John Paul College (JPC) is a Christian Ecumenical Independent College with Kindergarten to Year 12 students. The College’s innovative curriculum includes an International College, a Childcare Centre and a small boarding community. We have a significant proportion of international students, mainly from Asian countries, and First Nations students (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders) attending. We have 45 nationalities represented at the College with more than 40% of our families with a different home language.

Built in 1982, the College is set in a lush bushland of 33 hectares and retains much native vegetation. In our Primary School, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) is a testament to our commitment to environmental education and sustainability. We are fortunate to have a small farm with vegetable gardens and orchards, and we actively seek to retain habitats for native wildlife. Our commitment to water conservation is evident in the several ponds that serve as collection points for water and resident wildlife. We also generate solar energy through panels installed on several buildings, reducing our carbon footprint.

Our approach to sustainability at John Paul College is comprehensive and multi-faceted. We view it from three distinct angles.  At a High Level, we propose significant strategic changes with the support of our Board of Directors, who are deeply interested in this direction. The organisational approach spans the College, representing activities that can be operationalised with the support of our dedicated staff, including the Facilities and Maintenance team. Lastly, our Grassroots Projects are often student-driven, with some emerging from Primary School actions as part of Units of Inquiry, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility towards sustainability.

The curriculum of the College reflects sustainability mainly through science and humanities subjects.  Education of our students and extending the knowledge and associated behaviours into our households is a priority.  The College’s resource provisions are also conscious of ensuring sustainable practices in the design of buildings and the purchase of uniforms.  Programs such as Containers for Change (recycling drink containers) also support good practices. Our food service (canteen) is run in-house and has opportunities to improve in terms of packaging, reducing wastage and providing suitable meals sourcing ‘green produce’.  The bus service is provided by an external contractor and the College also runs several vehicles within a small fleet.