Who is involved?
To date, the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative has been co-ordinated at the national level by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts in association with the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
AuSSI has been developed in partnership between the Australian Government, state and territory environment and education departments. It is being implemented in each state and territory using a variety of different models.
AuSSI is currently operating in about 2,500 schools (25% of schools nationally) in all states and territories.
Students, school leaders, teachers, school staff, P&C groups, parents, community members, businesses, local government and non-government organisations are all able to get involved in AuSSI.
Australian Government, State and Territory Education Authorities
The Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative is a partnership between the Australian Government, States and Territories that supports schools to work towards a sustainable future. State and Territory education authorities have supported AuSSI since its inception.
Education authorities are crucial to the success of AuSSI. The articulate and support a common set of values and principles about the AuSSI and support the vision;
For all Australian schools and their communities to be sustainable.
Federal, state and territory education authorities have:
- Embedded environmental education for sustainability into state and territory policy and curriculum frameworks
- Shown leadership and commitment to sustainability by making changes to their own operational practices, policies, training processes and facilities management
- Cooperated with schools on specific sustainability actions
- Visited schools and contributed to school sustainability planning and actions
- Supported schools with resources, program ideas, auditing expertise and grant opportunities
- Provided professional learning and pre-service training to ensure teachers and trainees are able to engage in continuous development of the knowledge, understandings and skills to support studies in education for sustainability
- Trained school based staff and students in sustainability matters
- Acknowledged AuSSI and AuSSI schools in discussions, planning, public communications and resourcing
- Supported sustainable infrastructure policies
- Supported sustainable resource management strategies and reporting
- Recognised schools and school networks publicly for sustainability successes
- Recognised staff and students for sustainability achievements
- Coordinated and sponsored student sustainability councils and forums
- Developed mechanisms to enable schools to share resources and examples of good practice
'In Australia, the Sustainable Schools Initiative is among the most significant educational initiatives in the country over recent years (Pederson, Dymont & Tilbury, 2004)'
Australian Government, State and Territory Environmental Agencies
Australian Government, state and territory environment agencies have worked in partnership with education authorities to develop and implement AuSSI across Australia.
Environmental authorities are crucial to the success of AuSSI they articulate and support a common set of values and principles about the AuSSI and support the vision;
For all Australian schools and their communities to be sustainable.
Federal, state and territory environment authorities have;
- Supported schools to implement sustainability education and environmental management
- Formed partnerships with AuSSI schools to assist them to work towards sustainability
- Cooperated with schools on specific sustainability actions
- Visited schools and resources, program ideas, auditing expertise and grant opportunities
- Supported schools with resources, program ideas, auditing expertise and grant opportunities
- Provided professional learning and training to ensure teachers are able to use environmental management processes within AuSSI
- Trained schools based staff and students in sustainability matters
- Supported the development and implementation of environmental management plans in schools
- Engaged schools in the environmental agency's sustainability programs
- Recognised schools and school networks publicly for sustainability successes
- Recognised staff and students for sustainability achievements
- Coordinated and sponsored student sustainability councils and forums.
"The challenge for the sustainability of a sustainable school initiative is to establish strong strategic alliance and partnerships with key stakeholders through deep connections and conversations to establish synergies that focus on common goals" Cam MacKenzie, Education Queensland
Students
The most important participants in AuSSI are students.
"Young people should be meaningful contributors to AuSSI for three main reasons. Firstly, because being sustainable means being inclusive (not exclusive). Secondly, because young people can contribute just as meaningfully as older people. And thirdly, because the whole idea of Sustainable Schools relies on students to make it work."
Nicola Simpson, Youth Environment Council South Australia
Not only do students learn a great deal by being involved in sustainable school initiatives, they can shape the way they are prioritised and developed.
"It is essential that we remember a sustainable future cannot be created without considering and involving young people. We all need to use our hearts, heads and hands to work in partnership with one another, to make sure that the systems we live by are owned by young and old alike, and that they are feasible, not only for this generation, but all generations that follow. It is imperative that in creating a sustainable future, we are working with our youth, and not just for them."
