Project summary

The central focus of this project is to make highly visible modifications to our centre and to our current programs and operations in order to become more environmentally sustainable. Concurrently with this phase, which is well underway, we are carrying out several community sustainability programs. The project works with public housing tenants and other local residents, other neighbourhood houses, schools and local businesses to deliver sustainable outcomes that are beneficial and meaningful to the local community. The Eco Living Grant will fund the project for a period of 3 years, after which it will continue as part of Banksia Gardens Community Centre's core programs.

Project principles

Our project adheres to the following six principles:

• Linking sustainable issues with the social reality of our community
• Providing practical solutions that will improve people's lives
• Paying attention to the interrelation of Environment, Health and Social Justice
• Active engagement: learning by participating
• Focusing on schools and young people to overcome Lock-In
• Maintaining our community development approach: participation, community ownership and empowerment

Partners and Steering Committee

Although Banksia Gardens is the lead agency in the project, its partners are absolutely critical to the ultimate success of the Banksia Eco Warriors Project. The current project partners are:

• Banksia Gardens Community Centre
• Hume City Council
• Link Community Transport
• North West Neighbourhood House Network
• Office of Housing, Broadmeadows Area, Department of Human Services

The project Steering Committee consists of representatives from all partners and of a number of community representatives. Steering Committee meetings are held bimonthly.

Project's programs and outcomes

Some of the programs and initiatives that have taken place since the program started include:

• - Bicyle Distribution project (completed).
• - Community garden project (ongoing)
• - Edu Eco Link project (underway)
• - Environmentality, our weekly environmental radio show (ongoing).
• - Showerhead Exchange Program (ongoing).

Links to environmental information resources

For information about environmental issues, including climate change, biodiversity or environmental activism, you can check our Environmental information resource list (the document opens in a new window). This list is currently being expanded and will be periodically updated. If you want to add a link, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

How to collaborate with the project

There are several ways in which you can collaborate with the Banksia Eco Warriors Project. If you are interested in helping the project in any way, please contact the Banksia Eco Warriors Coordinator.

Banksia Eco Warriors Blogs

The Banksia Eco Warriors Blog is an attempt to keep a "behind the scenes" record of our organisation's sustainable transformation and of the program implementation process. It is updated regularly and your comments are more than welcome!

In addition to this, we have another great blog for Environmentality, our weekly radio program on 98.9 North West FM.

Funding bodies

EcoLiving Centres are funded by the Victorian Government from the Sustainability Fund, as an initiative of Our Environment Our Future, Sustainability Action Statement 2006, to help Victorians reduce their impact on the environment.