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Students across Australia recognised as ‘Circular Champions’ and win share of $20,000 prize in National Primary Schools’ Competition

students smiling to camera holding up stationery prizes

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Primary school students from across Australia have won their share of $20,000 worth of prizes in a national sustainability schools’ competition, ‘Circular Champions’, which invited them to work together to develop creative ways of re-using plastic bottles whilst demonstrating the Aussie values of fair go, respect, inclusion and mateship.

The competition is part of Aussie of the Month – a student recognition program that rewards the characteristics of personal endeavour, teamwork and contribution to community, and is the younger sibling to the prestigious Australian of the Year Awards.

Students brought their ideas to life, turning plastic bottles into bird feeders, planters, stationery holders and works of art including a Galapagos Tortoise.

collage of students with competition entries
Just some of the incredible competition entries using plastic bottles.

“The class focus was the Galapagos Tortoise as they’ve been studying the Galapagos Island for the past term,” explained Michelle Carr, who submitted the entry from Oran Park Public School, NSW. “With the Aussie of the Month Respect in mind, they have researched how we can help make a difference in these islands; they have chosen to use rubbish or a waste product for their art piece.”

The talented winners received a bumper prize pack of Pilot Pen classroom stationery, including Frixion erasable gel pens and highlighters, whiteboard markers, ballpoints, refills, and Sellotape safety dispensers. Jarrad Murray, Head of Marketing, Pilot Pen Australia, hand delivered the prize to Wakehurst Public School in NSW (pictured).

Jarrad said, “We were thrilled to see the excitement, imagination and enthusiasm the students brought to the Circular Champions Challenge. We have been a proud partner of the Aussie of the Month program for 20 years this year and we are keen to encourage people to refill their pens when the ink finishes as part of our commitment to a circular economy.”

Circular Champions

Balcatta Primary School, WA
Binya Public School, NSW
Dianella Heights Primary School, WA
Kingsgrove Public School, NSW
Morphett Vale East School, SA
Mount Egerton Primary School, VIC
Oran Park Public School, NSW
Our Lady Queen of Peace School, SA
Sacred Heart Primary School, VIC
St Mary’s College Seymour, VIC
Wakehurst Public School, NSW
Westmead Christian Grammar School, NSW
Wongan Hills District High School, WA

Aussie of the Month is free to join! To start presenting it in your school, sign up now.

NSW Local Hero and former Disney artist visits local school to celebrate student role models

three people smiling to camera

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Regentville Public School welcomed 2024 NSW Local Hero and illustrator, Angus Olsen, on Thursday 26 September, to celebrate its Aussie of the Month recipient at the school assembly. Alongside announcing this month’s recipient, Angus shared his story of helping others through his illustrations and books, as founder of I Draw Childhood Cancer.

To make the most of the special guest visit, students had the opportunity to ask Angus questions about his contribution and active citizenship. Around the world, families, carers and cancer specialists use Angus’ books to help explain and navigate cancer with newly diagnosed children, which was driven by his own experience when his daughter, Jane, was diagnosed with cancer at just 2 years old in 2016. Today, Jane is cancer free.

The Local Hero visit to primary schools is made possible thanks to the affiliation between Aussie of the Month and the Australian of the Year Awards.

collage of two students holding certificate with Local Hero

“I am delighted to join Regentville Public School to help celebrate their students who look after their community,” says Angus. “Showing and receiving care and compassion are so important for young kids, especially when they’re experiencing and learning so much that is new to them. Recognising these positive attributes and values can do so much to motivate them to continue through to adulthood.”

Aussie of the Month recognises and celebrates personal endeavour, achievement and contribution to community and reflects the values we share as Australians, such as a fair go, mateship, respect and inclusion.

“We love the Aussie of the Month award at Regentville Public School,” says Principal, Jenny Thompson. “In a recent survey of our students, this was ranked the most valued award of all our awards. Our school captains appreciate the opportunity to be part of the selection committee and draw on their unique knowledge and understanding of the nominees. Our nomination process includes the Aussie of the Month four key values of Fair-go, Mateship, Respect and Inclusion.”

The assembly was also attended by Hasan Sowaid, Acting Regional Director for the Department of Home Affairs, which supports the Aussie of the Month program.

Find out more about Local Hero school visits here

Four Morphett Vale East School Students Presented with Aussie of the Month Award by 2022 SA Local Hero

four students holding certificates with two adults

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Four students from Morphett Vale East School in South Australia were recognised as Aussies of the Month at the end of August.

Jimmy, Elana, Ruth and Penny were presented their award by Australian of the Year Awards’ 2022 SA Local Hero, Monique Bareham, with the school saving the announcement of all four recipients to coincide with Monique’s visit.

Students, who were dressed up for Book Week, were able to hear Monique’s inspiring story as a leading Australian Lymphoedema Patient Advocate.

