Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Brands Commited to Quality Education
Latest Quality Education Brand Actions
One Earth Climate Change Research Centre, Nawalapitiya
The One Earth Climate Change Research Center – Nawalapitiya is the first-ever Climate Change Research Station by the private sector in Sri Lanka, established at Dilmah Tea’s Queensbury Estate in Nawalapitiya. • Recent collaboration with renowned experts across the South Asian region in a groundbreaking international research study to find a solution for the global nitrogen waste crisis. • Since opening in 2017 the center has facilitated 3 global, and 17 local research and 3 international workshops. • The centre is also the main research hub for the Bee A Keeper project. • Introduction of camera traps to monitor the biodiversity of fauna.
Evidence
Wetland Conservation
Wetland Conservation efforts include a public-private partnership with the Sri Lanka Urban Development Authority (UDA) aimed at enhancing conservation efforts for the Beddagana Wetland Park, a crucial ecosystem. Programme objectives are to raise awareness about the significance of wetlands, and foster visitor engagement through regular park maintenance and expert-led educational programs. Additionally, 450+ individuals including both locals and foreigners, were educated on wetland conservation through wetland excursions.
Butterfly Garden at One Earth Centre, Moratuwa
Dilmah Conservation’s urban open-air Butterfly Garden is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka. Since its construction in October 2011, it has provided a safe haven for a growing list of butterfly species. Through the butterfly garden, Dilmah Conservation also conducts numerous education and awareness programmes.
Supporting Elephant Conservation
Dilmah Conservation supports elephant conservation by supporting the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe, sponsoring the care of a baby elephant, and spreading awareness on elephants and their importance. To date, we have sponsored the care of 4 baby elephants: Amaya, Ted, Baby Dilmah and Dilly. Also, through awareness raising sessions, to-date 190 individuals have been educated about elephant conservation.
Elephant Knowledge Walk, Udawalawe
Elephant Knowledge Walk, an information centre, relaunched in March 2024 in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife Conservation offers visitors a more visually immersive and comprehensive learning experience. Visitors can explore various aspects of elephant life, including their evolution, anatomy, ecology, and cultural significance, through a combination of statistics, images, and infographics. A dedicated section addresses the critical issue of human-elephant conflict (HEC), aiming to shift public perceptions and foster conservation efforts. Additionally, the centre now features an anatomy laboratory for close-up examination of specimens and a children's activity area, designed to provide age-appropriate educational activities and engagement opportunities.
Marine Conservation
Dilmah sponsored the World Oceans Day exhibition at One Galle Face mall on 10th and 11th June 2023 - an event organised to highlight some of the critical challenges facing the marine environment due to anthropological effects. The workshops were accompanied with 2 beach clean-up programmes in Kalkudah.
One Earth Centre, Moratuwa
The “One Earth Centre” in Moratuwa offers a range of educational resources dedicated to sustainable agriculture and conservation. The centre is also home to Dilmah Conservation’s One Earth Urban Arboretum, Butterfly Garden, Heritage Corner, Medicinal Plant Garden, Traditional Yam Plot, Recycling Unit, Sustainable Agricultural Farm and Hydroponic Unit. The One Earth Urban Arboretum, housing over 500 tree and plant species, serves as a green oasis and educational space, promoting biodiversity conservation.
One Earth Centre, Kalkudah
The One Earth Centre in Kalkudah extends Dilmah Conservation's initiatives into Eastern Sri Lanka. This centre is aligned with Dilmah Conservation’s regional objectives of enhancing livelihood opportunities and building climate resilience among communities through the introduction of innovative, sustainable and climate smart practices in agriculture and animal husbandry along with comprehensive livelihood support and ecosystem restoration efforts. Similar to the Moratuwa facility, the Kalkudah complex also contains a One Earth Urban Arboretum as well as an organic fruit and vegetable model farm and a model coconut farm.
