On November 5, Ms Khamsone received a highly commended in the NSW Community Educator of the Year Awards.

AAEE NSW patron, Costa Georgiadis and Matt Kean, Minister for Energy and Environment, lent their support to the event and over 60 people joined in online to hear the winners announced.

Each year these awards promote and recognise individuals, organisations and programs in NSW that have provided leadership and inspiration to others while contributing to quality environmental education.

Ms Khamsone is a creative education professional who works in and models sustainability in the community.

She has been teaching sustainability in the Port Macquarie-Hastings region for four years and has educated over 10,000 school students and teachers in 22 primary schools about organic recycling, waste reduction, sustainable living and circular economy.

Ms Khamsone has developed two schools sustainability education modules that embed local indigenous perspectives into the Impact Environmental Schools education program.

This has involved filming local Birpai woman Arly McInerney who speaks on aspects of culture and country to educate teachers and students in mainstream classrooms.

Teacher and student evaluation data shows that the program is not only educating about sustainability, but increasing community cultural understanding.

A firefighter with the Hollisdale RFS for six years, Ms Khamsone spent many months fighting fires in the 2019-2020 bushfire season. She has been able to draw on this experience to provide real examples in the classroom of the effects of climate change and the need to change behaviours for a sustainable future.

Ms Khamsone has also branched into early childhood education working as an educator at The Nature School on the early years program in Port Macquarie. This is an innovative program for preschoolers run solely outdoors in nature.

Additionally, this year Ms Khamsone is delivering the What's Waste module in local preschools with Impact Environmental on behalf of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.

Impact Environmental education spokesperson, Jacqui Murray, said Ms Khamsone has been integral to sustainability education of both students and teachers in the Port Macquarie Hastings area.

"Her knowledge of local sustainability subject matter is second to none, and this combined with her wonderful gentle manner with students makes her an excellent choice for this award," she said.

"Chay is a teacher by vocation, showing her commitment to sustainability and community in both her work and home life. She is a valuable asset to our community."

Sue Martin, president of AAEE NSW, said the extent of quality environmental education across the state in schools, early learning centres, tertiary institutions, government and in the community is exceptional.

"The assessment process was incredibly difficult and while each of our winners should be so proud of what they have achieved, every nominee deserves to be celebrated."

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