Amy Ralfs, Youth Environment Council of South Australia
Decisions about what to focus on in AuSSI, what levels of aspirations to set, how to engage others, when to publicise and celebrate successes - can all be informed by students.
If a school is trying to implement AuSSI, then it is vital for students to be meaningfully involved and given ownership of the process.
Links:
- SA Youth Environment Council
- Queensland Youth Environment Council
- United Nations Youth Association of Australia
- Millennium Kids
- TUNZA- the youth arm of the United Nations Environment Program
- CSD Youth Caucus
School leaders
School leadership teams including the Principal, Deputy and Heads of Department can play an important role in supporting progress towards sustainable schools, from the initial idea to supporting others with ongoing ideas and encouragement.
School leaders can:
- Give open support for sustainable school actions and learning
- Support professional development initiatives on sustainability and environmental education for sustainability for teachers, students and non-teaching staff
- Make resources and time available for teachers to plan and implement appropriate classroom and whole-school initiatives in sustainability
- Support the development of whole-school sustainability action plans
- Involve students and teachers in the development of these plans
- Ensure these plans are informed by indigenous knowledge, experience and perspectives
- Support the development of policies that identify sustainable school operations
- Engage parent associations and student committees in the development and implementation of these plans
- Establish a School Sustainability Planning Committee
- Share progress reports with parents and the school community
- Recognise teaching, non-teaching staff and students publicly for sustainability efforts
- Publicise and celebrate whole-school achievements in sustainability
- Cooperate with local community organisations, including environmental and indigenous groups, on specific sustainability actions
- Support the development of partnerships with government and non-government organisations to implement sustainability initiatives
- Support the establishment of relationships with local businesses for cooperative actions and support
- Encourage and actively participate in local media opportunities to showcase school sustainability activities and learning.
"Education for sustainability centres the learner in the inquiry process for transformational change-thinking, learning, action for the environment and sustainability. To develop capacity for environmental education for sustainability, schools need to engage in quality learning, teaching and curriculum processes."
Josephine Lang, RMIT University, Melbourne.
School teachers and other staff
School personnel play a vital role in helping the school learn about and become involved in AuSSI. They play an important role in the planning, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of sustainable school initiatives. And, they can be champions for making it all happen!
Teachers and non-teaching staff can:
- Use teaching and learning approaches based on systems thinking, critical reflection, futures thinking, values clarification and critical and creative thinking
- Employ action learning strategies
- Envision, discuss and explore different futures
- Relate learning to local, national and international sustainability issues
- Ensure learning is continuous, ongoing and relevant to the world students live in and work
- Relate learning to the use and management of resources across the whole school
- Explore sustainability curriculum links in different learning areas
- Work with other schools, co-create initiatives, share and develop locally relevant networks
- Set the tone for others to follow
- Model positive attitudes and values with regard to the Initiative
- Communicate a shared visions of sustainable schools to all school staff, students and wider community
- Use the school grounds and surrounding areas as a focus for the AuSSI
- Introduce enlightened sustainability policies and practices
- Integrate sustainable practices into their lives.
"Helping young children develop a sense of place, personal accountability, social responsibility and an understanding of the links that exist between them can be an adventure." Kathryn Netherwood, Teacher, Lance Holt School, WA
Parents and Citizens Groups (P&Cs)
P&C groups can be involved and work in partnership with schools in AuSSI to support the vision
For all Australian schools and their communities to be sustainable.
P&C groups can:
- Support schools to implement sustainability education and environmental management
- Form partnerships with the schools to assist them to work towards sustainability
- Cooperate with schools on specific sustainability actions
- Visit the school, talk at assembly and address specific classes
- Engage other parents in what AuSSI is all about
- Support schools with resources, programme ideas, expertise and writing grant submissions
- Sponsor school-based sustainability projects
- Get involved in the development of sustainability projects, e.g. school garden, worm farm, no waste lunch boxes
- Write relevant articles for the school newsletter
- Recognise students and teachers publicly for sustainability achievements
- Coordinate and sponsor student sustainability councils and forums.
