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Sustainability Education
The Council were provided with an update on development of the new National Action Plan for Education for Sustainable Development (NAP ESD) by the consultant. Members were asked to review a draft discussion paper to be used as basis for community consultations for the NAP ESD, and to provide any comments or issues of concern surrounding the next phases of the Plan's development.
The Council attended the conference dinner and the opening day of the AAEE Conference in Bunbury WA, including a presentation by Millennium Kids. The Council met at Edith Cowan University and discussed the need to operationalise the Australian Government Strategy for the UNDESD following its release at the AAEE conference. The commencement of the development of the new National Action Plan for Education for Sustainable Development was considered. The Council agreed to progress development of a case study on Noosa Shire Council as an example of sustainable development in practice.
Members discussed recommended definitions of sustainable development and education for sustainable development in order to agree on a preferred term. An update was provided on the status of the Australian Government Strategy for the UNDESD. Members provided input on the scope and process for the steering committee for the development of a new National Action Plan for Education for Sustainable Development and discussed research priorities for ARIES in the upcoming period. The CEO of Noosa Council presented on Noosa's population cap and community participation in local development. The CEO of the CRC for Coastal Zone Estuary Management presented on the process of multi-stakeholder engagement and joint learning used by the CRC in its projects.
The Council met with the Minister to discuss current priorities and opportunities in sustainability education. Members reviewed the revised draft Australian Government Strategy for the UNDESD, including responses and input by a range of Australian Government Ministers. The comparative Assessment of the AuSSI Pilots in NSW and Vic and the 2006 Australian Association for Environmental Education (AAEE) Conference were also discussed.
The Council discussed the proposed approach for the development of a new National Action Plan in Environmental Education. The scope, focus and process for the review was considered including the implications of the expanded focus implied by the sustainability agenda and current initiatives under the UNDESD.
The Council were informed on progress in the development of the National Environmental Education Statement and agreed to review and endorse the final version of the document out of session. Members considered future directions in the Further and Higher Education Sector including the development of pre-service teacher training in EfS and strategic engagement with the VET sector to progress the sustainability agenda, including through the establishment of Australian Technical Colleges.
Members considered the progress of the applied environmental education research program, through ARIES. Members gave consideration to the recommendations of the five volume report National Review of Environmental Education and its Contribution to Sustainability in Australia and priority needs across the school, community, further and higher education and industry sectors . The Council discussed consultation procedures for the National Environmental Education Statement for Schools, and noted that all the key initiatives of the National Action Plan had now been addressed.
Members discussed the role of Universities as potential leaders in sustainability and the current range of activities happening at the campus management and curricula levels. Professor Di Yerbury, Vice Chancellor of Macquarie University and Chair of the Australian Vice Chancellors’ Committee, addressed the Council on her thoughts regarding the opportunities for driving sustainability within higher education.
Presentations were given by Tricia Caswell, Director of Global Sustainability, RMIT, Dr Mathis Wackernagel originator of the ecological footprint, and Chris Davis CEO of the Australian Water Association on the aspects of their current work and how these might relate the NEEC Agenda. Members discussed opportunities for Australian Government engagement with the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, 2005-14.
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