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The Bayview Street Campus of Williamstown High School is dedicated to promoting environmental awareness. Our goal is to develop a national model for environmental education that will stimulate new approaches to environmental education. To involve people in an environmental education program that will engender excitement, pride and knowledge of Victoria’s marine environment so that our community will be inspired to conserve our unique marine ecosystems.
The Bayview St. campus of Williamstown High School is located only metres from the Jawbone Marine Reserve one of only 2 sanctuaries in Port Phillip Bay. It was a combination of perfect location and a passion for the environment that inspired Mr Steve Cook (Campus Principal) to begin a marine education program on this site.
In 2002 we obtained multiple licenses and developed the Williamstown Marine Education Centre. Staffed by our resident Marine Biologist (Garrett Drago) the centre has opened its doors to over 8000 visitors since its beginning. It has become recognized as a centre for excellence for marine education and has provided professional development opportunities for teachers across Victoria. The project began in 2001 with the development of a 5 week marine science curriculum written by Kate Hudson PHD (Marine Biology). Since then a program has been transformed into a semester long subject offered as an elective. Marine Science has been integrated into the middle year’s curriculum at years 7 and 8, with students studying Marine Classification and Marine Ecology respectively. The school offers the chance for interested students to further investigate the marine field in the Marine Science Club. The marine education program has previously extended its subject matter to include community projects such as crab surveys, water quality testing, reef surveys and litter counts. We have developed a number of marine based programs. These fully adaptable programs allow students from other schools to come to Williamstown High School and experience our centre and Victoria’s marine life up close. Our programs often utilize our amazing location while focusing on introduced species, adaptations and habitats. The Williamstown High School has developed partnerships with The Gould League, Mobil, the City of Hobson’s Bay and The Marine Discovery Centre Queenscliff. The facility is made available to these and other groups who work in association with Williamstown High School or may conduct their own activities within the facility. We infuse our academic program with environmental themes and issues. The curriculum develops our appreciation for and awareness of designed and natural environments. We are heavily involved in community based environmental projects that provide our students with hands on environmental experience.
Jawbone Marine Sanctuary In November 2002 the state government of Victoria declared 13 Marine National Parks and 11 Marine Sanctuaries throughout Victoria. This was to preserve some of Victoria’s finest habitats permanently. Fortunately for Williamstown High School one of the sanctuaries is located directly behind the school, the Jawbone Marine Sanctuary. Chosen because of its isolation from the public as a rifle range over the past 80 years, it remains relatively unspoilt. The sanctuary supports temperate habitats including rocky basalt reef, sea grass beds, sandy beach, inter-tidal mudflats, salt marsh, freshwater wetlands, coastal vegetation and the largest population of mangroves in Port Phillip. The site is thriving with sponges, algae, invertebrates and acts as a nursery for some juvenile animals. Some of the more common fish species seen include Whiting, Morwong, Globe fish and Zebra fish.
The Marine Education Centre
The centre was developed to promote awareness and evoke a passionate response from all that visit, to protect, nurture and appreciate our delicate marine ecosystem. Our animals are respected and cared for. Students are given opportunities to touch living organisms under strict instructions, however they are taught that touching the organisms is a privilege, not a right. Our Marine Education Centre doubles as a Science room that has undergone a number of modifications. Our Marine Biologist/Aquarist (Garrett Drago) is responsible for the collection, setup and maintenance of the facility and is heavily involved with writing or implementing all programs within the facility. Williamstown High School has a license to capture and display the species within the centre. Organisms not covered in our permit are outsourced from aquariums or fish breeders. The Centre has a large selection of artifacts collected locally and beyond. The artifacts wall is composed of marine plants, animals and other marine objects that have been washed onto beaches during storms. There is also a wave tank, educational tools and fabulous posters scattered throughout the centre. The centre currently consists of nine tanks with over 3500 litres of water. We have eight temperate water tanks and a large 1000 litre tropical reef tank. Each display has a mechanical, biological and chemical filter as well as their own chillers or heater to regulate the desired temperatures. Habitat tanks are located in the centre of the room, these habitats include a Rock Pool (Touch Tank), Sandy beach and Seagrass habitat. We have themed an introduced tank and stocked it with exotic marine species to alert the community of unwanted organisms. Our most recent addition is an amazing Gloomy Octopus whose feeding antics captivate all who visit. Other tanks include a beautifully coloured Algae tank (Seaweed), a Rocky Reef Tank, Seahorse tank and a shark tank, which is home to two juvenile Port Jackson Sharks. Our largest tank is our tropical coral reef tank that is home to a clownfish, lionfish, and many species of coral, fish and “Gilbert” our Speckled Epaulette Shark. Most of our organisms are common representatives of the beautiful Southern Ocean. Our tropical display is a tiny representative of Australia’s amazing Great Barrier Reef, where the inhabitance originated. Some other organisms displayed in the Marine Education Facility are;
Thanks to MOBIL, The City of Hobson’s Bay and the Department of Education/Innovations Commission. Without their help the Marine Education Centre would not have been possible.
Programs A qualified marine scientist leads each program, which operates throughout the year. The programs offered focus on VELS standards within the discipline based learning strand. Programs are adaptable, running for approximately 1.5 hrs. The following programs are particularly suited to secondary students, however all are fully adaptable upon request.
Marine Environment Programs
What lies beneath? This program involves students drawing connections between physical and biological worlds in a marine setting. It explores the concepts of ecosystems, environments and community. Students are introduced to the various marine environments of Port Phillip Bay and the ecology of local marine rock pools. Alien Adaptations This program investigates the unique marine organisms of Port Phillip Bay, their adaptations and survival mechanisms. It looks at ways in which each organism interacts with its environment. Students are introduced to a squid or fish, which they are to dissect after some thorough structural examinations. Underwater Impostors This program introduces students to exotic and foreign organisms of Port Philip Bay. It examines the environmental problems caused by these organisms and the need for management of these species. The issues of marine pollution and a marine sanctuary in a near city environment are explored. Enquiries regarding program details and bookings can be directed to Garrett Drago, email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Williamstown High School front office on 9399 9228
The Future We actively seek public and private partnerships with organizations dedicated to environmental education and have formed partnerships with: Parks Victoria, The Marine Discovery Centre Queenscliff, and the City of Hobson’s Bay. We are currently seeking to establish links with tertiary institutions in order to raise the academic profile of our programs.Currently, we are seeking outside support in order to provide the school with the resources we need to develop and implement our innovative environmental programs.This would enable the development of a green building designed by environmental architects that in itself would become an educational resource designed to raise awareness of the impact that the environment has upon our lives.As a model school for environmental education we will:
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