One Earth Field Station, Endane
This Centre promotes nature-based agriculture, where tea plants are uprooted to facilitate restoration of a depleted ecosystem. Apart from this direct activity, the centre has adopted a multi-stakeholder approach to further strengthen restoration efforts. The centre also provides opportunities for local community members to gain a deeper understating of sustainability principles by getting involved in various activities such as nursery management, organic farming, and beekeeping.
Genesis - A centre for Sustainability
Dilmah launched Genesis, the Dilmah Centre for a Sustainable Future, located at 52 Maligawatte Road. This facility represents the evolution of the premises where Dilmah was first tasted, selected, packed, and exported. Genesis is equipped with the necessary amenities to help agri or nature-based entrepreneurs and agritech startups build their businesses from the ground up. As a collaborative platform, Genesis facilitates knowledge sharing, discussion, inspiration, and communication. The Centre aims to grow awareness of the importance of nature, its value, and ecosystem services. This is achieved by harnessing the knowledge and commitment of academia and scientists, alongside the ability and network of businesses and policymakers. Moreover, Genesis directly nurtures sustainable agricultural entrepreneurship, promoting better social, economic, and gender equality. 25 individuals have been benefitted thus far, through all projects done under Genesis.
SustainAble Climate Action Challenge
An island-wide competition collaborating with European Union aimed to encourage responsible behavior and promote sustainable consumption patterns of plastic, focusing on reducing plastic at the source, upcycling plastic, and recycling.
Dilmah Publications
Dilmah Conservation’s focus towards education and awareness, has resulted in 15 extensively researched publications - broadly classified into field guides on Sri Lanka’s flora and fauna, and books on culture and heritage, Ayurveda, and organic home gardening.
Womens' Development Programme
The Women’s Development Program (WDP) was established to empower marginalised women and young girls with skills development and entrepreneurship training. The WDP is active across Sri Lanka at the Moratuwa, Kalkudah and Weligama Centers empowering 1400+ women with vocational skills to pursue their goals.
Empower IT Lab
The Dilmah Empower IT Lab was inaugurated in 2024 within our factory premises at the Head Office. This stateof-the-art facility is exclusively dedicated to providing our factory associates with the resources and opportunities to pursue professional IT courses in alignment with National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) guidelines.
MJF Kids Programme
3500 boys and girls from less fortunate plantation and rural communities are strengthened with educational support through the MJF Kids program. The MJF Kids Programme provides underprivileged children from low income families in 8 locations across Sri Lanka, with education, life skills/vocational training required to overcome the challenges faced by them due to extreme poverty and ensuing social issues. This year, 1369 young boys and girls from less privileged, plantation and rural communities are supported with scholarship programs and educational support.
Vocational Training Programme
Vocational training provided for nearly 7,000 youth in carpentry, dress making, IT and graphics. In their efforts to inspire female youth entrepreneurs, the MJF Center, Kalkudah launched a beauty culture program for young women. In just 6 months, the course has graduated 25 young women who are makeup artists and salon owners. Their new Aari work embroidery and needlework course has also graduated 60 young women with the skills to become professional designers and seamstresses.
The Curtiss Institute of Design Technology program
The Curtiss Institute of Design Technology program is a part of the MJF Charitable Foundation Moratuwa and Kalkudah Centers. It is an IT skills training program that fulfils all national competency standards of the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC). Over 6000 youth and adults have benefited from the courses offered in IT and graphic design.
Empowering Plantation Community
Meeting the needs & demands of a resident population of 155,000 in the plantation community through updated infrastructure and facilities. 131 young beneficiaries supported through Scholarships; 88 university undergraduates, 32 of our beneficiaries are university graduates. Gifting of a passbook savings account to over 40 newborns of plantation employees.
i=Change Partnership
In 2022, Enbacci partnered with i=Change. An organisation that helps e-commerce businesses support a range of local or global projects. A minimum of $1 from every online purchase is donated towards one of three projects of the brands choice. The three projects we support are Empower with Literacy, Protect a Woman and Clean the Seas. Through just these three projects, we are supporting a number of the UN sustainability development goals.
