School Programs

Within Victoria there are a range of fantastic sustainability programs that assist schools from initial concept through to completion. These programs either require your school to commit to the program by signing on to the program or by paying a fee for service. These programs include:

CERES

CERES (the Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies) is a community environment project located beside the Merri Creek in Brunswick. CERES has facilitated over 250 schools, including the only forty-three 5 star fully accredited Sustainable Schools in Australia.

http://sustainability.ceres.org.au/

Gould League

Gould Group designs innovative environmental education and training in sustainability. They have delivered educational programs to over 600,000 students, 1,400 schools and 300 teachers each year throughout Victoria alone. Their programs reach over one million Australian students annually.

http://www.gould.org.au/html/schools.asp

LandLearn

LandLearn provides a structure and support for schools to incorporate studies of sustainable agriculture and natural resource management into the curriculum.

http://www.landlearn.net.au/

National Solar School Program

The Australian Government is backing our schools in the fight against climate change. The National Solar Schools Program is giving Australian schools a head start in tackling climate change and conserving our precious water supplies.

http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/renewable/nationalsolarschools/index.html

Planet Savers

Organised by the North East Greenhouse Alliance (NEGHA) the Planet Savers program engages with local schools to increase awareness of greenhouse and other sustainability issues and to support and work with them to reduce their energy consumption.

http://www.negha.org.au/

ResourceSmart (AuSSi Vic)

ResourceSmart offers solutions to steer us towards a low carbon future.  ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic's 5Star Sustainability Certification helps your school demonstrate continuous improvement against benchmarks you set in the areas of planning, biodiversity, energy, waste and water.

http://www.resourcesmart.vic.gov.au/for_educators/5_star_certification.html

Saltwatch

Saltwatch is an environmental monitoring program that helps communities better understand the salinity problem. During Saltwatch Week (the second week of May), schools and community groups from all over Victoria can learn about the effects of salinity on water quality in their local catchment by collecting local water sources and testing with a salinity meter to determine salt content.

http://www.vic.waterwatch.org.au/monitoring-&-data/994/

Sustainability Wiz

Based on research and practical experience with thousands of schools, Sustainability Wiz guides schools through the steps essential to incorporate sustainability in meaningful ways into curricula, operations and culture - and from there into homes.

http://www.gould.edu.au/html/SustainabilityWiz.asp 

The Sustainables

The Department of Sustainability and Environment and Gould Group have developed a professional development and curriculum program for Victorian schools on environmental sustainability. This program has been running since 2005, reaching 90 schools in regional and metropolitan Victoria, and uses "the Sustainables" as a teaching tool.

http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/thesustainables/teachers.htm#3

SWEP - School Water Efficiency Program

The Schools Water Efficiency Program (SWEP) helps all schools connected to a reticulated water supply to save water and promotes water awareness throughout the community. This $3M program offers simple solutions to water conservation and identifies water savings. As at May 2008, the SWEP is mandatory for all Victorian Government Schools.

http://www.ourwater.vic.gov.au/

Waterwatch

Waterwatch Victoria is a community engagement program connecting local communities with river health and sustainable water management issues. Through Waterwatch, groups are supported and encouraged to become actively involved in local waterway monitoring and on-ground action.

http://www.vic.waterwatch.org.au/

Victorian Solar in School Initiative

Victorian schools are eligible to apply for both the Victorian Solar in Schools Initiative and the Australian Government's National Solar Schools Program

http://www.resourcesmart.vic.gov.au/for_educators_2425.html