Organised by Investigator College students, Sustainable Futures Day brought together participants from St John’s Grammar School, Pulteney Grammar School, Woodcroft College, Trinity College South Australia, and St Columba College for a day of immersive, hands-on learning led by industry experts.
The annual event is designed to connect like-minded young people, broaden their understanding of careers in the sustainability and environmental sectors, and demonstrate how personal passion for the environment can translate into meaningful study and career pathways.
Workshops spanned a wide range of fields and disciplines, including fish conservation with ecologist Dr Sylvia Zukowski, geospatial information systems and their role in environmental management with Tessa Lane and Joram Downes from Flinders University, and cultural understanding of caring for Country with Ngarrindjeri artist Uncle Cedric.
The day was organised and MCed by student leaders, including Year 11s Emma Paxton and Django Westmoreland, alongside Year 12s Vice Captain Sustainability Emily McPherson and Cameryn Marsden.
Now in its fourth year, the event exemplifies Investigator College’s commitment to providing meaningful student leadership opportunities that foster personal growth. The initiative was originally spearheaded by old collegian Charlotte Walker—now Australia’s youngest ever Federal Senator—during her Year 12 year.
Student leadership opportunities begin early at Investigator College, with Captaincy roles available from Year 6 onwards. The Student Representative Council also recruits representatives across the Junior School, teaching children about leadership and advocacy from a young age.
Similarly, engagement with flora, fauna, and environmental science begins in the early years at Investigator College and continues throughout a student’s schooling journey, whether at the Currency Creek EcoCentre or the College’s onsite Agricultural Centre.
Younger students explore their passions through programs like the Currency Creek Custodian Program, which supports Year 4 learners by integrating literacy, numeracy, science, and humanities in authentic, nature-based units within Science and Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS).
As students progress, more advanced learning opportunities are available, including vocational training for Year 11 and 12 students. Via the EcoCentre, the College offers a Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management and Certificate II in Horticulture, providing practical pathways into sustainability-focused professions.
Access to the College is made easy for families throughout the Fleurieu Peninsula, via an extensive bus network operated in partnership with Willunga Charter. Eastern routes serving Finniss, Mount Compass, Goolwa, and Hindmarsh Island place a world-class Anglican education within reach for local families.
