Celebrate World Reef Day!
Celebrate World Reef Day and the incredible oceanic diversity we are blessed with.
More than 70 Traditional Owner groups have rich, ongoing connections, rights, interests and aspirations in the land and sea country of the Great Barrier Reef.
Australian Fundraising and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation extend their deepest respect and recognition to all Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef as First Nations Peoples holding the hopes, dreams, traditions and cultures of the Reef.
The Largest Living Structure on Earth!
While we celebrate coral reefs across the world on World Reef Day, in Australia, there is no denying that we have a special role in protecting our unique living icon: the Great Barrier Reef.
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on Earth, with rich corals spanning an area larger than New Zealand! Visible from space, there is no denying the splendor and unique beauty of our Reef. The Reef is home to thousands of species of marine life, including fish, whales, dolphins and six of the world’s seven species of marine turtle!
In addition, thousands of people rely on the Great Barrier Reef! Whether it’s for work, spiritual connection, leisure or food, everyone has a unique and important reason to protect the Reef from destruction.
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure in the world – and can be seen from space!
The Reef Needs You!
This World Reef Day, attention is pointing to the many manmade and natural factors that are contributing to the decline of our reefs. The Great Barrier Reef particularly is coming under increasing pressure from a variety of factors, including increasingly intense natural events (like cyclones), and manmade pressures such as pollution and poor water quality.
Although it seems like a daunting task to try and save the Great Barrier Reef, there is hope if many people work together. By investing in research, spreading awareness and making small but impactful changes to our day-to-day life, the Reef can be protected and restored for generations to come.
Celebrate World Reef Day!
Everyone has a role to play in protecting our reefs – there is something for everyone! Discover five ways you can get involved in protecting our Reef on World Reef Day!
Saving the marine animals are just one reason we need to protect the reef!
Waste-Free Wednesday!
This year, World Reef Day lands on Wednesday, 1 June 2022! Why not hold a Waste-Free Wednesday on World Reef Day?
Pollution and waste is one of the biggest threats to marine life, especially plastic bottles and bags, food packaging and packing materials. This is because rubbish and pollution can cause marine animals to choke, drown or even starve! Large amounts of waste in a single area can also limit sunlight to the ocean floor and reduce water quality, making it difficult for reefs, seagrass and other life to grow and survive.
Hosting a Waste-Free Wednesday encourages students to look for ways to reduce rubbish and waste, and consider more sustainable choices. You may encourage students to bring their lunch in reusable containers or paper-based packaging. You may also remove items from your tuckshop or canteen that come in throw-away packaging, such as ice-blocks or styrofoam food containers.
Plastic bags are particularly threatening to animals that eat jellyfish, as they look very similar in the water.
Say No To Incentive Prizes
You can reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfill by saying no to incentive prizes! When you host a School Run 4 Fun with Australian Fundraising, you have the choice to replace incentive prizes with tree or coral planting! For every $20 raised by your school or group, Carbon Neutral or the Great Barrier Reef Foundation will plant a native tree/shrub in the Yarra Yarra Biodiveristy Corridor, or one coral in the Great Barrier Reef!
Not only does tree or coral planting help keep unwanted plastic out of landfill, it also opens up opportunities to discuss sustainability and environmentally friendly choices with students and participants.
Go Green School Run 4 Fun programs at Australian Fundraising come with ALL the fun of a Colour Explosion, Slime Spectacular or Colour Splatacular school fun run without the waste. Ask us how you can participate in a Go Green School Run 4 Fun today!
Coral planting is one way you can help restore and protect the reef.
Learn More About School Fun Runs!
Plant-A-Difference!
If hosting a School Run 4 Fun is too large of a commitment but you’d still love to fundraise and support coral planting on the Great Barrier Reef, then the Plant-A-Difference is perfect for you! Without having to host an event, you can fundraise for your school or group entirely online.
Similar to the Go Green School Run 4 Fun, Carbon Neutral or the Great Barrier Reef Foundation will plant one tree/shrub or coral for every $20 raised! You will keep 65% of your school’s fundraised amount, and the remaining 35% covers tree and coral planting, your interactive fundraising platform, dedicated account manager and additional resources.
Every participant that raises $50 or more will also go into the draw to win a 5-night luxury Great Barrier Reef holiday!
Help your students make a difference this World Reef Day with a Plant-A-Difference fundraiser!
Learn More About Plant-A-Difference!
Host a Lunch-Time Movie
Give students an opportunity to learn more about the Reef and life in the oceans by showing a documentary or classic ocean-oriented film during the lunch break! Perhaps show Our Blue Planet or Blue Planet II by David Attenborough, or Finding Nemo!
If you are looking for something more interactive, perhaps you might find the perfect range of Reef-related activities in the Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s Kids Corner!
Lead a Lesson about Reefs
Similarly, there are lots of ways you can incorporate learning and appreciation of the Reef into your classroom!
There are lots of resources, worksheets, and videos online about the role of coral reefs and why they need to be protected. You may wish to welcome a marine biologist or reef expert from your local university or museum to come and share with the students. If they are unavailable on World Reef Day, they can certainly point you in the direction of other interactive experiences.
Classroom activities are a great way to spread awareness and educate students about the Reef.
Make a Difference Today!
There have never been more ways to help protect our Reef while fundraising for your school or group. With Australian Fundraising’s new partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation , you can plant a coral on the Great Barrier Reef for every $20 raised!
If your school or group would like to celebrate World Reef Day while fundraising for your own worthy cause, get in touch with Australian Fundraising! Submit a booking form below, or contact our friendly team of Fundraising Specialists on 1300 133 022 today!
Book A Fundraiser Today!