Empower with Literacy
Through our partnership with i=Change, Enbacci supports the Empower with Literacy project. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children continue to fall through the cracks of our education system, trapping them in a cycle of vulnerability and illiteracy. This devastating gap is particularly evident in remote Indigenous communities, where the writing abilities of year 9 students are at year 1 level. If not addressed in the early years, this issue continues into adulthood. In remote areas, up to 70% of Aboriginal adults are ‘functionally illiterate’. This is a national tragedy. We believe literacy is freedom; to take control of your life, be informed, have a voice, stand up for your rights, resist exploitation, be self-confident and self-reliant. Literacy unlocks the door to learning and a world of endless possibilities. The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation is transforming lives through community-driven, ground-breaking and best practice literacy programs. Working in English and Indigenous First Languages, ALNF is committed to creating sustainable, long-term change. $12 pays for a day of specialised literacy support in an Indigenous community.
B Corp Certified
B Corp Certification confirmed that our community and the environment are stakeholders in our impact-driven business model and our commitment to balancing social and planetary good in everything we do against the highest standards of transparency and accountability. We are now part of a global network of businesses shifting our global economy from a system that profits few to one that benefits all.
Evidence
One-for-one Underwear Donation
We believe that access to clean, new underwear is a fundamental human right, essential for maintaining dignity. Sadly, underwear poverty exists in Australia, and we are committed to addressing this through our one-for-one program—donating a pair of underwear for every item sold. We are incredibly proud of the impact our one-for-one campaign has made. And it became even more powerful on day when we discovered surplus elastic destined for landfill at one of our factories. Now, we utilise deadstock materials like leftover elastic and fabric from other orders to produce the underwear we donate, each pair unique. Our relationship with the factory producing our donation underwear spans over a decade, built on mutual trust and a commitment to sustainability. They consistently use BCI and organic cotton and non-toxic Oeko-Tex certified dyes to ensure the fabrics are safe. We donate to Aboriginal Health Centres, women's shelters, and homelessness charities.
'Shop for your Grandkids' Campaign
In 2021, Urban Ethos launched a campaign to encourage all Aussies to do their bit before the world ‘turns into a junkyard’. The company’s mission is to ‘Change Consumer Habits’ by providing various products that enhance the choices we make to waste less and be more environmentally conscious. With this in mind, Urban Ethos has encouraged us to ‘Shop for your Grandkids’. The organisation collaborated with volunteer students from Ripponlea Primary School to create a video that aimed to educate the primary grocery buyer on how their shopping habits impact the younger generation, and beyond. You can check out the video on the profile.
The Family Bond by Volvo Cars - Equal global parental leave for all
The Family Bond by Volvo Cars is our all-gender global paid parental leave policy – with this, we give all Volvo Cars employees with at least one year's service 24 weeks of parental leave at 80 per cent of their base pay by default. This global policy applies to either parent and is suited for a diverse variety of family types, as it includes adoptive, foster care and surrogate parents, as well as non-birth parents in same-sex couples. Learn more about The Family Bond at https://www.volvocars.com/au/about/family-bond/
Targeting Net Zero by 2025
We are on track to reach Net Zero by 2025. We are now Net Zero for our Scope 1 and 2 emissions (achieved through applying energy efficiency strategies, 100% accredited green power and electric vehicle charged off 100% accredited green power). Currently working through reducing our scope 3 emissions where possible noting that we are a small business and our influence on large companies is minimal. Actions undertaken to date are listed sepately below, we will be transitioning our telecoms to a carbon neutral provider during FY 2025 which is the last thing at this stage we think we can do. Saying that, we will continue to seek new ways to reduce emissions on an ongoing basis.
