See it, shoot it, bloom it! Ecosystem Bloom works as a fun and interactive way for teenagers and adults to grow a passion for sustainability.
Users of this gamified app would be rewarded for taking photos of plant life through an ever-growing virtual garden, which can also be expanded upon by disposing of rubbish into an electronically connected bin. With every seed collected, the user can cash them in by value towards various charitable organisations.
To begin imbuing young people with this passion for sustainability, the team behind Ecosystem Bloom would run a scavenger hunt in primary schools with a similar botanical focus, with students exploring and identifying native flora and fauna as given to them via worksheet. To embed this information and the positive experiences it brings, students would be quizzed on what they’ve learned.
Farmers are the backbone of Australians’ kitchens across the country, yet are routinely deprived of the recognition they deserve. The Farmers Code looks to change this, by providing QR codes on supermarket products to inform consumers on the origins and real work that has been put into what they’re buying, educating and raising public awareness on the importance of Australian farmers.
Beginning with a small-scale experiment, this team hopes to jumpstart their initiative with a single apple orchard and fruit shop. They would put together a video of the work being put in, and use this to spread awareness and raise money for their idea.
As an individual, attempts at environmental growth can feel extremely overwhelming in the face of mass deforestation and global environmental issues. Enter: Seed Shot – a planter that supports individuals and communities through sustainable growth.
The team will plant the seeds of botanical passion in local youth by helping Primary school students to build and cultivate their own veggie garden. They aim to be assisted by an environmental team to set the students up for success as their garden continues to grow and thrive.
An astounding number of people struggle to afford period products every day. Reusable menstrual products not only lessen the monthly financial burden that comes with disposable pads and tampons, but are significantly better for our environment. The Cleaner Pad is a self cleaning reusable pad, utilising heat drying, anti-bacterial layers, and inbuilt UV-light storage for sanitation. This product aims to bring solace to those struggling to access period products or the clean water required to wash other reusable menstrual products.
This team will run a local sewing class, teaching and encouraging participants to make sustainable pads to be donated to those in need. They would emphasise the benefits of sustainable period products, and work with women’s centres as well as textiles teachers for their initiative.
This new reusable bottle system would introduce stainless steel drink bottles that can be refilled at supermarkets with a variety of drinks, such as water, milk, or juice.
This initiative aims to reduce the waste these beverages produce when sold in plastic packaging – protecting the environment, one refill at a time.
The team would kickstart their initiative through a rubbish collection competition between local primary schools, with the school having collected the most rubbish being rewarded for their sustainability efforts.
The DeskoBot is a student’s mentor, study buddy, and friend, all in one! It can assist with marking homework and creating interactive study tools, such as quizzes. Equipped with a printer, scanner, fun colour changing technology, and its own name, the Deskobot aims to make learning more fun for kids of all ages.
As a trial, the team will design and make a boardgame of the same idea. Named QuizBot, players race through boxes on the game’s board. Whoever performs best at the respective quizzes is deemed the winner!
Have you ever been bitten by a snake?! We certainly haven’t and yet so many of us are scared! It’s time to educate people about the predominantly unfounded fears they often associate with ‘dangerous’ animals.
The team are creating a podcast that teaches people about the benefits animals like sharks, snakes and spiders create within our ecosystem. They may not be soft and snuggly, but these critters matter and deserve our respect.
To trial this idea, the team will create a 15-minute pilot episode. This will involve an interview with a wildlife expert. If successful, they will use feedback to grow their podcast into a series and generate sponsors to provide ongoing support.
Single use plastic is a massive issue. Period. To combat this challenge, we give you… Paper Seed Bags. These compostable fruit and veggie bags solve the issue of single-use plastic bags in supermarkets – with an extra sustainable twist. The bags have seeds embedded in the paper, so the biodegradable bags can literally be planted in the garden (or placed in the compost).
As they break down, the seeds will germinate and grow into fruit and veggie plants. With this idea, the team won the inaugural Alfredton Rotary Environmental Challenge! They have received a $400 prize and mentorship to support the launch of their idea.
To trial their idea, this team is creating a prototype and testing it at Ryan’s IGA.
Learning styles vary from student to student, so why doesn’t the curriculum offer the same flexibility? Additionally, too many students are finishing school without essential life skills. Enter MCLS Classes. MCLS Classes create the opportunity for students to select course material they are interested in, with a focus on real-world practical application. Looking for a part time job? Why not get certified as a barista? Each class will be customisable, so course work is delivered in a format that caters to a range of learning styles.
To trial this idea, the team is collaborating with Ballarat Grammar to develop a micro-credentials and life skills program for Year 9 students to be launched in 2022. Here, for one period a week, Year 9 students can select from a range of subjects like financial literacy, cooking, job skills, etc.
