Our students are the future custodians of the Peel-Harvey Estuary helping to look after local ecosystems through a range of projects in their classrooms, schools and communities. These key projects have been created through the development of long term relationships with not for profits, researchers and environmental groups who have a vested interest in the long term protection of the estuary. By collaborating and meeting with the various environmental conservation organisations in the catchment there can be more powerful outcomes and messages regarding the health and sustainability of the Peel-Harvey Estuary.

Creating Mandurah’s first Dolphin Fin Guide involved creating partnerships with Mandurah Dolphin Volunteer Rescue Group, Mandurah Cruises and researchers from Murdoch University. Passionate students organised Mandurah’s first Dolphin Forum to bring these groups together to inform the community about our local dolphin population. This initiative fostered leadership, , organisation skills, grant writing and has grown into regular events still hosted by our students.

The Black Bream Stock Enhancement Project partnered with The Peel Harvey Catchment Council and Murdoch University researchers which led to the establishment of a purpose built aquaculture classroom. Students involved in the pilot built and managed the system along with the researchers. They developed real world skills in practical experimental research in a school based facility involving dedication, time commitment outside of the class, precision, perseverance and adaption to the changing needs of the project.

Our relationship with the Peel Harvey Catchment Council has been integral to many of these opportunities. The Red-necked Stint Project with Milly Formby and Wingthreads arose through the Shorebird 2020 Birdcount. Our students had the opportunity to become ‘experts’ on the endangered bird and its specialised adaptions. This developed their creative and communication skills to create an education package around the ‘TimTam’ bird which thy shared with local primary schools and global partners from India and Manila.

The Shellfish Gardening Project with partners The Nature Conservancy and the Binjareb Indigenous Rangers where students grew mussels from juveniles to adults in specially designed baskets and collected data about mussel growth and other colonising marine life. The mussels will be used to explore mussel colonisation in selected locations in the estuary, where over time, the reefs are expected to become vibrant ecosystems that will help improve water quality, biodiversity, and fish stocks in the estuary.

Although bringing these projects to fruition there has been a massive time commitment outside class time involving volunteering, attending presentations and workshops, linking them to the science curriculum and getting buy-in from other staff members the experiential learning by our students has given them the opportunity to be involved in real world science applications raised their and awareness about the fragility of our local ecosystem.  They are helping to raise awareness within the community of the importance of nature conservation and are actively involved in the quest for sustainability creating resources, games, books and videos presenting at forums, Conferences, Kids Teaching Kids, Primary Schools.