Staff Champion category

Dr Grey Coupland developed and leads Murdoch University’s Miyawaki Forest Outreach Program, empowering students and communities to create dense native pocket forests that support urban greening, biodiversity restoration and climate action. Since 2021, the program has grown to 24 school and community forests, engaged more than 5,200 participants, and generated over 40,000 citizen-science data points on biodiversity, soil health and urban cooling.

By combining circular-economy composting, hands-on ecological restoration, STEM learning and long-term forest monitoring, Grey has helped transform schools into living laboratories and supported communities to take practical environmental action. The program has informed WA’s approach to urban greening, received UNESCO Green Citizens recognition, and gained national finalist recognition through the Banksia Foundation Awards and Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, demonstrating meaningful environmental and societal impact beyond the university.

Dr Grey Coupland – Murdoch University
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Top 3 learnings

  • "I learned students engage most deeply when they create visible, lasting environmental change themselves."
  • "I found long-term monitoring turns planting into stewardship, learning and stronger connection with nature."
  • "I learned strong partnerships make ambitious projects possible, scalable and more impactful."

Supported by

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Category finalists

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Staff Champion category

Dr Grey Coupland developed and leads Murdoch University’s Miyawaki Forest Outreach Program, empowering students and communities to create dense native pocket forests that support urban greening, biodiversity restoration and climate action. Since 2021, the program has grown to 24 school and community forests, engaged more than 5,200 participants, and generated over 40,000 citizen-science data points on biodiversity, soil health and urban cooling.

By combining circular-economy composting, hands-on ecological restoration, STEM learning and long-term forest monitoring, Grey has helped transform schools into living laboratories and supported communities to take practical environmental action. The program has informed WA’s approach to urban greening, received UNESCO Green Citizens recognition, and gained national finalist recognition through the Banksia Foundation Awards and Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, demonstrating meaningful environmental and societal impact beyond the university.

Dr Grey Coupland – Murdoch University

Top 3 learnings

  • "I learned students engage most deeply when they create visible, lasting environmental change themselves."
  • "I found long-term monitoring turns planting into stewardship, learning and stronger connection with nature."
  • "I learned strong partnerships make ambitious projects possible, scalable and more impactful."
Dr Grey Coupland – Murdoch University

Supported by

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