Case study

Healthy Cities, Healthy Schools Program – The Gap State High School

The students at Lota State School summed up their experience in one enthusiastic sentence: “I wish we could do this every day!” This was their response to participating in the Healthy Cities, Healthy Schools Program, and it speaks volumes about the impact the program had. Students loved learning about nature, a passion that aligns perfectly with the pride Lota takes in its incredible gardens. From growing strawberries and carrots to cultivating a variety of fruits and vegetables, the school’s campus is a thriving green space. It also features a dedicated native plants garden, all located in common areas where children spend their free time.

Practices improved:

Biodiversity
Biodiversity
Energy
Energy
Other
Other
Waste
Waste
Water
Water

Healthy Cities, Healthy Schools – The Gap State High School

The Gap State High School, located in the western suburbs of Brisbane, has over 1,700 students. The school already has ambitious goals for sustainability achievements by 2032, including becoming carbon neutral, increasing their natural spaces, and setting leading standards for sustainability integration into all aspects of the school. Their aim is to “cultivate a mindset of agility and sustainability conducive to igniting the aspirations of learners for an ever‑changing world.” 

The Gap State High School integrated the Healthy Cities, Healthy Schools Program in a unique way. Most of the program was delivered to their Year 10 students, with some components incorporated into other grades where they fitted within the curriculum throughout the school term. 

Students at The Gap State High School enjoyed the program as not only a way to learn, but also a way to enjoy learning outside the classroom.

Learning Integration 

The students at The Gap really enjoyed the program, particularly appreciating its timing prior to the exam block, which helped them relax and connect with nature before a significant part of the school year. Students particularly enjoyed the art sessions, and teachers enjoyed seeing students find inspiration and create their own art pieces based on the natural world around them. 

The students at The Gap State High School have shown significant interest in sustainability throughout the program and the entire school year. Teachers found that the activities helped facilitate teamwork as students collaborated to develop answers to questions posed during the program by their peers, particularly when it came to solutions for the physical waste we see in the world.

They asked questions about how they can help with such large environmental issues and discovered practical ways to contribute, such as organising a clean-up in their school. The students also posed interesting questions for discussion such as ‘What does being carbon neutral do to help the environment?’ and ‘What are greenhouse gases and how do they affect the environment?’.

Planting Fun!

At the end of the program, the BSA team visited the wonderful staff at The Gap State High School to deliver a planting pack, which the students planted in the following weeks. It was wonderful to meet the team, and we are excited to see the plants grow in the coming years.

Join the Healthy Cities, Healthy Schools Program

Want to be a part of the Healthy Cities, Healthy Schools Program in 2026? You can register your interest here, or email our team to find out more.

Other case studies