Projects and Partners

Page Navigation:

 

Project:

Professional Development for Environmental Educators

Background 

The Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW (DECC) partnered with Macquarie University to deliver Our environment - it's a living thing Professional Development for Environmental Educators program.

Led by Macquarie University, the 2003 program was jointly delivered by the Australian Association for Environment Education NSW and the Nature Conservation Council of NSW.

Participants gained an understanding of sustainable development and management as well as knowledge and skills to integrate sustainable living into their curriculum.

Project activities 

The Professional Development for Environmental Educators program consisted of a series of workshops and workplace support strategies aimed at improving practice in education for sustainability across a range of sectors in NSW.

The program centred on initiating and facilitating change through providing a broad range of opportunities for participants to reflect upon their experience, learn from others, as well as plan and take action to improve their practice.

Two sets of two day workshops were provided to participants with six-months of workplace mentoring available to a selection of the participants. Workshops were held in 4 different locations around NSW.

The mentoring component was a collaborative learning process, focused on the participants' professional needs.  It provided a non-threatening space for reflection-on-action and consisted of three key components:

• workplace visits
• focus groups
• online support

Outcomes and successes 

More than 125 environmental educators participated in 2003 – with workplace mentoring being a successful feature of the program.

Documented outcomes have included:

• a change in participants' understanding of education for sustainability
• impetus, structure and tools for implementing education for sustainability
• increased skills to promote and deliver education programs for sustainability
• application of workshop learning within participants' own programs.

Building on the success of this program held in 2003, a further series is planned for 2006.

Another successful initiative resulting from the program has been the establishment of a Sustainability Educators Network.  Over 250 members of the network continue to support each other in applying the principles and processes of Education for Sustainability.

Resource materials 

A range of resources are available, these include:

• Read the "Professional Development for Environmental Educators" program brochure
• Read the "Professional Development for Environmental Educators - Mentoring" brochure
• Learn about actual cases – Education for Sustainability in Clarence Valley Councils and Cooks River Local Councils

How to get involved and find out more 

Contact the Community Education Officer at the Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW on phone (02) 8837 6000 or email sustainability@environment.nsw.gov.au.

An outline of the new Education for Sustainability Professional Development Program is also available.

Project partners 

Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW

The Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW works towards achieving a clean and healthy environment through its administration of environment protection legislation. This legislation covers air, water quality, contaminated land, noise control, pesticides, hazardous chemicals, dangerous goods, radiation and waste as well as national parks and reserves, biodiversity and threatened species, Aboriginal and cultural heritage, historic sites and pest management.

The DECC uses a range of means to achieve compliance including economic incentive schemes, regulation, enforcement, education, and monitoring and reporting.

A further role for the Department is to promote environmentally sustainable practices, resource use and waste management. This involves the development, coordination and implementation of a range of strategies and programs, including education for industry and the community, and market development for recovered resources and recycled materials.

Macquarie University

For 40 years, Macquarie has been "Australia's Innovative University". It enjoys a strong brand recognition both nationally and internationally. With 34% of the student head count enrolled in postgraduate study, Macquarie continues to be one of Australia's most respected postgraduate universities.

The Professional Development for Educators program, drew upon an accredited and highly respected course at Macquarie University's Graduate School of the Environment GSE 827 "Education for Sustainability".

Other partners/participants

 

Need more? Find out about other projects and initiatives.