Fairbridge College Black Cockatoo Project: Community Support & Partnership Update
Fairbridge College is thrilled to announce a vital environmental project, passionately driven by our students and inspired by Michelle Dado’s powerful Australian documentary, The Power of Activism. This award-winning film, celebrating the impact of young people in confronting environmental challenges, has ignited a profound passion within our student body to enact real change in our local community.
Our students have chosen to focus on a critical issue: the preservation of the endangered Black Cockatoo. This initiative, the Fairbridge College Black Cockatoo Project, aims to not only educate our community about the challenges these magnificent birds face but also to actively contribute to their survival.
Students Driving Change: Active Initiatives
Our students are determined to make a tangible difference through a range of activities:
Educating the Community: Raising awareness about threats to Black Cockatoos, including habitat loss and food scarcity. This includes creating a book to supply to local primary schools to educate the younger members of the community.
Creating Supportive Habitats: Building and installing cocky troughs and nesting boxes, along with planting trees/bushes and germinating seeds to provide essential resources. Culminating in the establishment of a Black Cockatoo Sanctuary.
Promoting Sustainable Practices: Advocating for and implementing environmentally friendly practices within Fairbridge Village and the broader community.
Creative Engagement: Painting school murals (including the NEST), creating songs, and producing a mini-documentary to share their message.
Driving Long-Term Positive Change: Fostering a lasting commitment to environmental stewardship among students, residents, and local organisations.
Call for Continued Community Support & Partnerships
We believe that by working together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of these endangered birds and contribute to the overall health of our local ecosystem. We are actively fostering community partnerships to amplify our impact, and we are delighted to confirm that Alcoa and Bunnings are already proudly supporting the Fairbridge College Black Cockatoo Project.
We are reaching out to you, our valued community members and potential partners, to seek your further support in this crucial endeavor. Your involvement can take many forms:
Financial Contributions: Donations to purchase materials for nesting boxes, feeding stations, and educational resources.
In-Kind Support: Provision of materials, tools, or expertise related to construction, habitat restoration, or environmental education.
Volunteer Assistance: Participation in building projects, community outreach events, or educational workshops.
Partnerships and Collaboration: Working with us to promote sustainable practices within your organisation and the wider community.
Promotional Support: Helping us spread awareness about our project through your networks and platforms.
We envision this project to continue as a collaborative effort, bringing together the collective strength of our community to protect and preserve our natural heritage. By supporting the Fairbridge College Black Cockatoo Project, you are investing in the future of our environment and empowering our young people to become responsible and active citizens.
Looking Ahead: Community Screening & National Impact
At the end of the term, July 2nd, we will co-host a special community event featuring Michelle Dado-Millynn herself, who will visit for a community screening of her full-length documentary, The Power of Activism, alongside our students’ mini-documentary. This community-wide event will be run in collaboration with Halls Head College, as they are also participating in this important initiative. The event will take place at Peel Thunder’s Lane Group Stadium, Platinum Room 6pm to 9pm.
Fairbridge College is proud to be one of only seven schools nationwide taking part, with ambitious plans to expand this documentary and our school projects nationally and internationally next year.
Beyond Books and Classrooms: Students Learn and Thrive
in the Student-Led Black Cockatoo Project
Fairbridge College recently hosted a special school and community screening of the Black Cockatoo Project on Wednesday, 2 July 2025. The school screening took place at the Lady Kyle Theatrette, while the community screening was held at Peel Thunder Stadium on the same day. The inspiring film, which highlights cultural heritage, resilience, and the importance of protecting our environment, brought together students, staff, and community members to engage in meaningful conversations about conservation and cultural understanding.
The students thoroughly enjoyed working together as a team throughout this project—from conducting research, applying for a grant, filming, and creating artworks to making the cockathrough. They did an outstanding job in every aspect, proving that learning goes far beyond books and classrooms, with hands-on experiences helping them grow and thrive.
The event provided a fantastic opportunity for learning beyond the classroom, encouraging students to reflect on the themes of the film and discuss how they can contribute to positive change within their own communities. It was also a wonderful way to strengthen connections between our school and the broader community through a shared learning experience.
A heartfelt thank you to Michelle Dado-Millynn, Halls Head College, our students, staff, parents, and the communities who participated in and supported this project. Your involvement helped make the screening a great success, and we look forward to seeing you all in our next exciting project.
Check out the photos of the project and the screening below:
Fairbridge College is proudly operated by Fairbridge WA Limited, a youth-focused organisation supporting education, training and community development across Western Australia.
Fairbridge WA Limited acknowledges and respects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the traditional owners of this land. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
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