The Sustainable Schools NSW Online Conference was held 26 - 29 October 2020. The four free afternoon sessions of sustainability education were well attended by NSW educators, coming together to learn about:
- sustainability and wellbeing
- kitchen gardens and outdoor education
- action planning and grants
- waste, recycling and composting.
Speaker presentations and additional resource links are provided below, organised according to the presentation day and speaker. If you are looking for a specific resource that is not here, please let us know and we can help locate it.
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Latest research and case studies on school wellbeing and sustainability from ResourceSmart Schools Victoria (pdf, 1.21MB), Cyrelle Field, Manager - Education, Sustainability Victoria
- ResourceSmart schools and wellbeing main study report (PDF)
- Sustainability Victoria Linking Climate Change and Health Impacts research snapshot (PDF)
Using environmental education as the catalyst to support wellbeing (pdf, 2.9MB) Kirsty Tannous, Wellbeing Mentor, Fairvale Public School
NSW Environmental and Zoo Education Centres online resources to support wellbeing in nature (pdf, 1.79MB) Jill Bell, Teacher, Royal National Park Environmental Education Centre
- Environmental and Zoo Education Centres (EZEC's) webpage
- Environmental and Zoo Education Centres (EZEC's) map view
- EZEC resources for teaching and learning at home: Primary
- EZEC resources for teaching and learning from home: Secondary
Additional resources
Embedding environmental education into K-12 curriculum (pdf, 1.74MB), Julie Rogers, Head Teacher Science, Lucas Heights Community School
- Enviro Club Student Form, Lucas Heights Community School
Kitchen Gardens in Schools (pdf, 2.52MB), Helen Curry, Gibberagong Environmental Education Centre
Opportunities and benefits of teaching in a garden setting (pdf, 2.29MB), Tanya Leishman, Seaforth Public School
- Seaforth PS Garden Planning document (pdf, 680KB)
Additional resources
- Sustainable Schools NSW food garden teaching resource links
- Take Me Outside NSW
- NSW DET kitchen garden resource links
- Sustainability Action Process: Kitchen gardens Years 3-6 and Years 7 -10
- Planting Guide - gardenate.com
- Trace Balla Books - Gardening Australia segment
- Tanya Leishman, 2020 Gould League Scholarship recipient story
- Sustainable Schools Australia Facebook group
Overview of Sustainable Schools Grant Program - lessons from Round One and changes to Round Two (pdf, 3.74MB), Angela Dunnett, NSW DET
- NSW Government Sustainable School grants (open November 2020 for NSW DET schools and preschools)
School Environmental Management Plans - Tips for the Journey (pdf, 2.03MB), Sue Martin, AAEE NSW
- Whole School Planning & School Environmental Management Plans
- Environment Clubs Manual
- There was interest in viewing some SEMP examples. SSNSW team will track some down and share online. If your school is willing to share your SEMP, please get in touch.
Using the Sustainability Action Process for student led projects (pdf, 3.93 MB), Glen Halliday, Principal, Observatory Hill EEC
Additional Resources
- Sustainable Schools NSW Ideas for your grant application (pdf)
- AAEE NSW Right from the Start! A guide to planning best practice Sustainability Education & Engagement Projects
- NSW Department of Environment & Conservation Does your project make a difference? A guide to evaluating environmental education projects (pdf)
- NSW DoE Environmental Education Policy for Schools (implementation document)
- Sustainable Schools Australia Facebook group
Getting waste data and Wiping out Waste (pdf 2.62MB), Lisa Wriley, Rumbalara Environmental Education Centre
- waste data sheet (pdf, 44KB)
- What are we throwing away? Stage 3 resource (pdf, 370KB)
Key factors for successful food waste reduction in schools - composting, worm farming and chickens (pdf, 2.73MB) Megan Cooke, AAEE NSW Green Leaders Mentor
Spotlight on Return and Earn – tips and case studies to help schools achieve environmental and social outcomes, Danielle Smalley, CEO, and Marta Scuccuglia, Community Engagement Manager, Exchange for Change
- Where and how to return containers
- What containers are eligible
- Fundraising with Return and Earn (including becoming a donation partner and Schools Toolkit)
- Roles in the Return and Earn program
- Return and Earn FAQ's
- Caddies Creek case study
- Other Return & Earn in Action school case studies
Additional resources
- Sustainable Schools NSW waste audit resource links
- Sustainability Action Process Waste & materials
- Environment Clubs Manual (starting your green team)
- Waste Free Lunch Box Flyer (pdf, 412KB) Illawarrra Local Health District
- Sustainable Schools Australia Facebook group (includes info on making beeswax wraps)
- Bournda EEC 'Let's Get it Sorted' waste program
- Aldavilla Public School case study
- Bin Trim - NSW EPA project
- Eden Public School video
- No Such Thing as Waste song
- Boomerang Alliance plastic reduction programs