Evidence
Actions to achieve Net Zero and reduce emissions
Green Moves has been working on reducing emissions since 2019, to date we have: > Upgraded all equipment to highly efficient type (eg LED lighting, laptop computers, high energy star rated screens, small efficient printer). > Upgraded our heating / cooling to high efficiency reverse cycle unit. > We turn everything off when not in use. > We do not print anything unless we have to and minimise paper use. Now using less than 1 ream of certified carbon-neutral paper per year. > All our team work from home offices, so no staff commute. > Any required business travel is done as sustainably as possible (ie using company EV or public transport) > If and when we need air travel, flights are carbon offset through reputable certified carbon-neutral products and services. > We've minimised our waste by reducing waste in the office, using reusable cups and utensils, and recycling everything we can. We currently have 6 waste streams that are properly recycled. > Although we're a small business we are asking our key suppliers for their sustainability credentials. > Our main subcontractors' emissions are measured and now included in our Carbon Inventory and certification. All use 100% accredited green power, and three of four drive EVs when working for Green Moves.
Certified B Corporation since 2015
Green Moves was one of the founding B Corp members in Australia and has maintained certification. We are currently in the process of recertifying for 2024. You can see details of our certification here https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/find-a-b-corp/company/green-moves-australia/
Community Pro Bono work
We regularly volunteer our services and eduction sessions through varous community groups including RePower Mornington, Village Zero Sandringham, Bayside Climate Crisis Action Group and Electrify Boroondara to name a few. Over the past 2 years we have participated on 3 panels, presented 9 webinars, held 4 face to face sessions and provided free advice and guidance. On average we deliver over 10 free sessions a year to the public.
Industry-based Pro Bono work
Since our inception Green Moves has volunteered significant time to industry and government panels and committees providing experienced advice and guidance on residential, commercial and industry education for the sectors. Past involvement includes participating in the national training skills panel to update assessor industry education qualifications and input into government residential efficiency rating tool development and trials. We are currently working with the Residential Energy Efficiency Disclosure Initiative (REEDI), a Commonwealth government committee operating since 2022, focused on bringing suitable policies and tools to the market to facilitate disclosure of residential property energy efficiency and providing feedback into the NatHERs Existing Home tool development, accreditation training and skill set requirements.
Educating small businesses on energy efficiency
Green Moves has provided several business community energy efficiency education sessions to help small and medium businesses to identify simple ways to reduce energy consumption, waste and save on energy costs. In May 2024 we presented an event tailored for businesses in Melbourne's western suburbs which was hosted by Western Alliance for Greenhouse Action (WAGA). There are more sessions scheduled for later in 2024.
Community Energy Hero Training
Green Moves provided training and education to a team of over 20 local community members to become local Energy Heros in Mornington Peninsula. Energy Heros are local people who, with this training, can help point other community members in the right direction when it comes to sustainable practices, energy efficiency and renovations in their homes.
Supporting Electrify Boroondara
Green Moves attended and participated in a discussion panel at this hugely successful expo in 2023. The expo, held at the Hawthorn Arts Centre, reached over 1200 attendees interested in electrification and energy efficiency within the Boroondara community. Attendees learned about electrifying their homes, could test an eBike and discovered more about electric vehicles. Green Moves spent the day providing free advice and guidance to attendees. This was followed up with a presentation where we presented on 'Easy and affordable ways to reduce your energy bills'. We will continue to support Electrify Boroondara into the future.
Carried out fully-funded energy assessments for local SMEs in Bayside
We recently partnered with Village Zero and Bayside City Council offering five grant funded energy assessments to local businesses in the area. The assessments identified tailored and simple energy saving opportunities to assist them to reducing their business' energy costs in practical ways. We helped these businesses reduce energy bills by an overall average of 38% with some very simple, and often no cost, changes.
Presented at the Bayside Home Energy Efficiency Expo 2023
Green Moves was invited to this expo as a keynote presenter and to participate in sessions that were running during the expo. We shared information with over 500 residents in the Bayside community. Attendees wanted to learn about sustainability topics including climate action, reducing energy bills, getting off gas, solar and batteries, and electric vehicles.
