The Noosa Environmental Education Hub (Noosa EEHub), led by Dalia Mikhail, is connecting Noosa youth with local environmental experts and activities as well as helping them develop their own projects and providing a regional voice for youth through its Noosa Youth Advocacy Group.
Dalia was joined by three Noosa students, Jarrah Small, Millie Toy and Ashley Sinclair, at Noosa Parks Association (NPA) Friday forum last week to deliver a talk about the EEHub’s real life education programs and the students’ individual projects.
“We’re always looking at what local environmental groups are doing,“ Dalia said.
“We like to help young people connect in the community with their area of interest.
“To retain young people in shire, we’re looking at pathways of future employment.“
Drawing on community activities the students have become involved in programs including Bushfires in the Biosphere which teaches students about traditional use of fire for land management, fire behaviour and the ecosystems response to fire, following the 2019 bushfires.
Students have also been introduced to the oyster reef regeneration program occurring in the Noosa River.
As part of the program oyster gardens have been established to boost the oyster population in the man made reefs by growing oysters in bags which are later transferred to the reefs.
“As tidal creatures oysters can live without water for a time, enabling us to take them into the classroom for students to explore the baskets,“ Dalia said.
Conservationist and plastic free ambassador Jarrah Small, 14, told the forum she became aware of the devastating effect of plastic pollution on marine wildlife and has been involved in the collection of plastic waste, volunteering with rescue organisation Wildlife Noosa and using social media to spread awareness of the issues.
“After picking up plastic and sharing information on social media I realised the problem with fishing line and tackle,“ she said. “A lot of calls we get are about birds and wildlife impacted by fishing line.
“I’m passionate about sharing message and make a difference in the local community. I love the ocean and wildlife and will do what I can to protect it.“
Year 12 student at Good Shepherd Lutheran College Millie Toy created Bindi the Bin Buddy to encourage children at her school to recycle plastic bottles.
The simple devise placed above a bin shows a smiley face when bottles are deposited in it.
“Kids learn fast with behavioural tools,“ she said. Millie is now working on making her device electric and more appealing with the addition of lights and sounds including a munching sound in response to the disposal of plastic bottles.
When Year 12 Noosa Pengari Steiner School student Ashley Sinclair needed to find an independent project as part of her school curriculum she decided to create a coffee table book focused on local environmental organisations and issues in the community.
Ashley said she was inspired to do it because of the high levels of eco-anxiety about climate change issues felt by young people who think there aren’t many opportunities to make a difference when there are really lots of opportunities.
“I wanted to change the despair and loss of hope that’s happening into action, hope and inspiration,“ she said.
“I joined Noosa Youth Advocacy group and it opened up lots of opportunities.“
Ashley immersed herself in a range of organisations and interviewed representatives for the book she hopes to complete by November and have available in libraries and bookshops.
All three students will be among presenters at the 2024 Youth Climate Conference to be held on Reconciliation Day, on 27 May, 2024 at The J Theatre.
The Noosa Youth Advocacy group meets on the second Tuesday each month from 3.30-5pm at NPA, Wallace Drive and is open to young people to come along.
