This partnership program between Greening Australia and Zoos Victoria has been developed to support schools to complete the Biodiversity module in the ResourceSmart Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative - Victoria (AuSSI Vic).

The program has been designed to enable schools to complete actions under each of the key areas: curriculum; school grounds; whole school engagement; and community links to achieve certification for completion of the Biodiversity module.

Program overview
The Biodiversity in Your School program offers schools a three part package that will:
• connect students to the biodiversity that exists within their school grounds and local area
• develop deeper understandings of the importance of maintaining and enhancing biodiversity
• inspire and facilitate on-going action to create and maintain habitats that are diverse and rich in indigenous species

Zoos Victoria provides a visit to Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary or Werribee Open Range Zoo to inspire and engage students and teachers (with full curriculum support). Greening Australia provides access to community links and on-ground action.

The full program includes:
• a habitat survey and biodiversity action plan for your school grounds
• student fieldwork at the zoo and school through the use of a habitat assessment tool
• selecting and researching a school animal icon
• engaging the whole school through teacher professional learning
• links to local community groups to extend the learning into the community.

Our trained AuSSI Vic facilitators will support you on your biodiversity journey and can be contacted on numbers below:

Biodiversity in Your School at Melbourne Zoo
explore the biodiversity of inner city areas through the habitat assessment tool and discover the native wildlife that call these habitats home. 
Contact Andrew Eadon on 9285 9468 or aeadon@zoo.org.au
 

Biodiversity in Your School at Healesville Sanctuary
Explore the biodiversity of the bushland environment through the habitat assessment tool and discover the native wildlife that call these habitats home.
Teachers notes (pdf)  Student trail (pdf) 
Contact: Janine McCoy on 5957 2859 or jmccoy@zoo.org.au

Biodiversity in Your School at Werribee Open Range Zoo
Explore the biodiversity of the grassland environment through the habitat assessment tool and discover the native wildlife that call this habitat home.
Teacher Notes (pdf)   Student Trail (pdf) 
Contact Michelle Howard on 9731 9630 or mhoward@zoo.org.au

To gain the most out of Biodiversity in Your School, it is recommended that the program be undertaken when the school has a commitment to completing a Sustainability and Environment Management Plan (SEMP) as part of the Core Module of AuSSI, Vic.