Collaborated with Moonee Valley City Council to provide funded solar site assessments for local businesses
Local businesses and commercial landlords in Moonee Valley had the opportunity to get independent advice on the benefits of solar, including a solar site assessment with solar quotes organised by Green Moves. This was in partnership with the Moonee Valley City Council during the 2024 financial year.
Presented 'A Home For All Seasons' at Red Hill in collaboration with Repower Mornington Peninsula
In July and November 2024, Green Moves was invited to present to the local community at Red Hill. Our presentation focussed on how to make your home more energy efficient and comfortable for all seasons. This was in collaboration with Repower Mornington Peninsula, who organised the event and was the latest of several free events we have delivered for this community group over the past 2 years.
Partner with Village Zero to maximise our collaborative impact on sustainability
We volunteer and have partnered with Village Zero, an association of a passionate group of locals in Sandringham working together to address climate change. Our collaborative efforts mean we can maximise our impact in reaching and engaging householders and businesses in the local community. We regularly provide education, advice, and services for government grant funded services. We presented at the Village Zeros launch event aiming to help local Sandringham businesses and households learn how to reduce emissions. This event had approximately 50 attendees.
'Introduction to solar and batteries' workshop
We ran this 2-hour workshop to a full house of attendees in August 2024 at the Eco Living Display Centre on the Mornington Peninsula. The workshop covered the basics of selecting a solar and/or battery system that works for you. Green Moves shared our knowledge and expertise in the workshop with the local community.
'How to create a healthy home' webinar
In August 2023, Green Moves was invited by the Mornington City Council to present 1.5-hour webinar on how to create a healthy home. The webinar aimed to educate, engage and inspire members of the community to create healthier, more energy-efficient and comfortable homes.
Co-authored 'The Smart Living Handbook'
Green Moves Founder, Danielle King, co-authored The Smart Living Handbook: Creating a healthy home in an increasingly toxic world. You’ll discover how to create a beautiful home for your family that’s functional, energy-efficient and supports good health. Great if you’re renovating or building, a parent or expecting a baby, suffering from asthma, allergies or poor health, and wanting to create a healthy lifestyle. The book is available on Amazon.
Contributing to news, podcasts, media articles over the years
Since 2009, Green Moves has been and continues to contribute to green building and energy efficiency articles for The Age, ReNew and Sanctuary magazines, Street News, and other local and national publications including the news, as requested. We contribute to the media so that we can continue to raise awareness and share our knowledge with our communities through various channels.
Member of Design Matters National
As a member, Green Moves participates in industry representation panels with state and federal bodies. We share our expertise in sustainable, environmental and energy-efficient design and assessments in the residential sector. Over the past two years, we have been working with Design Matters National and NatHERS teams, providing them with feedback for the upcoming NatHERS 'Whole of Home' and 'Exisiting Home' energy rating scheme changes. Design Matter National is the peak body for the building design profession and is the Assessor Accrediting Organisation for NatHERS assessors.
Industry memberships
CitySwitch - CitySwitch is Australia's flagship decarbonisation program for office based businesses. Green Moves is an active member of CitySwitch since 2019, participating in events and supporting other members on their journey to reduce carbon emissions. Renew - Renew is a non-profit organisation workign to transform Australian homes for climate ane energy resilience. Green Moves is a long standing member and has contributed several articles to both Renew and Sanctuary magazines. Once of our most popular articles was 'Costing Comfort' outlining the issues around valuing green homes and some of the efforts to address them. ISSP - International Society of Sustainability Professionals - is the worlds leading network of sustainabilty professionals aiming to create change.
CDC We Care Fund
The CDC We Care Fund was established in 2020 with an initial investment of $250,000 to assist employees and members of our local communities affected by the bushfires. The Fund aims to support families with immediate housing and living needs, disaster relief efforts, as well as providing transport services to emergency service volunteers. The Fund was transitioned to funding long-term assistance and recovery in vulnerable communities, education efforts, as well as preventative measures in challenging situations from bushfires, pandemic or any disaster faced by our broader communities that we serve. It has since been used to assist employees and communities affected by severe storms, floods and other disasters.
