Beth Welden, ForestLearning Program Manager, Dr Susan Caldis, AGTA Chair, and Veronica Tyquin, Curriculum Specialist, ForestLearning..
FWPA’s ForestLearning team’s Years 5-6 cross-curricular resource, Sustainable Schools: Going Green in Your Canteen, has been awarded ‘Highly Commended’ in the Primary School Geography Resource F-6 category at the Australian Geography Teachers’ Association Awards, presented at the AGTA24 Conference in Darwin. Source: Timberbiz
ForestLearning, an initiative of Forest & Wood Products Australia, equips primary and secondary school teachers with free, Australian Curriculum-aligned resources, including hands-on activities and tools, lesson plans, multimedia and more.
These resources engage students in understanding the science, sustainable practices, and environmental contributions of Australia’s forest and wood products industry. Through tools like ForestVR, ForestLearning builds awareness and appreciation of the industries role in a sustainable future, fostering informed perspectives in the next generation.
Held biennially, the AGTA Awards celebrate high-quality resources that advance geography education in Australian schools, acknowledging contributions that are practical, relevant, and engaging for teachers and students nationwide.
Developed with the Geography Teachers Association of Victoria (GTAV) and the Design and Technologies Teachers Association Victoria (DATTAVic), Sustainable Schools introduces students to renewable resources and sustainable practices through hands-on projects, like designing a reusable cutlery pouch from rayon, a fabric derived from wood fibre.
Through these activities, students learn how wood-based materials can replace single-use plastics, fostering a positive view of sustainable materials from the forest and wood products sector as climate solutions.
“It’s an honour to receive national recognition from AGTA, as it validates our resources in classrooms across Australia,” the Program Manager at ForestLearning Beth Welden said.
“Teachers are often selective with materials, so this award helps build trust in ForestLearning resources, encouraging their uptake in schools. When students engage in learning about renewable resources and sustainable practices, they gain a deeper understanding of how the forest and wood products sector contributes to a sustainable future.”
This national endorsement benefits the forest and wood products sector by strengthening social license and public awareness of its role as a renewable industry. Through evidence-based, unbiased resources like Sustainable Schools, ForestLearning helps shape positive perceptions by deepening a balanced understanding of the sector’s contributions to sustainability. These resources adhere to best-practice pedagogy, ensuring they are engaging, active learning tools for students and teachers alike. By presenting the facts and science behind sustainable forest practices, ForestLearning supports both educational and industry goals.
