Planet Positive action inspired by First Nations Elders

03/07/23. By Karen Green.

Applied Sciences student Brittany Winter.

Brittany Winter is a proud young woman of Wiradjuri Descent, living on Whadjuk Noongar Country while studying applied sciences at Curtin University’s Centre for Aboriginal Studies. She is also a student champion for Curtin’s new Planet Positive Program.

More and more young people are realising they have inherited the responsibility for tackling climate change and other environmental challenges, and that to take effective action they need a combination of scientific knowledge and engagement skills. To meet that need, as well as the growing industry demand for uni graduates with ‘green skills’, Curtin University has created a new qualification for undergraduates to earn called Planet Positive. The qualification can be embedded in some degrees, or students may choose to add it to their current degree.

Brittany is part of a group of Planet Positive Student Champions who are working with Curtin to promote the Planet Positive Program and raise associated scholarship funds. Brittany’s support for Planet Positive complements her current degree in Indigenous Community Development and Management, enabling her to share her cultural knowledge and Indigenous identity with others.

She explains that it was the wisdom of the Elders in her life that inspired her to become a Planet Positive Student Champion.

“I have been fortunate to travel and live in many Australian communities, and the guidance I’ve received from Elders throughout my journey has been pivotal in staying true to myself as an Aboriginal woman, and in my passion for the environment,” she says.

“Our Elders have seen the effects of climate change in their communities. Their knowledge of land management, their resilience and their cultural knowledge are important to achieving a thriving, sustainable future.”

Sustainability expert and program co-designer Professor John Byrne says that through Planet Positive, students will gain the expertise and confidence to champion positive environmental change.

“While we need everyone to take responsibility for tackling climate change issues like biodiversity loss and waste generation, university students and graduates should take the lead in this space,” he says.

Brittany agrees, and again highlights the value of the wisdom of Elders.

“Being ‘Planet Positive’ is about me as an individual and my social responsibility, but Elders continue to provide generational guidance – drawing on knowledge from their experiences as Indigenous Australians and sharing these through our cultural practices such as stories, song and dance.”

This article was originally written by Karen Green and published here by The West on 3 July 2023.

Learn more about Brittany’s story here.

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