renae Durbin, Sensory Garden Coordinator, Krambach Public School
Covid-19 wasn’t going to stop Krambach Public School from bringing their sensory garden to life and improving the school’s sustainability. The now completed sensory garden is used as calm area for students during playtime and also an outdoor learning area where teachers can ignite student’s imaginations, engage them in learning activities and foster creativity.
With the cost of materials covered by the Sustainable Schools Grants, students and staff helped design and build three new garden beds including a bush tucker garden, butterfly garden and native bee sanctuary. Contemporary aboriginal artist, Lara Went from Yukal art worked with the school to create a rainbow serpent path and PVC pipe ball run. The students loved learning about Aboriginal culture and were proud to leave their own special mark on the garden. An oasis in the heart of the school grounds, the garden is also dotted with cheery ornaments, and a living green wall. An exciting place for kids and adults to connect with nature!


Bee Plus - Bonnet Bay Public School
Bonnet Bay Public School has developed a whole school project called Bee Plus which is based around increasing the numbers of native bees in the school and local area. Thanks to the Sustainable Schools Grants, the school was able to purchase two bee hives, safety equipment, tools, plants, signage, mulch, thermometers and pay for expert advice on establishing their bee hives.
During science lessons students worked to: build bee friendly gardens, design and build native bee ‘hotels,’ and create educational resources about local native bees.
As promised, the students have created their own educational resources about the life cycles, behaviours and needs of native bees as well as their importance as pollinators in our local and global ecology. Check out this video of students talking about the unique books that they authored and illustrated about the Bee Plus program.


School name | Project name |
---|---|
Ajuga School SSP | Lil Ecological Leaders |
Albury High School | We Want To Grow Plants |
Albury Public School | Building Community Support for our Student Environment Club |
Aldavilla Primary School | Water Worx |
Asquith Girls High School | Growing for Our Future |
Ballina Coast High School | Sustainable Sensory Garden |
Ballina Public School | A Greener School for Ballina |
Balranald Central School | The Learning River - Yaka Tematha Kengatha |
Banks Public School | Becoming Waste Wise |
Bankstown Girls' High School | The Beehive Classroom Sustainable Garden |
Banora Point High School | A Special Garden: Food Waste to Green Space |
Bathurst West Public School | Sustainable Kitchen Garden |
Bellevue Hill Public School | The Full Cycle |
Beresford Road Public School | Beresford Road Public School Learn to Live and Grow Project |
Berridale Public School | A community working together: Overcoming tree die back at Berridale |
Binya Public School | Learning about true sustainability in our community |
Blacktown Boys High School | The Journey to Fork |
Blacktown North Public School | Composting Made Easy |
Bogan Gate Public School | Bogan Gate Water Warriors |
Bourke Public School | Sensory and Cultural Garden |
Bowraville Central School | The Great Green Wall |
Brisbania Public School | Bush Tucker and Biodiversity at Brisbania |
Brungle Public School | Resourceful Relationships at Brungle Public School |
Burrumbuttock Public School | Burrumbuttock, biodiversity and our bush tucker garden |
Cambridge Park Public School | Sustainable Kitchen Garden Program |
Camden Haven High School | Seeding the Future |
Cammeray Public School | Sustainable Garden and Waste Reduction Project |
Candelo Public School | Gardening for a Sustainable Future |
Carenne School | Accessible Kitchen Garden |
Cargo Public School | Waste Reduction Project |
Carlton Public School | The Sustainable Veggie House |
Casuarina School | Growing Further |
Cessnock West Public School | Outdoor Education Spaces |
Chatham High School | Sustainable bush tucker and herb garden |
Chester Hill North Public School | Creating an Environmentally Friendly Garden Bed |
Concord High School | Sustainable Kitchen Garden |
Concord Public School | Concord Public School Food Garden |
Condell Park High School | Green Force |
Condell Park Public School | Bulbuwul Bush Tucker Garden |
Connells Point Public School | Waste Warriors |
Cooranbong Public School | CPS Green Growers |
Corowa Public School | Worms, Waste, Water and Wicking |
Corrimal High School | Sustainable practices: Eco Hub |
Culcairn Public School | Culcairn Energy Savers |
Cumnock Public School | Cumnock Garden Co-op |
Dapto High School | Yuannga 'Path' - Small bird habitat/Corridor |
Darlington Point Public School | Darlington Point Energy Savers |
Deniliquin High School | Sustainability 2.1 |
Deniliquin North Public School | Cultural and Environmental Sustainability Through An Outdoors Learning & Meeting Space |
Dorroughby Environmental Education Centre | Pocket Big Scrub Forest Project |
Duranbah Public School | Conserve 2 Preserve |
Eden Marine High School | Kitchen & Bush Tucker Garden with Rainwater Harvesting System |
