Project summaries - 2008 Environmental Education - state and local government grants

Australian Museum
BugWise for Schools - biodiversity in the classroom
Grant: $100,000

A resource rich, science-based learning program, BugWise for Schools (B4S) includes lesson plans, educator led workshops and teacher training sessions designed to increase scientific literacy and environmental stewardship in NSW schools. Based on ecological survey methods used by Australian Museum scientists students make science-based assessments of the health of their local habitats to actively participate in the development of priorities for, and implementation of, School Environmental Management Plans (SEMP). B4S encourages a cross-curricular, holistic approach to environmental education where students and teachers learn about the environment, in the environment, for the environment.

Coffs Harbour City Council
Coffs Ambassadors - volunteer interpretive tours program
Grant: $47,357

Coffs Ambassadors is a place based education project that will adapt a proven community engagement and capacity building model. Community volunteers will select, design and run interpretive tours for residents and tourists. All volunteers will undertake a full training program in the design and delivery of interpretive tours. The expertise and knowledge of the project partners will be used to adapt the model to make it locally relevant, to complement existing tours and to provide rigour in development of the tours' design and content. The model will include a mentor-buddy system that will be supported by NPWS Discovery Rangers. Participants will be offered a range of opportunities to build their skills and become actively involved in ongoing environmental protection.

Local Government & Shires Associations of NSW
Climate change action planning for local government
Grant: $100,000

This project will trial workshops with selected local councils to participate in an action planning process to address climate change issues. Through ongoing facilitation and a deliberative workshop processes based on the ORID (objective, reflectional, interpretive, decisional) method, staff from across council plus council stakeholders will be engaged to inform and to actively participate in planning a local climate change response. Development of a local climate change action plan will incorporate regional climate change modelling data developed by NSW University for DECCW along with relevant state-based strategies from the NSW Climate Action Plan. The local plan will concentrate on developing adaptation strategies for climate change impacts and mitigation strategies across the many roles and functions of local government.

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Shellharbour City Council
Building backyard biodiversity in the Shellharbour local government area
Grant: $91,150

This project involves the preparation and delivery of workshops, demonstration projects, guided tours, and educational materials covering the following three key areas:

1. Building backyard biodiversity - outlining the significance of urban habitat, identifying local native species, demonstrating how to enhance residential and school yard space to encourage local native species
2. Living with wildlife - dealing with native pests, minimising fire and storm hazards, managing pests, chemical use, injured wildlife
3. Monitoring backyard wildlife using survey methods developed by the Australian Museum. Residents and schools between Croom and Blackbutt Reserves will primarily be targeted. Community group involvement (schools, sports clubs, businesses within the identified corridor and beyond) will also be encouraged.

Southern Cross University
An environmental education strategy for recreational fishers
Grant: $49,730

This project will develop an environmental education strategy for recreational fishers. This is needed for two core reasons: 

1. Aquatic habitats are under continued threat and many are highly modified or degraded. 
2. In other parts of the world, recreational fishers are at the forefront of habitat conservation and rehabilitation. This can be strengthened in NSW, however the most effective ways to do this are not well understood.

This project will develop an educational strategy based on evidence about the diversity of values, attitudes and behaviours of the recreational fishers. The Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority region will be used to provide a snapshot of this diversity. A combination of passive and participative engagement methods with recreational fishers will be used to gather evidence and develop the strategy and some initial education materials.

Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority
Volunteer bilingual river guides educating local communities
Grant: $32,535

This project will recruit 10 bilingual people from the community who have an interest in local environmental issues. The volunteers will be given accredited training in delivery of guided tours, interpreting local environmental issues and working with bilingual groups. The volunteers will be required to enter into agreements with the SMCMA and the participating councils to deliver catchment educational activities as part of ongoing council educational programs and themed events. After the training, the bilingual volunteer guides will develop and deliver 8 guided walking tours (delivered in English and community language) for people in their respective CALD communities. The SMCMA will co-ordinate the project, promote the guided tours and link volunteer guides to staff from local councils and existing educational/Bushcare/volunteering networks across Sydney.

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University of Technology Sydney
Fashioning Now: changing the way we make and use clothes
Grant: $66,631

This project explores the issue of fashion and sustainability, and specifically the way in which fashion clothing is produced, used and discarded. The project seeks to highlight a variety of sustainable strategies that in particular address the problem of textile waste, which is created during the manufacture and use of fashion clothing. Through a program of activities the project aims to educate design students, fashion designers in industry and fashion consumers by suggesting that, through the act of designing and the use of responsible patterns of consumption, textile waste can be avoided and reduced.

Waverley Council
Little Green Steps: sustainability education for childcare centres
Grant: $100,000

This project will incorporate environmental education and sustainability into early childcare centres across Waverley, Canterbury, Hurstville, Leichhardt, and Woollahra Council areas. It is based on the highly successful 'Climbing the Little Green Steps' project developed through the NSW government 'It's a Living Thing' program, and takes a practical and experimental approach to environmental education. The project will involve conducting environmental audits, developing environmental management plans, workshops and professional development for childcare professionals and the creation of environmental education resource kits. Children will learn through hands-on education, observation and participation, and families will be involved through meetings, sustainability workshops, newsletters and displays.

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