The Green Innovation Awards is returning again this year and will run in Term 1 of 2019 for primary schools and high schools around the Northern Rivers and the competition is back again following much success the previous year.

The Green Innovation Awards is an annual award that recognises and celebrates the sustainability innovations of young people in the region. One of the aims of the Awards is to empower primary and high school aged students to see that they can make a difference and also gain recognition for their achievements. The competition aims to discover the next generation of environmental leaders and is a great way for the school students to develop a passion for the planet.

The awards culminate in a finals day where students are asked to share their ideas on stage in front of an audience and panel of expert judges. Students will also be treated to speeches by some of Australia’s top environmentalists including young Shalise Leesfield who has also accepted an invitation to be an ambassador for the awards

12-year-old environmental campaigner Shalise Leesfield who is taking on the marine world and targeting ocean litter such as plastic pollution and fishing line on the Mid North Coast, is very excited to be a part of this years awards ceremony. 

Shalise has created her own climate change movement and her mission is to protect marine life by ridding Australia’s beaches of plastic debris.  Although Shalise is not eligible to participate in this competition as she is out of the zoned area, she will be presenting a speech on the day which she is very excited about.

As a student Shalise said that “environmental education is becoming strongly integrated across our school curriculum and this fantastic competition helps us explore environmental themes and connect the issues within our own schools and communities.”

The Awards were founded with the aim of encouraging students to develop a passion for the environment by asking them to invent, develop and present solutions for greener living.

Students will be able to work together to develop ideas on how they can create a greener and environmentally friendly school community.  Along the way they also learn more about working as a team, presenting ideas to their peers and time management.

Shalise agrees saying “it shows the community that school students care about the environment and it will showcase a new generation of sustainability champions across the Northern Rivers.”

“It also shows students that their contributions are valuable and that we all have a part to play in looking after our planet.”

Primary school and high school students are asked to demonstrate their innovative ideas in Waste Management, Water Management, Building and Packaging materials or Biofuels and Renewable Energy.  Shalise is very excited to see what amazing projects will be put forward by the local schools.

Shalise says “us students are growing up in a world that faces some of its biggest environmental challenges ever and we will be the ones living with the consequences of all of the problems the planet is facing.” 

“It’s easy for us to feel powerless in the face of such events but by taking part in the Green Innovation Awards it is an inspiring way to contribute and bring about positive change towards a more sustainable future for generations to come.”

The program was founded by local chiropractor Dr Bridie Cullinane, who wants to inspire young people in the region to be future environmental entrepreneurs and leaders.

Dr Cullinane said “we are over the moon to have Shalise come on board for the awards this year.  She is a shining example of how young people can make a big difference in our world.”

Shalise is so impressed with Dr Cullinane’s passion to give young people a platform to rethink the world and showcase their green innovation ideas.  “It’s great that Dr Cullinane is supporting young people who want to create a more sustainable world, come up with new and innovative solutions and have them presented to industry leaders.”

Dr Cullinane encourages schools to take part in the 2019 Green Innovation Awards and to support our next generation of environmental leaders.  The awards are open to any age group but will be judged in two categories – Primary School and Secondary School.

Shalise believes “that it doesn’t matter how old you are, we should all try and become global thinkers and make a difference in our world today. Young people should take an active role in keeping our planet clean and green and making our voices heard.  I am proud to be a part of generation Z and I think we will be the ones to help change the world one person at a time.”

“I really do believe that kid power is the future of our planet. More than ever before the fate of the planet is in our hands and we need to leave a healthy world for future generations and in order to do that we need to be innovative thinkers, make changes big and small and think about the role we can play to protect our environment.”

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors for their support and help in hosting this year’s event. Sunshine Sugar, Rous County Council, Trinity Catholic College and funded by NSW State Government.

If you would like to find out more information about The Green Innovation Awards the website address is www.greeninnovationawards.com.au