Students from Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) schools have had the rare opportunity to get up close and personal with one of Australia’s biggest icons … the koala!

Students learning about wildlife conservation.

Eight SCS students visited Taronga Zoo where they met Baxter the Koala and some of his native friends.

They also got to speak with zoo keepers about koalas and the innovative conservation projects they are undertaking as part of SCS’ first Project Koala program.

“The koala is such an iconic Australian animal but there are very few natural habitats in NSW, so many students have never seen a koala in person before,” said Taronga Zoo’s education officer, Georgina Cairns, who is currently seconded to the zoo from SCS.

“Having students come to the zoo helps them to create a sense of empathy and a connection with the animals and gives them a better understanding of the importance of wildlife conservation.”

One of Taronga Zoo’s many in-situ education programs, Project Koala aims to get students to engage their local community to take action to help care for our koalas which, researchers estimate, are on track to be extinct as early as 2050 without significant ecological changes.

SCS’ participating schools are:

• Brigidine College Randwick
• Domremy College Five Dock
• St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School Marrickville
• St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Como
• St Michael’s Catholic Primary School Daceyville

Throughout 2020 zoo staff, with assistance from SCS teachers, have guided students in Year 3 to 10 to come up with a STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) based conservation solution to assist with the ongoing survival of …