Attendees at the 2010 Sustainable Schools Learning Communities Eco Conference
More than 120 students and teachers from schools across NSW came together in Sydney in November to share the results of a 12-month project pioneering a new approach to learning about and tackling sustainability issues.
NSW Climate Change and Environment Minister Frank Sartor said the students from New England, Illawarra, Riverina and Sydney presented the results of a project titled 'Beyond the Fence', which sent students out into their local communities to address a sustainability issue.
'The skills and knowledge these students have acquired through this project will help them make sound environmental decisions in their own lives,' Mr Sartor said.
The students have been exploring new ways to respond to global sustainability issues in their local area, including climate change, sand dune erosion, air pollution, species loss and over-consumption.
Teacher Marianne Bower, one of the project coordinators from Glen Innes Public School, said Beyond the Fence had changed the way both teachers and students approached learning about sustainability.
'This project has taken students and teachers out of the classrooms and into the community to explore sustainability issues,' Ms Bower said.
'Our students have tapped into the wealth of information and knowledge that exists in the community and they have brought that back to find ways to solve problems.
'Having researched the issues and engaged their communities, the students are now putting their heads together to refine how they will put plans into action.'
The student conference included presentations from students in the Riverina about working with Landcare, TAFE and Charles Sturt University to revegetate a neglected bushland reserve.
Inspired by the wisdom of Dr Seuss' The Lorax, students from four Catholic schools in Liverpool presented their research into illegal dumping, graffiti and water pollution in the Georges River.
Students from the Illawarra discussed coastal sustainability and stormwater management, while students from New England raised awareness about species loss and the impacts of over-consumption.
Beyond the Fence is jointly funded by the NSW Government's Sustainable Schools NSW and the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.