ACT Sustainable Schools Initiative

Project Profile

Issues

The ACT Sustainable Schools Initiative is a program to assist ACT schools to reduce their ecological footprint, enhance the schools biodiversity and educate for sustainability through the school curriculum. Schools are encouraged and supported to engage with local experts and community groups as part of the development of their School Environment Management Plan. Several schools in the ACT have established school environment centres and are starting to show a significant reduction in their consumption of water, waste and energy.

Project Detail

The ACT Sustainable Schools Initiative has been nominated for a National Landcare Award for its work in providing sustainability education and curriculum to 111 of the 127 schools in the ACT.

The initiative is a partnership between the Australian Government and States and Territories that supports schools to become more ecologically sustainable. The initiative strengthens community collaboration through environmental projects that improve and enhance the schools local grounds, and protect biodiversity in the wider community.

The ACT Sustainable Schools Initiative encourages and supports ACT schools to engage with local experts and community groups as part of the development of their School Environment Management Plan. Several schools in the ACT have established school environment centres and are starting to show a reduction in their consumption of water, waste and energy.

ACT Sustainable Schools has established partnerships and encouraged schools to participate in a number of programs to become a sustainable school. These partnerships and programs include Waterwatch, Greening Australia, Conservation Volunteers Australia, Junior Landcare, Frogwatch, Seeds for Survival, Australian National Botanic Gardens Education Programs and the ACT Conservation Council.

ACT Sustainable Schools works with more than 80 per cent of all schools in the ACT and has developed a curriculum program on biodiversity aligned to the new ACT Curriculum Framework. The program targets Preschool to Year 10 students and contains relevant and important information about biodiversity in the ACT and surrounding region.

Over 600 teachers in the ACT have attended AuSSI ACT professional development activities. These have included ‘Biodiversity Education for ACT Schools’ and a ‘Magic Eco Bus’ tour to visit schools demonstrating best practice in sustainability education.

The coordinators have developed a step-by-step Biodiversity Best Practice Guide to improve school grounds and attract wildlife. The guide includes a School Grounds and Biodiversity survey for the whole-school community to complete. The results of the survey feed in to a School Biodiversity Action Plan.

The initiative has provided schools across the region with the vehicle to become ecologically sustainable through community partnerships and activities and as part of the curriculum.

The project is one of 88 finalists in the National Landcare Awards to be announced in Canberra on 24 June 2010.  Commencing in 1991, the Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and groups that make a valuable contribution to the land and coast where they live and work.

Photography

ACT Sustainable Schools Initiative