​“I am delighted to pay a visit to Morphett Vale East today and present Penny, Ruth, Jimmy and Elana with the Aussie of the Month Awards for their impressive contribution to the school’s core values of respect, persistence, optimism and honesty. These important values form the foundation of building strong connections within community, foster understanding and inclusion and are at the heart of the work I do to improve the lives of those living with lymphoedema,” she said.

Year 2 students also showcased their plastic bottle designs for the Circular Champions Competition. They researched, designed and created unique ways to recycle more than 60 water bottles, creating innovative designs, including bird feeders, space machines, Ten pin bowling games and rain gauges.

Two exciting civics and citizenship days coming up

boy writing welcome letter to Australian citizen

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National Wattle Day and Australian Citizenship Day are coming up fast. These are exciting days in the curriculum calendar to explore civics and citizenship with primary schools students.

National Wattle Day is celebrated annually on 1 September. It is a day that unifies all Australians in a celebration of what it is to live in Australia and to be Australian. The date coincides with the first day of spring. See how your school can get involved.

Australian Citizenship Day is celebrated each year on 17 September. This is a day for Australians to celebrate their Australian citizenship, and reflect on the meaning and importance of Australian citizenship, and the responsibilities and privileges we have as citizens.

How can students take part in these days?

Students are invited to write welcome letters to new citizens. These messages are a great way to bring the celebration of Australian citizenship into classrooms, complement the current civics and citizenship curriculum, and support the Aussie of the Month values. You could even pass them onto your local government council to give to new citizens attending their citizenship ceremony! Click below to access Welcome Message templates from the Department of Home Affairs, plus more resources to recognise National Wattle Day and Australian Citizenship Day.

Find out more about Australian Citizenship Day

2023 WA Local Hero announces Aussie of the Month at Dianella Heights Primary School

kids at assembly

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Fair go, mateship, respect, inclusion. These are just some of the Australian values demonstrated by Year five student, Caitlyn, and Year three student, Mia, at Dianella Heights Primary School, who have been presented with the Aussie of the Month Award by 2023 WA Local Hero, Jimmy Murphy, founder of the Town Team Movement, a social enterprise dedicated to improving local communities.

During his visit, Jimmy spoke to the students about the different superheroes who make local communities better. Students then asked him questions on active citizeship including the impact of Town Team Movement, what inspired him, the challenge of making big decisions and who his own heroes are.

“I am delighted to pay a visit to Dianella Heights and present Caitlyn and Mia with the Aussie of the Month Award for their impressive contribution to the school’s core values of kindness, respect and integrity. Mateship, inclusion and creating a strong community are such important values – these have formed the foundation of the Town Team Movement and the work we do to improve local communities,” he said.

Year five students also showcased their entries for the Circular Champions competition, which will see 20 schools across Australia win a share of $20,000RRP of stationery from Pilot Pen Australia. The students researched, designed and created exciting ways to recycle 60 water bottles. The students were excited to share their creative ideas.

“The students worked incredibly hard to produce their entry and they have done such a great job whilst demonstrating how they worked together as a team and enacting our vision ‘Soaring to new heights in excellence, through unity.’  Thank you to Jimmy Murphy for coming in today to acknowledge Caitlyn and Mia, our Aussie of the Month winners, and demonstrating what a good role model can achieve.  We are proud to celebrate your achievement today and our partnership over many years,” said Dianella Heights Primary School Principal, Peter Jakimowiez.

Circular Champions entries open 22 July 2024 and close 20 September 2024. Find out more about the competition and how to enter here.

2024 WA Local Hero drops in on students at Rosalie Primary School to encourage Aussie values

man speaking to primary school children

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Just two weeks into the new school year, students at Rosalie Primary School heard straight from Nick Hudson about how he founded The Push-Up Challenge, experienced the Australian of the Year Awards in Canberra and visited the Prime Minister’s House.​

Nick closed the morning assembly by encouraging students to show mateship and inclusion, and think about who they want to nominate for Aussie of the Month!

“I am delighted to help students start the new school year in such a positive way,” said Nick. “Mental health affects so many kids, so it’s important we encourage values such as mateship and inclusion, so that students are actively supporting one another and creating a strong community within their school. It is an absolute joy to meet the schools and students who are making their community a better place.”

Following the visit, Rosalie Principal, Mrs Michelle Nash, said: “Rosalie Primary School is excited to be running the Aussie of the Month program again this year.

“We are proud to celebrate those amazing people who contribute to our community at Rosalie and hope to inspire more students to do the same. It is important to our school to highlight people who have shown personal endeavour whilst displaying both our Rosalie School and Aussie of the Month values of kindness, respect, responsibility and inclusion.”

Click here to register for the program and enquire about Australian of the Year Alumni visits.