• 10 to 20 minutes.

All compulsory questions with a red asterisk must be completed for the the submit button to become active.

Hume City's Seedlings for Schools (SFS) program provides free indigenous seedlings (locally evolved native species) to schools for students to plant. Schools choose from themed species boxes of seedlings.

SFS orders must be placed during July-August. The seedlings are then grown over summer and autumn. Seedlings will be delivered to schools in early Term 3 (late July) 2026.

Since 2014, 59,000 seedlings have been donated by Hume City to enhance school grounds and create outdoor classrooms. 

• All primary schools and secondary colleges located in Hume City are eligible to apply.
• Principals, teachers, grounds people, and business managers are welcome to apply.
• Interested parents can also apply on behalf of the school but must attach a letter of support from the school principal to their application (on page 7).

In 2025, schools can apply in this application to be part of a grant funded project, in partnership with Microsoft and the Grassy Plains Network.

There are funds available to set-up a garden at the school in 2026, have a Council supported planting event, and attend an excursion to a Native Grassland Field event.

• A minimum of 54 seedling tubestock and up to 540 seedlings (1 to 10 boxes).
  • The total demand from all schools will determine the number of seedlings provided to your school.
  • Species substitutions may be required depending on the success of seed collection and seedling propagation.
• Seedlings come in foam vegetable boxes.
  • Each box contains up to 54 labelled tubestock.
  • Intact foam boxes and plastic tubes can be recycled back to the Council depots in Sunbury and Coolaroo. More details will be provided in the confirmation letter sent to successful schools.
• Flora of Hume factsheets - See Council's Seedlings for Schools webpage
• Gardens for Wildlife spreadsheet with more details about the species of plants (this will be emailed as an attachment).
• iNaturalist instructions so students can become citizen scientists and take photos of the plants in the gardens (this will be emailed as an attachment).

• June 2025 – applications open on Mon 2 June and close Mon 30 June.
• October 2025 – schools are notified about the outcome of their application.
• June 2026 – schools receive a reminder email about their Term 3 seedling order and delivery date.
• Tuesday 28 July to Thursday 30 July 2026 - seedlings delivered to the school.
• Friday 31 July 2026 - Schools National Tree Day (https://treeday.planetark.org/)

For more information about the application process or to discuss your school's planting project please contact:

Melissa Doherty

Urban Biodiversity Officer

Community Health and Wellbeing, Hume City Council

melissado@hume.vic.gov.au

0409 702 086

03 9200 2200 (Customer Service)

SFS SmartyGrants Application Instructions

Flora of Hume factsheets on Seedlings for Schools webpage

• Bee and Butterfly Box
• Lizard Lounge Box
• Bird Bush Box
• Frog Bog Box
• Bush-tucker Box
• Windbreak Box