Precious Plastic Melbourne School Education Programs
Inspiring the next generation: Sustainability, recycling & the circular economy
Unique, interactive incursions, excursions and programs
We'll inspire and empower environmentally-aware minds whilst investigating creative solutions to reducing waste and exploring the concept of the Circular Economy!
Our programs enhance STEM learning in schools through an experiential, hands-on and practical approach. We'll demonstrate plastics recycling principles and practice using our innovative small-scale reprocessing equipment, designed specifically for application within education.
Linking directly with current recycling practices and community / NGO led waste reduction programs, your students will experience and participate in the transformation of waste plastics materials into new, functional products.
We'll provide insights into a critical area of knowledge for the future - Plastics, Recycling and Circular Economy, covering a variety of topics such as:
• The environmental impact of plastic
• The different types of plastic
• Recyclability of common plastics
• Potential applications for plastic 'waste'
• Circular Economy principles & practices
• UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Education FAQs
Tuition Outline
We create customised workshops that spark curiosity and empower students to explore sustainability through hands-on activities. Our workshops are:
• Tailored to your program's goals: From a basic 1-hour session to term-long explorations, we design content to fit your needs.
• Flexible for any age and subject: Engaging students from Primary to Secondary, we customise workshops to suit diverse age groups and learning styles, while aligning with relevant curriculum goals across various subjects, such as STEM and Design.
• Scheduling convenience: We design workshops to integrate seamlessly into your timetable, ensuring a smooth experience for teachers and students.
Incursion & Excursion Inclusions
Standard incursion inclusions:
• One facilitator
• Materials
• 'DIY: Setting up your Precious Plastic Workspace' Booklet
Additional incursion inclusions:
• Machinery hire fee
• Additional materials if needed or requested
• Travel quoted per program if applicable
Standard excursion inclusions (Space Of Waste):
• One facilitator
• Materials
• 'DIY: Setting up your Precious Plastic Workspace' Booklet
Pricing
School Incursions:
Costed on a case-by-case basis - a quote will provided.
School Excursions (Space Of Waste):
Costed on a case-by-case basis - a quote will provided.
WWCC
All of our facilitators have current Working With Children Checks as a condition of employment. Staff are required to present their Working With Children Checks at your request.
Teacher PD
Professional Development for teachers - PD Recognition & Learning certificates available.
Teacher Resources
Teacher Resources can be provided with your Incursion or Excursion booking - speak to our friendly team to discuss available options.
Additionally, all of our equipment has undergone rigorous safety checks and has accompanying risk assessments available. You can discuss risk assessments directly with your facilitator upon booking - they will be happy to answer any questions regarding safety procedures and provide relevant documentation.
Recycling Tools & Equipment
For institutions looking to take their recycling journey to the next level, we offer a range of small-scale recycling machinery, including our Education Machinery & Tool Bundle. Designed specifically for the Australian market, our Zephyr machine range is Australian made certified, and produced right here in Melbourne in compliance with Australia's robust safety standards. A variety of post-purchase support options are available, including our comprehensive Product Support Academy, one-on-one Machine Training Sessions, and a variety of handy free downloadable resources.
Key learning areas:
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Sustainability
An introduction to the concept of the Circular Economy, and ways we can reduce our footprint and drive local and global change.
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Plastics
How it’s made, the different types, why we use it, and how (and why!) we should think of 'waste' as a valuable resource.
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Recycling
Which plastics we can recycle, how we recycle it, it's potential applications and community-scale recycling solutions.
What might your students create during their session?
Outcomes:
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1. Profound experiential programs that combine STEM and Circular Economy Principles.
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2. An insight into plastics and plastics recycling technology, delivered by industry experts.
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3. Engagement and empowerment of young people to actively participate in the environmental challenges of our time.
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4. To provide schools with an integrated STEM learning program, directly linked to the cross curriculum area of sustainability.
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5. To provide schools with access to expertise in understanding the rapidly emerging Circular Economy.
Our Facilitators
Bill Verhagen
Bill is a qualified Plastics Engineer and Business Graduate. He has 35+ years experience in plastics and packaging.
Bill was a Technical Specialist for one of Australia's first post-consumer plastics recycling projects, aimed at demonstrating that packaging could be recycled into new applications. He has worked on a number of developments, focused on improving packaging sustainability through Circular Economy principles.
Passionate about inspiring the next generation, Bill began educating in 2020. He is also the current Vice President of the Society Of Plastics Engineers (SPE) ANZ and a member of the Australian Institute Of Packaging (AIP).
Piers Mossuto
Piers is one of the innovators behind the development of the 'Zephyr Bros' machinery range by Precious Plastic Melbourne- a series of small-scale plastics processing equipment designed for use in education, small business and community settings.
Earlier in his career, Piers has also spent time working as a Training Manager in adult education.
Now an expert in the area of community-focused ‘micro’ recycling, Piers also has an extensive background in business, co-founding his first sustainability-focused SME in 2014.