Edgeworth Heights Public School | A Mindful Sensory Labyrinth |
Edward Public School | Environmental Stewardship of our Lagoon |
Elanora Heights Public School | The Bush Tracks |
Elderslie High School | Water Saving Vegetable Production |
Elizabeth Macarthur High School | Lizzy Mac Food Bowl |
Emu Plains Public School | Sensory Garden and Sustainability Project |
Endeavour Sports High School | Endeavour Community Garden |
Erina High School | Erina Sustainable Living |
Ermington Public School | Wallumai Nanga Mai Project (Snapper Dreaming Project) |
Ettalong Public School | Native Cultural Garden |
Eugowra Public School | Peck, Play & Preserve |
Eureka Public School | Eureka ReForesters |
Fairy Meadow Demonstration School | Bringing the classroom to the Meadow |
Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre | Aquatic Learning Space |
Franklin Public School | Energy Experts at Franklin Public School |
Georges Hall Public School | Georges River Catchment Water Quality Citizen Science Project |
Glen Innes High School | "Growing Together" Indigenous Edible Kitchen Garden |
Glenroy Public School | Glenroy Public School Well-being Garden (Stage 2- Local Indigenous Garden) |
Goolma Public | Who Eats the Habitat? |
Gooloogong Public School | Yarning circle project |
Grafton High School | Year 12 Green Space |
Gravesend Public School | Community Garden and Kitchen Expansion, Bush Tucker |
Greenwich Public School | Sustainable Future Project |
Gundagai Public School | Gundagai Garden Growers |
Hamilton Public School | Blue gate garden |
Harwood Island Public School | HIPS Sensory Garden |
Hay Public School | Waterwise at Hay Public School |
Heathcote High School | Aquaponics |
Herons Creek Public School | Reduce Reuse Recycle |
Homebush Boys High School | HBHS EnviroMen Reduce, Reuse & Recycle Project |
Hunters Hill High School | Connect and Sustain |
Hurlstone Agricultural High | ENVIRO - Sustainable Schools Grant (Waste Disposal) |
Huskisson Public School | The Outdoor Classroom |
Illabo Public School | Caring for our Environment at IPS |
Ingleburn Public School | Sustainable Kitchen Garden |
James Cook Boys’ Technology High School | James Cook Ever Green 2021 and beyond Project |
John Palmer Public School | Jinnawi (for me for you) Indigenous Garden |
Junee High School | Tree Lot, Drought Proofing and fence rehabilitation |
Kahibah Public School | Kahibah School Community Garden |
Keiraville Public School | Bee Curious |
Killara Public School | Waste Busters Environment Club: waste reduction through composting and worm farming |
Kings Langley Public School | KLPS Sustainability Project |
Kurmond Public School | Kurmond's War on Waste! |
Kurrajong North Public School | Wellbeing through connection and sustainability |
Ladysmith Public School | Sustainable Farms, Sustainable Students |
Lake Illawarra High School | Gardening / Eco-Sport |
Lambton High School | Farm Your Food (Sustainable Garden) |
Lavington Public School | Paddock to Lunchbox – A whole school approach to reducing waste in our school and community |
Lismore South Public School | Living Things |
Liverpool Public School | Liverpool Public School Georges River Catchment Water Quality Citizen Science Project. |
Lockhart Central School | FOGO and Beyond |
Lowesdale Public School | Joining Forces for Sustainable Farming |
Macquarie Fields High School | Macquarie Fields High School Upper Georges River Catchment platypus citizen science project |
Maroubra Bay Public School | Water Wise Warriors |
Maroubra Junction Public School | Connection to Land |
Marulan Public School | Growing together. Sustainability in School. |
Mascot Public School | Native Beehives |
Menai Public School | Watching the World Go Round - Community Garden & Waste Reduction |
Merewether High School | MHS Native Nursery & Bush Tucker Garden |
Metella Road Public School | MRPS Chooks, Cooks and Produce |
Mimosa Public School | No Planet B |
Miranda North Public School | War on Waste |
Moama Public School | Our Biodiversity Sustainability Action Plan |
Model Farms High School | Water Me Down |
Moorland Public School | Sustainable savings |
Morpeth Public School | Operation Sustain and Maintain |
Mosman High School | Leaf It To Me |
Mount Warrigal Public School/Pre-school | Bee-ing Green |
Mowbray Public School | Native Bush Tucker Garden |
Murrumbidgee Regional High School - Griffith Site | Bust the Dust Sustainable Native Corridor |
Narooma High School | Bagan Project (Yuin Dhurga Language for - “Ground Project”) |
Newrybar Public School | Improving Resource Efficiency - Water Saving Plan |
Newtown High School of the Performing Arts | NHSPA Urban Food Forest |
Norfolk Island Central School | Little Isle of Big Change |
Orama Public School | Our River Our Future |
Oxley Park Public School | LEAPscape to Learn Sensory Garden |
Padstow Park Public School | Native gardens and outdoor learning space |
Palinyewah Public School | Reduce, Re-use and Recycle at Palinyewah |
Pennant Hills High School | Growing Hydroponically |
Pennant Hills Public School | Native Nibbles - Edible Garden |
Penrith South Public School | Chickens In Our School |