Parents and local community members
Parents and local community members can be involved and work in partnership with schools in AuSSI and support the vision:
For all Australian schools and their communities to be sustainable.
Parents and local community members can:
- Encourage and support a sustainable lifestyle in the home, garden or wherever children and young people are growing up so that the messages received at school are reinforced
- Support schools to take a more active approach to sustainability
- Support schools implement sustainability education and environmental management
- Form partnerships with the schools to assist them to work towards sustainability
- Cooperate with schools on specific sustainability actions
- Visit the school, talk at assembly and address specific classes
- Engage other community members in what AuSSI is all about
- Support schools with resources, programme ideas, expertise and writing grant submissions
- Sponsor school-based sustainability projects
- Get involved in the development of sustainability projects, e.g. school garden, worm farm, no waste lunch boxes
- Write relevant articles for the school newsletter
- Recognise students and teachers publicly for sustainability achievements
- Coordinate and sponsor student sustainability councils and forums.
"Many environmental education developments are best achieved through collaborative action with their local and broader community." Greg Hunt, Waterkeepers Australia
Businesses
Businesses can be involved and work in partnership with schools in AuSSI and support the vision:
For all Australian schools and their communities to be sustainable.
Businesses and their personnel can:
- Support schools to implement sustainability education and environmental management
- Ensure that their goods and services demonstrate high environmental standards that reflect energy efficiency, waste minimisation and conservation of natural resources
- Form partnerships with AuSSI schools to assist them to work towards sustainability
- Cooperate with schools on specific sustainability actions
- Visit schools and contribute to school sustainability planning and actions
- Support schools with resources, program ideas, auditing expertise and grant opportunities
- Sponsor school-based sustainability projects
- Support the development and implementation of sustainability management plans in schools
- Engage schools in the their sustainability programs
- Recognise schools and school networks publicly for sustainability successes
- Recognise staff and students for sustainability achievements
- Coordinate and sponsor student sustainability councils and forums.
Local Government
Local Government personnel can be involved and work in partnership with schools in AuSSI and support the vision;
For all Australian schools and their communities to be sustainable.
Local Government personnel can:
- Support schools to implement sustainability education and environmental management
- Form partnerships with AuSSI schools to assist them to work towards sustainability
- Cooperate with schools on specific sustainability actions
- Visit schools and contribute to school sustainability planning and actions
- Support schools with resources, programme ideas, auditing expertise and grant opportunities
- Provide professional development and pre-service training to ensure teachers and trainees are able to use environmental management processes within AuSSI
- Train school based staff and students in sustainability matters
- Support the development and implementation of sustainability management plans in schools
- Engage schools in the their sustainability programs
- Recognise schools and school networks publicly for sustainability successes
- Recognise staff and students for sustainability achievements
- Coordinate and sponsor student sustainability councils and forums
- Invite schools to make use of their Local Government facilities, e.g. Council Chamber.
Non-government organisations
A range of non-government organisations or community groups can be involved and work in partnership with schools in AuSSI and support the vision:
For all Australian schools and their communities to be sustainable.
Non-government organisations can:
- Support schools to implement sustainability education and environmental management
- Form partnerships with AuSSI schools to assist them to work towards sustainability
- Cooperate with schools on specific sustainability actions
- Visit schools and contribute to school sustainability planning and actions
- Support schools with resources, program ideas, auditing expertise and grant opportunities
- Provide professional development and pre-service training to ensure teachers and trainees are able to use environmental management processes within AuSSI
- Train school based staff and students in sustainability matters
- Support the development and implementation of sustainability management plans in schools
- Engage schools in the their sustainability programs
- Recognise schools and school networks publicly for sustainability successes
- Recognise staff and students for sustainability achievements.
See also
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