Supporting Local Communities
Community engagement is a pillar that CDC invests in to benefit the local communities with the long-term goal of restoring respect for bus drivers. In line with this initiative, we have launched a school education program that aims to teach children about the importance of mutual respect and behaviour on public transport. By helping kids understand the importance of mutual respect, over time we hope to reduce the incidence of anti-social behaviour towards our drivers and commuters, creating safer public transport.
National after sales support
We recognise that providing reliable aftersales support is not only about product maintenance but also aligns with our sustainability objectives. Our nationwide JOST aftersales training sessions are dedicated to equipping repairers and fleets with the knowledge and skills to ensure the longevity and eco-friendly operation of their JOST products. In addition to our training programs, we offer a comprehensive range of sustainable service tools and gauges, meticulously designed to reduce environmental impact and promote component durability. From energy-efficient fifth wheel lifting aids to eco-friendly lock test tools and recyclable tow eyes gauges, JOST's sustainable tools not only simplify maintenance tasks but also minimise the carbon footprint, making operations both environmentally responsible and cost-effective.
Employee well-being
Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond environmental concerns; it encompasses the well-being and safety of our employees and stakeholders. We are focused on fostering a working environment where employees feel comfortable and can perform at their best through employee-centric sustainability practices. ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety): This achievement reflects our dedication to upholding the highest standards of occupational health and safety. ISO 45001 not only ensures a safe and healthy workplace but also contributes to a positive social impact and fosters a culture of respect and consideration for all. By prioritising the well-being of our workforce, we aim to reduce accidents and enhance employee satisfaction. Workplace safety: Continuously reducing the number of workplace accidents. In 2022, we reduced the number of occupational accidents per 200,000 production hours by 8.8 % to 3.39 compared to 3.72 in 2021. Employee turnover reduction: Reducing the employee turnover ratio. In 2022, we also reduced our employee turnover ratio by 3.4 percentage points year-on-year to 15.4 %. Human Rights Policy: Adopting a Human Rights Policy that enshrines a corporate culture of respect and consideration for all people in the company and business relationships. Access to education: To ensure that each employee has access to equal opportunities, we offer worldwide options that include apprenticeship and young talent management programs.
Local Store Donation Program
In 2018, we pioneered the Local Store Donation Program to connect the unsold brand new goods of retail stores with local Not for Profits and schools. Working with our partner Big W we connected with 183 stores with more than 300 not- for-profits and disadvantaged schools who received over 3M brand new items including toys, clothing, household and electrical goods. This program continues to grow and we have partnered with other big retail brands including Best & Less and Jeans West, connecting goods to local charities and schools where the retail staff work and live.
Business Member of 1% for the Planet
This is a global entity that exists to ensure our planet and future generations thrive. To date, 1% for the Planet has directed hundreds of millions of dollars to non profit organisations globally. These funds come from individuals and businesses that, like Pangolin, donate 1% of gross sales to support environmental organisations. Through 1% for the Planet Pangolin supports Bush Heritage Australia, Greenfleet Australia, African Pangolin Working Group, Climate Council of Australia, Australian Marine Conservation Society, Seed Indigenous Youth Climate Network, and HalfCut. As always, we also commit to ongoing environmental stewardship through our everyday actions and business practices.
Together Legal
Together legal is a legal program to take you from legal confusion to clarity. Law Team is committed to giving back to the community and that's why we have recently launched together legal where we hold free information sessions to our community. There’s an art to dreaming big. And we want to help you master it. Whether you’re a start-up or scale-up, home buyer or investor, Together Legal will give you the understanding and practical legal skills you need to protect your vision in bite-sized courses. Because law is the foundation that helps ideas grow. And when you know what you’re building is safe, you can dream bigger!
Proud partner of Bowel Cancer Lunch
Law Team is so excited to partner with Time is Precious and Bowel Cancer Australia to spread awareness and educate the community about bowel cancer in women. Did you know that around 47% of people diagnosed with bowel cancer are female? 1 in 15 Aussie women will develop bowel cancer in their life time. As a fully female business, Law Team is committed to providing support to other females in any way, shape or form that we can.
