We are excited to announce the recent formation of the Student Environment Council (SEC) in the Senior School. This is a student-driven initiative that we hope represents an important step towards the development of student leadership and agency in promoting a future in which we are all part of the process of regeneration and stewardship of our planet. Carey students have so much to contribute to this process and we are really proud to be part of this initiative.
With the help of Dr Wetherbee, we are working to create opportunities for students across the Senior School to work collaboratively on a range of innovative projects. Our aim is to help inform our entire student body about the important role that we all play in the ecology of our planet, and how we can learn to live in a way that is respectful of the role of other species, and responsible and accountable for the damage we cause.
Some of the current members of the Student Environment Council were previously part of the Eco-Warriors and participated in the Environmental Leadership Program and Wildlife Garden programs at Carey, which were run by staff from the CERES Environment Education Centre and funded by grants from the Boroondara Council. As part of these programs, we learned a range of skills in environmental leadership, advocacy and program development. These skills are proving incredibly valuable in helping us to develop our program for 2025 and we are hoping to welcome many more students into the SEC as the year progresses, particularly members of our Year 10 cohort. SEC also offers opportunities for IB students to accumulate hours for the Creativity Action Service component of their IB program. We meet every Tuesday lunchtime in Room D101.
One of our biggest achievements as part of the Eco-Warriors in 2024 was the creation of a new student leadership portfolio in Senior School. Hamish B is our first Carey Environment Captain and we congratulate him on his appointment for 2025. Hamish has been an active and enthusiastic member of the Eco-Warriors and now the Student Environment Council, and we are really proud to have him as one of our two co-chairs of the SEC in 2025. The SEC will directly support the Carey Sustainability Goals and we are really grateful to the school for all the support we have received. We also very grateful to the Boroondara Council and Bunnings who have played a major role in providing sponsorship for Eco-Warriors and now the SEC.
Louis La Gerche (SEC Journalist) and Broden Dale (SEC Co-Chair)
