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Sustainability Education
The Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (Aussi) is a partnership of the Australian Government, the States and Territories that supports schools to work towards a sustainable future.
AuSSI involves participants in a whole-of-school approach, to explore through real-life learning experiences, improvements in a school’s management of resources and grounds including energy, water, waste, biodiversity, landscape design, products and materials. It also addresses associated social and financial issues.
Following pilots run in New South Wales and Victoria, AuSSI is currently being implemented in all States and Territories, in partnership with State and Territory education and environment agencies.
AuSSI does not replace other environmental education activities in schools; rather it links to and complements existing programmes such as Energy Smart Schools, WasteWise, Waterwatch, Waterwise, Landcare and the Reef Guardian Schools Programme. As part of the Initiative, teachers can receive much needed access to professional development in environmental education for sustainability, delivered through supporting agencies and environmental education centres.
At the national level, the Initiative supports the National Action Plan for Environmental Education (2000) and gives effect to the concepts and actions identified in Educating for a Sustainable Future – a National Environmental Education Statement for Australian Schools (2005).
The Initiative supports Goal 1.7 of The Adelaide Declaration on National Goals for Schooling in the Twenty First Century (Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs, 1999), which states, "Schooling should develop fully the talents and capacities of all students. In particular when students leave school they should have an understanding of, and concern for, stewardship of the natural environment, and the knowledge and skills to contribute to ecologically sustainable development."
The Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative:
For all Australian schools and their communities to be sustainable.
AuSSI seeks to achieve the following goals:
For all Australian schools and their communities to be sustainable.
AuSSI seeks to achieve the following goals:
The benefits to schools include:
In 2001 the National Environmental Education Network supported a submission to trial an Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI). Funding from the Australian Government supported two pilot programmes to commence in 2002 - one in Victoria, the other NSW. Three hundred schools participated in this first phase of the AuSSI.
A comparative assessment of the pilots was conducted in 2004-05. The assessment found that both pilot programmes generated identifiable educational, environmental, social and professional benefits.
September 2001 - The National Environmental Education Network (NEEN) met to discuss a NSW Department of Education and Training submission to trial a Sustainable Schools Initiative.
Through NEEN all States and Territories expressed their support for the joint Commonwealth/State project.
July 2002 - the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Dr David Kemp, announced funding of $200,000 to support a pilot program in NSW and Victoria.
Both the NSW and Victorian Governments provided matching funding and secured additional resources from partner organisations of approximately $1 million and $500,000 in each State respectively. Steering committees, including key stakeholders, were established in each State for the trials to ensure the delivery of quality outcomes.
September 2002 - A review of nationwide curriculum documents to analyse environmental education content and identify national priority areas recommended the development of a national environmental education policy and the implementation of a national environmental education program. The review was commissioned by the National Environmental Education Council (NEEC) and the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (formerly Department of the Environment and Water Resources).
January 2003 - Pilot Sustainable Schools programs commenced in New South Wales and Victoria for an 18 month period.
The Department of Education coordinates the pilot in each State. Principal delivery of the NSW pilot is via a network of 23 Environmental Education Centres. In Victoria, the Gould League and CERES Environmental Park are primary deliverers. Other organisations in both NSW and Victoria offered in-kind support, additional expertise and/or financial contributions to the project.
June 2003 - A National Sustainable Schools Workshop was held in Canberra in order to incorporate all States and Territories not currently trialing the program. After examining the pilot initiatives in detail and considering the systemic differences of each jurisdiction all States and Territories agreed that the National Sustainable Schools Initiative was worth pursuing.
July 2003 - The Minister for the Environment and Heritage Dr David Kemp launched the Victorian Sustainable Schools pilot.
December 2003 - the NEEN endorsed a document outlining the 'Common Elements of the National Sustainable Schools Initiative '. The document will be used to guide the development of the initiative around the country. It allows sufficient flexibility for each State and Territory to meet the requirements of their own jurisdiction, while also ensuring an appropriate level of consistency.
May 2004 - Australian Government funding provided to Western Australia and South Australia to develop and implement a Sustainable Schools Initiative. Additional funds were provided to NSW and Victoria to support the involvement of disadvantaged schools in the Initiative.
August 2004 - Minister for the Environment and Heritage launches the national initiative.
December 2004 - Minister for the Environment and Heritage approved the Australian National Sustainable Schools Initiative funding for the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
August 2005 - An Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative Workshop was held in Canberra, for the purpose of developing a vision and a national framework for the Initiative. Participants in the workshop included teachers, students and principals from all states and territories as well as academics and representatives from Catholic Education and Independent Schools Associations, non-government organisations and State, Territory and Australian Government Environment and Education Departments.
Sustainability Education Section
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
Phone: 02 6274 2408
Fax: 02 6274 2510