Health & Safety of the Users
Adhesives and sealants are the least visible part of the construction process, yet it can make a huge difference to our health and safety. The majority of polyurethane adhesives and sealants in the market contain Isocyanate – a toxic curing agent, which can negatively affect our health. Adhesives and sealants, containing Isocyanates, continuously diffuse toxic gas even years after the products have been used in the building process. As a result, they can dramatically worsen the indoor air quality and cause various health conditions, such as asthma, skin irritations and respiratory health disorders.
Sustainability
The AFA supports sustainable business practices encouraging its members to become more sustainable and move towards a more circular approach to product development. The AFA supports third-party certification and product stewardship with all AFA listed members certified under a recognised ecolabel and / or product stewardship scheme.
Proud partners of The Hunger Project Australia.
We have a Grant Agreement with The Hunger Project whereby a portion of our commission from the sale of each property is donated to The Hunger Project. The Hunger Project’s goal is to end world hunger. We understand first-hand the powerful impact the work of The Hunger Project has to end world hunger on a global scale and are passionate advocates for their incredible work. The Hunger Project believes in empowering people to become owners of their own development. Not based on handouts, but built on female empowerment through education, generating knowledge, capacity and capability that has a long-term sustainable impact. Women in rural disadvantaged arrears are trained to be elected to represent their communities over a 5 year term to become effective, respected leaders in their communities. As a result, they bring water, electricity, sanitation, education and more, to their villages.
We are active members In Community Environment Groups
Jodie Schickerling, Director and Officer In Effective Control is a member and active volunteer of Moonee Valley Sustainability (MVS). She was elected to the committee on 29/08/2023. MVS is a collective of local volunteers, supporters, and community groups in Moonee Valley who promote, support, enable and advocate for sustainable living in the local community. MVS grow community capacity to prevent further climate impacts and build climate resilience through education, campaigns, events, innovative projects, research and enabling community connection. MVS constructively engages in and encourages evidence-based action on climate change and sustainable living, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, waste, and resource use. Successful sustainable living is about growing food and making products the community needs, to nurture a local, sharing, and circular economy in Moonee Valley.
Climate Adaptation Requires Youth Action
CARYA was launched in 2020, bringing together a courageous, cross-cultural group of young adults to learn about, discuss and take action on some of the key social and environmental issues impacting (and being impacted by) climate change. Our CARYA participants complete a 8 week training program, meeting expert speakers and discussing topics such as food security, climate justice, biodiversity, climate as a health issue, and waste. Training is intended to set up participants with essential sustainability knowledge, networks and communication skills. Training is flexible, and includes several field trips for CARYA participants to enhance their learning experience, with past trips including a local bush tucker walk guided by first peoples, visits to the Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary, e-bike rides to the Eco Justice Hub in Brunswick and a tour of the thriving urban backyard ‘The Plummery’ to meet permaculture expert Kat Lavers.
Common Bean Cafe
The Common Bean Cafe is our social enterprise established to provide a space for young people to gain work experience and develop their skills and confidence required in finding work. Youth unemployment levels in Broadmeadows are currently at 27.2% (ABS, 2016). By providing young people with a supportive transitional training and employment program we are helping to combat youth unemployment in our community! Every six months, the Common Bean Cafe provides a transitional employment opportunity and on the job training to a new group of young people form our community. During their placement with the Common Bean, the young participants gain accredited training in areas relevant to hospitality, general employability skills, six months of paid work experience and an increased sense of confidence which will allow them to obtain employment independently in the future.
First and Only Gold Standard Climate Project in Australia
On a 200km wide corridor north of Perth, Carbon Neutral has been turning things around diligently replanting land that was drastically cleared for farming throughout the 20th century and revitalising the biosphere. And its efforts have been so successful, it has become the first and only organisation in Australia to be awarded Gold Standard certification for climate interventions.
