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Sustainability Education
Sustainability education develops skills, knowledge and values that promote behaviour in support of a sustainable environment. It is not confined to formal schooling. It also occurs in a wide range of non-formal education settings at work and at home.
The Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI) integrates sustainability education into a holistic program with measurable environmental, economic, educational and social outcomes. The aim of the Initiative is to trial and then establish AuSSI across Australia. More about the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative
The Education for Sustainability Grants Program aims to support projects that facilitate changes in community attitudes and behaviours in support of sustainable development in Australia. Grants are intended to complement the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts Portfolio's sustainability education activities. More about the Education for Sustainability Grants Program
The 2008-2009 Education for Sustainability Grants Program is now open.
Development of a new National Action Plan for Education for Sustainability has been underway since December 2006. The objective of the new Plan is to engage and assist communities, industry, governments and education institutions in more sustainable lifestyles. The scoping and consultation phases of this project were completed in mid 2007. The plan is currently in the latter stages of drafting.
The Statement provides the first ever nationally agreed description of the nature and purpose of environmental education for sustainability through all years of schooling. It also highlights a range of approaches to quality teaching and school administration to enhance sustainability within schools and their communities. More about Educating for a Sustainable Future: A National Environmental Education Statement for Australian Schools
The Australian Government's policy on environmental education - "Environmental Education for a Sustainable Future: National Action Plan" - was launched in July 2000. The National Action Plan outlines some fundamental principles of sound environmental education and establishes a number of mechanisms aimed at improving our national approach. More about the National Action Plan for Environmental Education
The United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014) is now under way. An international launch took place at the UN Headquarters in New York on 1 March 2005 with an address from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, with national launches expected to follow throughout 2005. More about the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development
The purpose of the Council is to raise the profile of environmental education and provide expert advice to the Australian Government on environmental education issues, in particular on how Australians can move beyond environmental awareness to informed action. More about the National Environmental Education Council
The purpose of the Network is to improve inter-governmental coordination of the delivery of environmental education, promoting more efficient use of resources and better outcomes. More about the National Environmental Education Network
ARIES is a partnership between the Australian Government and Macquarie University. Macquarie University has been funded to undertake a range of research projects, designed to inform the Australian Government's environmental education policies and program, and the education activities of other bodies. More about the Australian Research Institute in Education for Sustainability
