At the Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology (QASMT), we are committed to promoting sustainability and supporting the United Nations Sustainability Goals as a Founding Member of The Alliance for Sustainable Schools (TASS). We have implemented various practices to align with these goals and to ensure that students are able to engage in a variety of different methods, such as incorporating sustainability into our curriculum, offering a wide variety of co-curricular clubs based around the United Nations Sustainability Goals and a student leadership portfolio, Sustainable Futures.

Within our curriculum, we integrate lessons and projects that focus on the UN Sustainability Goals. Our students at the academy have the opportunity to undertake Sustainable Futures, in Year 9, Blue Planet in Year 10, and Environmental Systems and Societies in the IB Diploma Program as additional electives. These subjects have been curated to increase students’ awareness about the pillars of sustainability, global engagement, and the importance of creating a sustainable future. Furthermore, students participate in Sustainability Week which incorporates applying the learnings on sustainability using creative practices to reduce, reuse and recycle waste.

The Sustainable Futures leadership portfolio works alongside the staff to better sustainability practices within the Academy as well as working to meet our sustainability goals set in place. QASMT students are encouraged to take part in a variety of co-curricular clubs which integrate specific UN goals and the mission and vision of TASS.

The Environment and Biodiversity Club focuses on raising awareness around local and global environmental issues. This is accomplished by projects on World Wildlife Day, Clean Up Australia Day and increasing the native biodiversity on the school campus. The Plastic Oceans Club focuses on reducing single use plastics on the local level and has resulted in the school’s refectory becoming single use plastic free. The Net Zero club’s focus is on reducing carbon emissions emitted by the Academy.

The first solar panels were installed at QASMT in 2022 and the club is aiming to add more, in the effort to further reduce the carbon footprint.  The Bee Club enriches student participation and knowledge on native bee populations and serves to increase the population of native plants.

QASMT student representatives in Year 10 are selected to work with Green Heart Schools in the Lord Mayor’s Young Environmental Leadership Network. Every year, these students have the opportunity to develop an environmental project that benefits our school. In 2023, the students worked on reducing waste contamination around the Academy campus by increasing overall staff and student awareness as well as implementing new detailed bin stickers to further sort out the waste.

At QASMT, sustainability is not just a buzzword; it’s a daily practice, an integral part of our ethos, and a commitment to creating a brighter, more sustainable future. Together, as a united community, we continue to strive for excellence in environmental stewardship and inspire positive change within our school and beyond.