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Back to News & ArticlesTeachers, teamwork and a whole lot of impact
Quick facts from the day
This year marked 15 years of Bank First supporting the ResourceSmart Schools Awards.
Sustainability projects from schools across Victoria were recognised.
Teachers and students shared initiatives creating real environmental and community impact.
One student speech had a room full of educators reaching for the tissues.
We’re still inspired by teachers
More than 50 years ago, a group of teachers came together because they believed there should be a fairer way to bank.
That spirit of community, initiative and looking after others continues to shape Bank First today.
It’s also why partnerships like the ResourceSmart Schools Awards matter so much to us.
This year, Bank First’s Head of Community Partnerships, Adrian Wilson, presented the Teacher of the Year Awards, recognising two educators whose passion and commitment are helping students explore sustainability in meaningful and practical ways.
The work you don’t always see
Teaching doesn’t stop when the bell rings. Behind every sustainability project is a teacher who has spent extra hours planning, organising and finding ways to bring an idea to life.
None of these projects happened overnight. They took planning, persistence and a lot of people working together. Yet for many teachers, creating opportunities for their students is simply part of the job.
The ResourceSmart Schools Awards shine a light on that work, recognising educators who are helping students build a better future while creating lasting impact in their school communities.
What happens when a teacher says, “Let’s give it a go”
This year’s Teacher of the Year winners were a powerful reminder of what’s possible when passionate educators back big ideas.
Primary school winner Stephen McNeight transformed his school grounds into a thriving outdoor learning environment, inspiring students to connect with nature while building confidence and practical skills.
In the secondary school category, Ben Coleman has spent more than a decade helping students connect with sustainability through hands-on learning, leadership opportunities and real-world environmental action.
While their projects were different, they shared something in common. Students were given the opportunity to lead, contribute and see the impact they could have on the world around them.
Behind the projects
Looking back on the day, Adrian said what stood out most wasn’t the projects themselves, but the people behind them.
“What stood out most was that each of the winners saw an opportunity to create positive change and took action. They weren’t simply teaching sustainability concepts; they were inspiring students and school communities to think differently and make a real impact.”
“In many ways, their stories reflected a quality we often see in educators where they identify a need, bring people together and find practical ways to make things better.”
It was a reminder that change often starts with one person deciding to give an idea a go.
Why this partnership feels personal
For 15 years, Bank First has proudly partnered with the ResourceSmart Schools Awards, recognising educators who are making a difference in their school communities.
“This partnership matters because it celebrates educators who are creating positive change in their school communities. ResourceSmart Schools Awards highlights the incredible work happening across Victoria, but what really stands out are the people behind it, our teachers who see an opportunity to make things better and take action.”
“That resonates strongly with us at Bank First. We were founded by teachers who saw a challenge facing their profession and came together to do something about it.”
“Supporting and celebrating educators who show that same initiative, leadership and commitment to community is something we’re proud to continue today.”
Lessons that last
While environmental outcomes sit at the heart of the awards, many of the projects deliver benefits that extend far beyond sustainability.
Along the way, students build confidence, learn how to solve problems and discover what can happen when people work towards a shared goal.
Asked about his biggest takeaway from the event, Adrian’s answer was simple: one passionate educator can have an enormous impact.
“My biggest takeaway was just how much impact one passionate educator can have.
“So many of the initiatives we heard about started with a teacher identifying an opportunity to make things better and then bringing students, colleagues and the broader school community along with them.
“While the environmental outcomes were impressive, what really stood out was the way these projects were building leadership, confidence and a sense of ownership among students.”
The speech that stopped the room
What began as a typical acceptance speech quickly became one of the most memorable moments of the day.
After accepting his award, one of the winning teachers stepped up to the microphone and, in true teacher fashion, spoke humbly about the project, his students and the support of his school community.
Then, just as the moment seemed to be over, one of his students stepped forward and took the microphone.
Small but mighty, she spoke with a confidence well beyond her years.
She spoke about the teacher standing beside her, sharing the impact he had made on her life, the support he had shown his students and the difference he had made within the school community.
"Hearing one of the students speak about the impact her teacher had was genuinely one of the most inspiring things I've heard all year," Adrian said.
"It was a powerful reminder that while we often celebrate programs and outcomes, it's the relationships educators build and the confidence they instil in young people that can have the greatest and most lasting impact."
The reason we’re here
We’re here because of how we started. Founded by teachers, for teachers, our purpose remains the same today as it was more than 50 years ago.
As we mark 15 years of partnership with the ResourceSmart Schools Awards, we’re proud to celebrate the educators helping make a difference in classrooms, schools and communities across Victoria.
It’s a partnership we’re proud to continue.
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