Consider teacher-release to enable a teacher to lead an eco-team todevelop your SEMP, or you could pay an external consultant toassist you. Involve students in your visioning, research and planning,as a hands on component of your grant application.

Wherever your school is on its sustainability journey, it is importantto have a plan, a School Environment Management Plan. A School Environment Management Plan (SEMP) sets out the schoolcommunity's intentions in regard to environmental education andenvironmental management. It helps schools have a clear picture onresource use and grounds management that can link withcurriculum and learning. Download the SEMP guide and planningtemplate from our website.

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE CURRICULUM

sustainableschoolsnsw.org.au

Ideas for your Sustainable Schools Grant application

Grant funds are nowavailable for NSW publicschools for projects thatimprove school sustainabilitythrough hands-on studentactivities. Here are some tips and ideasfor your grant application tosupport quality sustainabilityeducation outcomes.

NSW public schools can apply for $15,000 funding though the DoE School Infrastructure Sustainable Schools Grants. These grantsprioritise improving school sustainability through hands-on activitiesfor students.   Here are some suggestions and tips to assist schools to develop aquality sustainability education project.

in-house or online courses on integrating sustainability as across-curriculum priorityattending a sustainability education conference or workshop·      peer-to peer mentoring from an experienced sustainabilityeducator.

Support your teachers to integrate sustainability into their practisethrough professional development. This could include:

SUSTAINABILITY ON CAMPUS

Contact your local or regional environmental education centre tofind out what support they can offer.

Use your school site as a learning context, view K-6 curriculumlinks.

Take opportunities to get students outside into nature:

Be supported through the Take Me Outside NSW program.

For a quick guide to HSIE curriculum links, this DoE referencedocument plots the organising ideas of sustainability acrossgeography and history teaching and learning.

Looking for sustainability teaching resources? Visit our website andsign up for the Sustainable Schools quarterly e-newsletter. 

Sustainable Schools NSW (AAEE NSW) advocates for a whole-schoolapproach to sustainability: on campus, in curriculum and throughculture.

develop or update yourSchool EnvironmentManagement Plan (SEMP)

teacher professionaldevelopment – staff time tolearn new approaches toembedding sustainabilityinto the classroom

establish (or reinvigorate) aGreen Team, including stafftime to support studentenvironmental leadership.

Consider allocating some ofyour project budget to:

https://www.sustainableschoolsnsw.org.au/manage/planninghttps://www.schoolinfrastructure.nsw.gov.au/programs/sustainable-schools-grants.htmlhttps://www.sustainableschoolsnsw.org.au/teach/professional-learninghttps://www.sustainableschoolsnsw.org.au/connect/environmental-education-centreshttps://schoolsequella.det.nsw.edu.au/file/ff10a3b8-a074-4152-b6e4-e1b87acb1fdc/1/Learning-outside-school-site-as-context-K-6.docxhttps://www.takemeoutsidensw.org.au/https://schoolsequella.det.nsw.edu.au/file/b0add3a7-826a-4aad-a624-18af6639acfe/1/hsie-ccp-sust.docxhttps://www.sustainableschoolsnsw.org.au/teachhttps://www.schoolinfrastructure.nsw.gov.au/programs/sustainable-schools-grants.html

sustainableschoolsnsw.org.au

encourage hands on learning for students and activecitizenshipdevelop student leadership and group work skillsdevelop practical action plans to improve the schoolenvironment and save school resources.  

Establishing (or reinvigorating) a school environment group orgreen team is a great way to:

View the online Environment Club manual for tip sheets, projectideas, case studies and templates to inspire and inform studentactivities.   Consider what teacher and administration support you will needfor your student leadership group and to fund environmentgroup projects. 

SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH CULTURE

EVALUATE AND CELEBRATE

Take time to evaluate your project and share your successes withyour community. Have SMART project outcomes: outcomes that are specific,measurable, attainable, resourced and timebound.

For more support, read the AAEE NSW guide Right From the Start!A guide to planning best practise sustainability educationprojects. Share your stories and achievements with your schoolcommunity to inspire others to take action for the environment.

https://www.sustainableschoolsnsw.org.au/manage/young-people/enviro-clubs-manualhttps://www.sustainableschoolsnsw.org.au/manage/young-people/enviro-clubs-manualhttps://www.aaeensw.org.au/resources/publicationshttps://www.sustainableschoolsnsw.org.au/manage/young-people/enviro-clubs-manual