Applications Extended: $50,000 Boost To Help Southern Adelaide Schools Go Green
Primary schools and preschools across southern Adelaide are being urged to turn their big environmental ideas into action, with funding for a school sustainability grants program almost tripling to $50,000 in 2026.
The Southern Region Waste Resource Authority (SRWRA) has increased funding for its Les Perry Grant program from $17,150 in 2025 to $50,000 this year, offering 10 grants of up to $5,000 each for environmental and sustainability projects across the Cities of Marion, Holdfast Bay and Onkaparinga.
From reducing food waste and improving recycling to establishing gardens and introducing more sustainable infrastructure, the grants are designed to help students play an active role in creating positive environmental change in their school communities.
The impact of the program can already be seen at St Mary’s Memorial School at Glenelg, which received a Les Perry Grant in 2025 to expand its student-led worm farm project.
Teacher David Anderson says the school’s Year 3 students designed and now manage an onsite worm farm, turning organic waste into nutrient-rich liquid fertiliser, known as “worm juice”, for gardens.
“The sustainability project is really evolving, with the wider community now getting involved. Dante’s Deli on Jetty Road donates its used coffee grounds to the school to add to the farm.
“The Les Perry Grant has enabled us to take the project even further, including creating signage and a logo for Worm Works, a regular pop-up stall where students sell jars of worm juice outside Dante’s Deli.”
For more than 15 years, SRWRA has supported more than 50 school-based environmental projects through the Les Perry Grant program.
SRWRA CEO Martin Borgas says the additional funding will give local schools more opportunities to turn their environmental ideas into meaningful projects.
“Our goal is to teach our youngest community members about the importance of looking after the environment and empower them to become sustainability champions in their own schools and homes,” Martin says.
“We are looking for big environmental ideas that demonstrate significant educational benefit and take an innovative approach to reducing waste, improving recycling, reusing materials or encouraging composting.
“SRWRA remains committed to environmental education and we’re proud to once again support local schools as they inspire the next generation of sustainability leaders.”
Primary schools and preschools across the Cities of Marion, Holdfast Bay and Onkaparinga are encouraged to apply for a Les Perry Grant before applications close on 15 November 2026 at srwra.com.au/education/les-perry-grant.