Acknowledgement of Country

We respect and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on this land and commit to building a brighter future together.

Kreative Koalas uses art and multimedia as a vehicle to inspire young people to investigate and reflect on global sustainability issues and act at a local level.

The program encourages students and teachers to have courageous conversations around the following United Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

click on the SDG icons below to access the resources
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The program provides the opportunity for students to be part of a team that welcomes their ideas and solutions and empowers them to act on these challenges as the future decision makers for the planet.

Get involved

Kreative Koalas is an action learning program which engages primary and secondary school students in sustainability awareness, understanding and action through art, design, creativity, teamwork and project development by:

  • Providing a blank fibreglass koala for students to create an artwork on or to use as the subject of an artwork which focuses on a sustainability theme.
  • Pairing each school with a Community Champion who will share their journey and engage with the students for the duration of the project.
  • Connecting experts in the community who hold the knowledge, wisdom and experience to assist the students to learn about local projects which are already addressing Australia’s Sustainable Development Goals commitment.
  • Supporting and empowering young people to co-create a project that they design, own and deliver either in-school or out in the community with their intergenerational mentors.
  • Providing a vehicle for students to communicate what they learn in fun and creative ways to a broader online audience and their local community.
  • Supplying a resource kit with curricular connections.
  • Supplying Matisse paints.

Kreative Koalas is a successful addition to the learning program for students that meets the needs of the curriculum and enhances classroom engagement. The public works of art created by students aim to educate, inspire and lead change in the community to address local sustainability issues.

“I love the student engagement. I love seeing the students come alive when they realise they have a voice and they can make a difference. I love to see the students take ownership of the project and I love to see the impact they can have and the reactions from the local community.”

Primary School teacher

Learning experiences and program outcomes

By linking local schools to local community experts, Kreative Koalas aims to encourage intergenerational connection and greater awareness of existing long-term sustainability projects.

    Activities may include:
  • School tree plantings
  • Weed eradication days
  • Guided bush walking tours to learn about native flora and fauna
  • Geocaching activities with Landcare groups
  • Creating signage for local projects
  • Helping with monitoring
  • School recycling and sustainability projects
  • Marine debris awareness and community activities
  • Workshops run by young people for other young people to raise awareness about sustainability issues

By inviting young people to co-design and drive projects in their school and community, the program empowers them to make decisions, lead, and act on sustainability issues they have identified.

    Skills and knowledge gained by students:
  • Online communication
  • Team building and collaboration
  • Greater awareness of global and local sustainability issues
  • Identify and embrace their personal values
  • Explore and act on community issues that concern them
  • Forge community partnerships with local groups that share their interests and concerns
  • Project design, development and delivery
  • Leadership in the community
  • Networking and communication
  • How to be a good global citizen

JUST LIKE GRETA WE CAN ALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
We respect and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on this land and commit to building a brighter future together.