Sacred Earth, Sustainable Futures: First Nations Climate Playhouse
The world-first ‘Sacred Earth, Sustainable Futures: First Nations Climate Playhouse’ - an interactive climate solutions experience - was held during Climate Action Week Sydney 2025 at the Australian Museum.
The experience was supported by a 2024 Innovation and Ideas Grant from the City of Sydney, and was delivered by 100% First Nations owned business TIPIAC Pty Ltd and Be The Future, in collaboration with additional First Nations businesses.
Thank you to the Australian Museum, Greenhouse Climate Tech Hub and Environmental Education NSW for supporting the Innovation and Ideas Grant submission.
Photo credit: International Grammar School
The experience
The experience intertwined First Nations Caring for Country knowledge with the magic of embedding innovative nature-based solutions in our communities, creating a space for education, connection, and inspiration.
Students went on a journey to:
Connect: Immerse in a visually stunning Acknowledgement of Country - and connect to Country by decorating a recycled paper leaf with natural inks.
Explore: Use hands and feet to explore sacred earth imagery and sustainable futures imagery with interactive floor projection games.
Imagine: Imagine a greener future of Sydney with a Lego (or Duplo) powered mission, inspired by First Nations knowledge of Caring for Country.
Empower: Create native seed bombs for students to plant at home, giving students a tangible way to care for Country.
Interactive sustainability and First Nations perspectives integrated across learning areas
Primary schools: Science and Technology, Human Society and its Environment, and Creative Arts
Preschools: Outcomes 1,2,4 and 5 | Sustainability & Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives principles
Feedback from participating schools, early learning centres and community
Rated 4.9/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
100% of adult participants said they / their students gained new sustainability knowledge or skills
73% of adult participants said they believe they'll incorporate more sustainable learning activities with their students in future
“Interactive experience, engaging activities and speakers, great information provided, excellent team work activities”
“What’s my brother going to say about me having all this fun?” - early years student
“Brilliant experience, would attend more when offered”
“Excellent interactive, play based experiences with clear messages”
“Great variety of activities to engage the kids”
“Fun, engaging and informative”
“Informative, enthusiastic and knowledge”
“I really really really really really want to stay here another hundred days” - primary student
“It’s exactly the hope the kids need. And us”
“Loved the interactive aspect of the program, especially the seed bomb and Lego play”
International Grammar School Early Learning Case Study
IGS Early Learning was invited to take part in Sacred Earth, Sustainable Futures, recognising the School’s commitment to embedding First Nations perspectives and sustainability practices in education.
Ahead of the museum visit, IGS invited Sally Giblin, CoFounder of Be The Future, and Bonnie Cochrane, founder of TIPIAC, to visit their Early Learning Centre to observe the children’s engagement with First Nations knowledge, language and sustainability practices.
Photo credits: International Grammar School