Picnic Point Public School | Minimbah - A sustainable place for learning |
Pitt Town Public School | Pitt Town Public School's Sustainability Project |
Pomona Public School | Sustainable Food and Fibre at Pomona Public School |
Pooncarie Public School | The story about understorey at Pooncarie |
Punchbowl Public School | Greening Our Punchbowl Life |
Quirindi Public School | QPS Eco Rangers |
Rand Public School | Rand becomes recyclable and reusable aware |
Randwick Public School | Recycle Smart |
Red Hill Environmental Education Centre | Central Western Eco-Schools in Action Project |
Red Hill Public School | Eco Kids |
Repton Public School | Garden Gurus |
Rosemeadow Public School | Rosie's recycled garden classroom |
Rumbalara Environmental Education Centre | BrightSparks |
Russell Vale Public School | Russell Vale Permaculture Garden |
Sandon Public School | Talking Trash |
Sandy Beach Public School | Bush Tucker Garden and Yarning circle; Cooking learning space |
Seaforth Public School | For The Sea For The Future - a new waste initiative for Seaforth Public School |
South Coogee Public School | South Coogee’s Green Stepping Stones |
Southern Cross School of Distance Education | Aboriginal & Alternate Learning - Community Welcome Garden |
Spring Farm Public School | Sustainable Spring Farm |
Springwood High School NSW | Dtiatti Dreaming Circle |
Sutton Public School | Mindfulness and Melaleucas |
Sylvania High School | Sustainability' to the power of 2 |
Tarcutta Public School | Sustainable School, Sustainable Farms |
Tarro Public School | Beekeeping increase pollinators |
Tathra Public School | Tathra Public School: Growing Hub |
Terranora Public School | Deranora Bugal Bush Garden |
Terrigal Public School | The Green Scene |
The Rivers Secondary College - Richmond River High Campus | Sustainable Farming in the 21st Century |
The Rock Central School | Little Steps Reducing "The Rocks" Carbon Footprint |
Tuggerah Lakes Secondary Campus Berkeley Vale Campus | BVC Food Oasis |
Ulong Public School | Don't Worry Bee Happy |
Urana Public School | Joining Forces for Sustainable Farming |
Uranquinty PS | Energy Warriors |
Verona School | Sustainable Sensory Garden |
Wadalba Community School | Wadalba Wildlife Warriors |
Walbundrie Public School | Students to Sustainable farmers |
Walla Walla Public School | Walla Walla Wildlife |
Wambangalang Environmental Education Centre | Googar Berm Garden |
Warialda High School | Place of Wild Honey Water Sustainable Garden |
Warrawong Intensive English Centre/ Warrawong High School | Propagating Seeds of Change/Sustainability Hothouse |
Wentworth Public School | Biodiversity Conservation at Wentworth |
Wideview Public School | STEM Garden |
Wiley Park Girls High School | Student Garden of Reflection |
Willoughby Public School | Willoughby Waste Warriors |
Windsor High School | Aquaponics Awareness |
Winmalee Public School | Bush Tucker and Community Garden |
Wiripaang Public School | Bee Real About Sustainability |
Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts | Don't Waste It |
Woodport Public School | Woodport's Waste Busters |
Woolomin Public School | Woolomin Waste to Waist Warriors |
Woy Woy Public School (inc. Guliyali Pre-School). | Woy Woy Public School Sustainable Aquaponics Project |
Yarrawarrah Public School | YPS Eco Warriors |
Young Public School | Native nursery for local habitat |
How do I apply for the Sustainable Schools Grants?
Applications for the second round of Sustainable School Grants have closed. Round 3 will open in Term 4, 2021.
Where can I find guidelines to apply for Sustainable School Grants?
The Round 2 Guidelines can be found on the School Infrastructure NSW intranet.
Who is eligible to apply for the Sustainable Schools Grants?
All 2,200+ NSW public schools including Environmental Education Centres and 99 NSW Department of Education preschools are eligible to apply.
Non-government schools and preschools not owned and operated by the NSW Department of Education are ineligible to apply.
How much can my school or preschool apply for?
All schools and preschools can apply for up to $15,000 for their school sustainability projects. Schools can only receive one grant over the four rounds regardless of the amount.
How much funding is available for the Sustainable Schools Grants?
Over the four year program, $2.4 million has been allocated each year to eligible projects.
How will project funding be allocated to applicants?
Grant funding is merit-based and applications will be evaluated for compliance and then scored against merit criteria, with highest ranked projects receiving grants.
Can my school or preschool apply more than once for funding?
Schools that miss out on a grant in one round are eligible to apply for subsequent rounds of funding in future years.
Schools and preschools can only submit one application in each round of grant funding and can only receive one Sustainable Schools Grant over the four year program.
When will my school or preschool be informed if they are successful in receiving the grant?
The recipients of the Sustainable School Grants for both Rounds 1 and 2 have been announced.
View the list at the 'Grants recipients' tab at the top of the page.