Aim of the program
This program provides grants to schools to give them the opportunity to involve their students and community in developing and implementing 
environmental management projects.
Objectives
The overall objective of the Eco Schools Program is to support schools to develop best practice in environmental education and innovative solutions to environmental issues. The program will fund school environmental management projects aimed at one or more of the objectives below.
Students:
to promote the development of students' knowledge, values and behaviour that supports environmental sustainability
to promote participation of some or all students in identifying, designing, implementing and monitoring solutions that improve the quality of the school and local environment.
Teachers:
to assist teachers to integrate school environmental management projects into school programs and therefore maximise student learning
to enable project related professional learning for teachers to gain practical and pedagogical skills and knowledge about the environment.
School development and management:
to encourage a whole of school approach to sustainable management of school operations
to fund schools to utilise the natural and built environment to facilitate student learning
to encourage schools to link with the local community (including other schools) to undertake activities which address local environmental issues.
Environment:
The ultimate goal of the Eco Schools Grant Program is the development of ecologically sustainable schools.
Eligibility
Schools that did not receive an Environmental Trust grant in the previous year are eligible to apply. Schools must also be registered on the Sustainable Schools NSW website, www.sustainableschools.nsw.edu.au Please note that preschools are not eligible to apply.
Grants awarded in 2009
The Trust received 122 applications requesting a total of $305,000 in 2009, an increase of 38 from 2008, and awarded 60 grants totalling $150,000. A series of workshops was held this year to complement the program. For the first time the workshops were conducted through video conferencing facilities and as face-to-face workshops. Four video conferencing workshops were hosted from the Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre in Sydney and attracted 74 participants from 42 schools. Four face-to-face workshops were held with 83 participants from 57 schools. A list of successful projects and project summaries is available on the 2009 Eco Schools project summaries page.
Funding for 2009
A total of $150,000 was available for the Eco Schools Program (60 grants of $2,500 each).
Workshops
Workshops were offered again in 2009 between March and May. More information on these is available on the workshops page.
Guidelines and application form
Note: the following documentation is for information only and will be updated at the next call for applications.
Stage | Opening Date | Closing Date | Forms |
|---|
| Application (one-stage process) | 21 March 2009 | CLOSED | 2009 Guidelines
GLES2009.pdf (34kb, PDF) |
| | | | 2009 Application Form
APPES2009.doc (175kb, Word document) |
Help on downloading and completing application forms
Grants awarded in previous years
For information on previous grants awarded please select the relevant program from the side navigation menu.
Reporting Guidelines
All grantees should use the Eco Schools reporting pro-forma for their final report. It is recommended that all schools read the pro-forma prior to completing their application. See Grantee Reporting Process on the side navigation menu for a link to the pro-forma.
Case Studies
A range of case studies from previously conducted Eco Schools projects are available on the Case Studies page. These projects all have their unique way of assisting to conserve and enhance the New South Wales environment.
For further information please contact the Environmental Trust on (02) 8837 6093.
Environmental Trust
PO Box 644, PARRAMATTA 2124
Phone: (02) 8837 6093
E-mail:info@environmentaltrust.nsw.gov.au
