State honour for program growing the next generation of conservation champions

Created and delivered by the City’s Conservation and Wildlife team, the Schools Bushcare Program is helping to restore urban reserves while embedding conservation values into local schools and students.

The program was named Community-Based Initiative of the Year at the 2026 Parks and Leisure Australia WA Awards of Excellence earlier this month.

As a regional winner, it will now vie for national honours at the 2026 Parks and Leisure Australia National Awards of Excellence later this year.

Established in 2024, the Schools Bushcare Program has grown to involve students from four schools caring for local City-managed bushland reserves:

• Churchlands Senior High School – Memory Place Reserve
• Dianella Secondary College Education Support Centre – Cottonwood Bushland
• St Andrew’s Grammar School – Meadowbrook Montclair Reserve
• St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School – Trigg Bushland.

Instead of a one-off workshop or excursion, it is an ongoing program that aims to build capacity and empower students and teachers to take ownership of the conservation efforts.

During the first two years of the program, 1,211 students delivered more than 1,400 volunteer hours, removed more than 1,100kg of invasive weeds and supported the establishment and care of 3,500 native plants.

“The brilliance of this program is that it creates something lasting – not just the restoration benefits but also the sense of stewardship it instils in the students,” City of Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin AM said.

“It equips them with conservation management skills and gives them a strong connection to a local reserve where they can see the difference they are making.”

The City offers a range of initiatives to help the community live sustainably and care for the natural environment. Visit Living Green to learn more.