Thanks to all 2020 Mini Grant applicants!
Due to the generous support of the Une Parkinson Foundation, this year we were able to provide a record number of 27 mini grants! The successful applicants were selected by a panel of Jane Goodall Institute Australia staff according to the strength of the idea and potential impact of the project. We admit that we are a bit sneaky with the application process, because what it is intended to do is make applicants think carefully about how they will do their activity, and the steps and costs involved. But planning is a huge part of every successful project, so in providing us with a plan, you are already well on the way to getting started.
Once again, congratulations to all of our winning applicants. We are busting to see the outcomes from all of these wonderful activities and sharing your stories with our Roots & Shoots community.
The opportunity to provide Mini Grants is an intrical part of the Roots & Shoots program, but fundamentally what it also allows is for us to acknowledge, encourage and support important environmental activity, demonstrating that by leading by example, and tackling environmental issues at a local scale, together we can drive global change.
2020 Mini Grants Winners
Nationwide
NATURE WALKS - Roots & Shoots Australia National Youth Leaders: Our very own youth leaders are developing a nature based education program featuring a guided walk (one per state), resources, mindfulness exercises, online webinar and take-away projects to engage youth with nature. ($250)
New South Wales
BEE AWARE - Wombat Care Bundanoon - Community Group: Caitlin will lead community education about local native bee species and their habitat needs including installing a stingless bee hive. ($500)
FIRE RECOVERY - Kya’s Homeschool Project: 10-year old Kya proposes to support the Conjola communities recovery from fire by propagating native plants for wildlife, encouraging pollinators and sharing home grown produce. ($500)
B & B HIGHWAY - Kegworth Public School: Year 3 & 4 students will create a garden featuring a subpod (composting system), pollinator attracting plants and a stingless bee hive to be a part of Sydney’s B&B highway. ($500)
THE ONE WHO CARES - Human Nature Projects: Elliot will produce a short film to educate people about the important work that wildlife carers provide. ($500)
WILDLIFE SANCTUARY - Museum of Fire Junior Caretakers Program: The Museum will invite and nurture local schools to transform the underutilised space of the Museum grounds into a wildlife sanctuary. ($500)
UMBRELLA SPECIES - Nimbin Central Bushfood Regeneration - Nimbin Central P&C group: This group will rehabilitate their area to promote habitat for umbrella species such as the adorable feathertail glider, koala, eastern whipbird and Richmond birdwing butterfly. ($500)
GLIDER HEROES - Corowa Public School: These students are excited to attend a workshop about squirrel gliders in order to build nesting boxes, identify requirements (such as hollows) and plant food trees for their local glider population. ($500)
Queensland
BEES ON FARMS - Morrissey Family Farm: The family plans to improve their farm and benefit biodiversity by providing native plant species and nest sites specifically attractive to local bees - many of which nest in the ground. ($500)
ORGANIC POLLINATOR PARADISE - Shorncliffe Family: Conscious of the role of toxic chemicals in the decline of pollinator health and numbers, the Shorncliffe Family are about to provide a sustainable solution by championing organic native plants. ($500)
SUSTAINABLE MICRO FARM - Kenmore South School: Students are about to get dirty as they build their own mini farm including chickens and a vegetable garden. ($500)
GARDEN SHOWPIECE - Toowoomba R&S Community Group: By partnering with the Toowoomba Botanic Gardens to create a water-wise, wildlife friendly, community garden, the Toowoomba R&S group will showcase sustainable gardening practices, suitable for their area.
South Australia
FOR THE BIRDS & BEES Environmental Action Group Westminster School: This environmental action group will spring into action to create a garden and insect hotels to attract bees and birds and support a year 7 education program. ($500)
CRAFTING FOR A CAUSE - R&S SA Community Group: Creating blankets, sleeping bags and scarves for Adelaide’s homeless people, as well as animal bedding and pouches for wildlife in care, this crafty bunch will work with community networks to promote skills and education opportunities. ($500)
Victoria
WOMBAT SCHOOL - Diamond Creek Primary School: This fabulous incentive will see the school install modifications to welcome existing wombats while protecting school gardens and play areas from zealous digging. ($500)
SOLAR FOOD Victory Lutheran College: By installing solar powered composting cones this school will transform food waste into nutritious plant food. ($500)
LIZARD LOUNGE & BUTTERFLY HAVEN - Sherbourne Primary School: Mindful of the differing needs in the development of the threatened Eltham Copper Butterfly, students will provide host plants for caterpillars and nectar filled flowers for butterflies, and top off the garden with a few lizard lounges to encourage reptiles too. ($500)
GARDENING FOR LIFE - South West Institute of TAFE School of Education: Tafe students will not only develop skills in landscaping, garden design and plant identification but in building a sensory garden for their local primary school (Merrivale), will create a haven for local students to engage with nature. ($500)
BRING ON THE BATS - Wallington Primary School: Students will work with local community groups to install nest boxes and habitat to encourage (and monitor) mosquito-loving micro bats. ($500)
COMMUNITY ROOFTOP GARDEN - Riverside Kensington Community Group: In involving local families to create a thriving edible rooftop garden in urban Melbourne, this project will adopt a space savvy solution to growing your own food. ($500)
NIGHTLIFE Fordham Avenue Kindergarten: By introducing young minds to the nocturnal world, this preschool will provide sustainable wind-up torches and teaching support to encourage preschool families to explore the world by night. ($500)
BINOWEE BUSHLAND - Watsonia Height Primary School:Inspired by meeting local indigenous elders, the junior school council will plant a native garden nourished by a school compost system. ($500)
DIRT PROJECT Chairo Christain School Pakenham Campus: This earthy bunch plans to build resilience, team work, risk taking and skills as they make improvements for their local biodiversity. ($250)
RESOURCE SAVVY Lara Lake Public School: In their journey to becoming a ‘Resource Smart School’ students will implement sustainable practises addressing composting, energy, water, biodiversity and food production. ($500)
Australian Capital Territory
FOREST CLASSROOM - Lyneham Primary School: Understanding the need for trees, students will plant a school forest to combat climate change, sequester carbon, and encourage wildlife. ($500)
Tasmania
TRADITIONAL EDIBLE GARDEN - Aboriginal Education Services: Under the guidance of an Aboriginal Education Specialist, West Ulverstone Primary School will learn sustainable land management including growing an indigenous edible garden. ($500)
PLANT PROPAGATION POD - Future Energy Team, Huonville High School: Recycling PET bottles as containers for native plant propagation, the Future Energy Team will then plant out water-saving wicking beds, and invite local primary schools to student led workshops. ($500)

Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question not listed here? Please email us at rootsandshoots@janegoodall.org.au
Roots & Shoots Australia Mini Grants are supported by funds from the Une Parkinson Foundation