Local eco-advocate Julia “Julz” Strykowski has been recognised for her efforts in environmental education, as part of the NSW Environmental Education Awards.
Ms Strykowski was awarded Government Educator of the Year for her work as an education officer with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services.
Spanning over 30 years’ experience in children’s environment education, she says she felt honoured to receive the award, despite her passion for the job making it not feel like work at all.
Ms Strykowski leads a project-based learning initiative for students in western Sydney which encourages and supports teachers’ capacity to deliver their own environmental learning programs in and outside the classroom.
She believes that connecting with children at a young age to teach them about the environment will help inform their perspective into the future.
“It’s so important for teachers to reflect on where it started for them or where the seeds were sown and what was missing,” she said.
“For me, I’m really lucky to have had a formative root from a young age when it came to nature and I want to give that back to children here.
“It doesn’t matter where you live, whether that’s in an apartment or townhouse, there is nature in your backyard and at the end of your street, so it’s important for everyone.”
Ms Strykowski is also well-known in the Parramatta community for her dedicated volunteer efforts with local environment groups.
Some of these include Plastic Free Parramatta, Plastic Pluckers, PuckFastic, and Boomerang Bags Parramatta.
She believes it’s her duty as a citizen and environment academic to promote sustainability within the Parramatta community.
“It’s that whole mentality of act locally, think globally and extending my own passion and nature for wildlife to my whole community,” she said.
“There’s plenty of environmental issues anywhere and I feel like it is my duty as a citizen to do something about that.”
In addition to her almost 20 years with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, she also worked for 15 years as a Taronga Zoo Education Officer, Botanic Gardens Education Officer and in local government.
Ms Strykowski said she feels humbled to have been recognised and hopes to continue to empower schools and communities to lead innovation for the environment, influencing others to follow in her footsteps.
Troy Dodds is Parra News' Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.