AuSSI Vic / Resource Smart School Program

"Australians are among the most resource hungry consumers in the world. And Victorians are among the world's highest per capita waste generators.
At the same time, our greenhouse gas emissions and waste levels are continuing to increase with our growing economy and population.

ResourceSmart offers solutions to steer us towards a low carbon future and zero waste. In 2008 Sustainability Victoria (SV) will focus on coordinating, supporting and expanding the delivery of Education for Sustainability (EfS) in Victorian schools under the banner of Resource Smart.

Supporting the national EfS framework through action:

ResourceSmart Schools and AuSSI Vic - A bit of background:
The Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI) was first piloted in Victoria in 2001 as the Sustainable Schools Program by CERES and the Gould League with the support of the Australian Government Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH) and Victoria's Department of Education and Training (DE&T). Simultaneously, the program was piloted in NSW. The Victorian program has continued since then with delivery being undertaken by CERES and Gould Group. There are currently over 300 schools actively involved in the Sustainable Schools Initiative in Victoria, with 43 accredited 'AuSSI 5 star' schools.

The Sustainable Schools Pilot Programs underwent extensive evaluation and consultation processes in 2006 resulting in the development of the current framework of the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative, Victoria (AuSSI Vic / Resource Smart School Program). AuSSI Vic / Resource Smart School Program aligns with the national AuSSI framework and is made up of several components including:

• core module
• four resource modules; energy, waste, water and biodiversity
• facilitator training
• pre-service teacher training
• administrative guidelines for principals

From the beginning of 2008 Sustainability Victoria will be managing the delivery of several elements of the AuSSI Vic framework. DEECD will still be playing a significant role in the on-line publication of the Administrative Guidelines and by providing strategic support, and several key delivery partners (including CERES) will remain the same (further details are below).

Core Module, Data Management and Certification

As a combined program, the facilitation of the Core module of AuSSI Vic, management of the qualitative and quantitative data that comes from AuSSI, and the implementation of the ResourceSmart 5 star certification system are all being managed by a consortium of organisations lead by the Victorian Association of Environmental Education (VAEE) and CERES Community Environment Park. These program elements will help Victorian primary and secondary schools make long-term, lasting behaviour change, significantly reduce their resource use and also be recognised for their efforts! Other members of this consortium include the Catholic Education Office (Sandhurst Diocese), Carbonetix, Planet Savers Australia and the RMIT School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning.

The Umbrella of 'doing': ResourceSmart Schools

SV has launched a new brand, ResourceSmart, as the single call-to-action for all Victorians to conserve energy, materials and water - at home, at work and out & about. It will also deliver practical advice Victorians need to make the necessary changes in their lives to become ResourceSmart.

ResourceSmart engages with state government, local government, schools, events and small to medium businesses to:

• make sustainable behaviours everyday practice
• provide a pathway towards environmental sustainability
• recognise different levels of performance

Resource Smart Schools will be launched at Greening Australia's Toolbox for Environmental Change forum on Thursday 13 March, 2008 at Melbourne Museum. A number of key program delivery elements will begin implementation in Term 2, 2008.

Contact: Sustainability Victoria: Kate Greer, kate.greer@sustainability.vic.gov.au"