Year eight students from Trafalgar High School have stepped out of the classroom and into the field, presenting the findings of their recent environmental study at a retired mine site.
The site, which operated as a small-scale open cut mine from the 1960s before being rehabilitated into a pit lake in the 1980s, served as the perfect setting for practical, hands-on learning.
Thanks to a partnership with the Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority (MLRA), students conducted an immersive field day to answer a critical question: Is this a healthy environment?
Throughout the excursion, students took part in hands-on environmental science activities such as vegetation surveys, soil sampling and analysis, water testing from the pit lake and local taps, and biodiversity monitoring through plant identification and animal observation.
Upon returning to school, students compiled scientific reports summarising their results and presented their findings directly to the team at the MLRA.
The process gave students valuable insight into conducting research, collecting data, and articulating results - a foundation that will benefit students for future studies.
The response from students was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing fascination at the similarities and differences between water sources and the broader impact of mine rehabilitation.
Their curiosity and growing expertise reflected a deepening awareness of environmental health and sustainability.
"This field trip provided an opportunity for the budding science students, to not just learn about mine rehabilitation but see it first-hand," MLRA chief executive officer Jen Brereton said.
The school's partnership with the MLRA continues to provide meaningful real-world learning experiences that nurture critical thinking, scientific literacy, and environmental stewardship.
MLRA is an independent authority working with community, industry and government. The MLRA facilitates the rehabilitation of declared mine sites to work collaboratively towards safe, stable and sustainable landforms for the beneficial use of future generations.