Taylors Lakes Secondary College
"Our Year 7 LEAP class recently took part in an inspiring hands-on incursion with Precious Plastic Melbourne as part of our interdisciplinary unit, "Solution to Pollution" at Taylors Lakes Secondary College. This interactive session introduced students to plastic recycling and the concept of a circular economy, bridging classroom knowledge with practical sustainability practices. Bill from Precious Plastic Melbourne was both engaging and informative, guiding students through recycling techniques while emphasizing the importance of sustainability and responsible plastic use. Students were excited to create their own recycled items, choosing between a pen, a carabiner, or a Jenga block to take home as a reminder of their learning. This experience not only enhanced students' understanding of pollution solutions but also motivated them to think creatively about how they can make a positive impact in their own communities." Maria Lelekakis, LEAP Leader, Taylors Lakes Secondary College
Ivanhoe Grammar School
"Precious Plastic Melbourne played an integral role in the successful development and implementation of our small-scale circular economy plastic recycling program. Piers, Kayla and the team demonstrated an unwavering commitment to our cause from the very beginning. Their support and training of our lead staff was nothing short of exceptional. They patiently guided us through the intricacies of plastic recycling, ensuring that we felt confident and well-equipped to oversee the program effectively. PPM not only shared their knowledge with our staff but also engaged our students in a meaningful way. This approach to student involvement has not only contributed to the success of the program but also empowered the next generation with essential insights into sustainability and responsible plastic management." Rachelle Maynard, Head Of Learning Area ‑ STEM, Ivanhoe Grammar School
Burwood East Primary School
"From the moment Bill arrived, it was evident that he was passionate about his work and committed to educating young minds about the importance of recycling and sustainability. His enthusiasm was infectious, immediately capturing the attention and curiosity of our students. Bill began the session by sharing his extensive knowledge about plastic pollution and its detrimental effects on the environment. He explained the significance of reducing plastic waste and finding innovative ways to repurpose it. The information was presented in a manner that was engaging, age-appropriate, and easy to understand, ensuring that every student was actively involved. The highlight of the day was the hands-on workshop, where students had the opportunity to witness the transformation of plastic waste into useful items, which left our students in awe. The visit from Precious Plastic Melbourne was an invaluable addition to our curriculum." Angela Fattore, Grade 6 Teacher, Burwood East Primary School
Eastwood Primary School
"Piers' presentations were amazing. All the kids were so engaged and fascinated, and all the teachers loved it too! While they were all waiting to make their carabiners, they drew some wonderful pictures of the process. An amazing business creating useful products from recycled bottle tops! Everyone needs to see the wonderful creations and be a part of the process to reduce landfill and give plastic a new lease on life instead of being used as landfill and polluting our oceans and environment! Thank you Piers from Eastwood Primary School." Marina Stahl, Environmental Educator, Eastwood Primary School
Carey Grammar Baptist School
"The Precious Plastics presentation was a brilliant experience for students and for staff who are very new to this area of technology. Students loved the opportunity to learn more about where plastics come from, how plastics are classified and why they are all different. It was clear that many of them took the information at a very deep level and were keen to learn more. The opportunity to participate in hands on activities using the equipment that is used in industry to produce their own recycled plastic objects was particularly helpful. Students clearly found the session quite inspirational." Julie Wetherbee, Leader of Learning - Science, Carey Grammar Baptist School
East Doncaster Secondary College
"Thank you to the Precious Plastic Melbourne team for having us and taking us through product development in industry case study for my unit 3/4 SAC. Thank you for catering to our students and challenging them, and the cool pens." Ebony Pham, Product Design & Technology Teacher, East Doncaster Secondary College
Hampton Primary School
"Hampton Primary students and the staff involved would like to thank Bill and the team at Precious Plastic for the wonderful program they presented. The information shared and the engaging hands-on experience resonated with the kids and left us all feeling inspired and armed with a deeper understanding of the plastic problem and the ways in which future generations can work towards a more circular economy. Would highly recommend!" Dean Ross, Grade 5 Teacher, Hampton Primary School
Mount Lilydale Mercy College
"I had an incredible visit from Precious Plastic Melbourne. Their dedication to recycling and reducing plastic waste is genuinely inspiring. Bill’s passion and the innovative machines that transform plastic amazed me. The incursion was educational and linked nicely with the Product Design and Technology curriculum." Michael Dale, Teacher, Mount Lilydale Mercy College
Kardinia International College
"Bill was fantastic and pitched his information at the right level. Brought the world into them and what was possible. It wasn’t all negative, he provided a positive slant. Moved around and connected with the kids within the first minute – he engaged their passion. Kids opened up to him straight away. Honest, earnest conversation from Bill and the kids really felt he was in amongst them." Glenn Evans, Director Of Upper Primary, Kardinia International College
RMIT University
"I took my university design for sustainability class to visit PPM. The team were great at explaining the ideas behind Precious Plastic as well as the considerations and challenges that arise during the process. The students really loved the experience of seeing a real world design/manufacture business, working in sustainability. They got an overview of the design, prototyping and manufacturing processes. The hands on workshop was excellent also to get a tangible sense of what PPM is working towards. Definitely recommend to other university and school groups!" Tim Denshire-Key, Lecturer, RMIT University
Book a Precious Plastic Incursion today!
Pitch it to your school: Select & download our Education Programs Info Pack / Presentation via the links below.
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