Background

The Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI) was first piloted in Victoria in 2001 as the Sustainable Schools Initiative (SSI) by CERES and partners, with the support of the Australian Government Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) and Victoria’s then Department of Education and Training (now Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD)). Simultaneously, the program was piloted in NSW. The Victorian program has continued since then, with recent delivery being undertaken by CERES. There are currently over 450 schools actively involved in AuSSI Vic.

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). AuSSI Vic aligns with the national AuSSI framework and is made up of several components including:
- Core module;
- Four resource modules: biodiversity, energy, water, and waste;
- Facilitator training;
- Pre-service teacher training; and
- DEECD Administrative Guidelines for principals

Read the Victorian Sustainable Schools Pilot Project Evaluation report (PDF - 635Kb) to find out more about initial pilot program of the Victorian Sustainable Schools program.

Since 2008 Sustainability Victoria has been 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 Partnership support to several key delivery partners (including CERES).

ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic

Sustainability Victoria has developed 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 the practical advice Victorians need to make the necessary changes in their lives to become ResourceSmart. ResourceSmart, through a 5 star certification system, will engage 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

ResourceSmart Schools is an initiative of the Victorian Government, and is managed by Sustainability Victoria. ResourceSmart Schools is the umbrella that links the wide range of sustainability programs available to Victorian schools.

Integrating state and federal programs, ResourceSmart Schools brings together a consortium of sustainability educators and delivery organisations to help Victorian schools minimise waste, save energy and water, promote biodiversity, and cut their greenhouse gas emissions. Most of all, ResourceSmart Schools is about making it easier for Victorian educators and students to actively build sustainability into the fabric of everyday school and community life.

Beneath the umbrella of ResourceSmart, Sustainability Victoria is helping to deliver key components of the AuSSI framework to help Victorian schools embed sustainability into their school. As a combined program, the facilitation of the Core module of AuSSI Vic, management of the qualitative and quantitative data that comes from AuSSI Vic, and the implementation of the ResourceSmart 5 star certification system are all being managed in 2009-2011 by a consortium of organisations, lead by CERES and the Victorian Association of Environmental Education (VAEE) . 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.

Download a flyer on ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic Schools (PDF- 352Kb)

Strategic Environmental Management Planning

AuSSI Vic provides a holistic approach to sustainability. It integrates educational, environmental, social and economic outcomes so that schools do not see each area in isolation but as components of the bigger picture of sustainability.

AuSSI Vic is one of the new generation of environmental programs that takes schools beyond mere awareness raising to strategy planning and on to action and, in many cases, environmental leadership. The focus of the program is on quadruple bottom line outcomes – educational, environmental, social and economic. AuSSI Vic provides a holistic approach to sustainability so that schools do not see each area in isolation but as components of the bigger picture of sustainability.

AuSSI Vic provides a framework for wide spread cultural and organisational change and is introduced as a flexible professional development program for teachers, administration staff and interested parents. This process aims to build on existing achievements and generate a high participation of students, staff, the wider school community and other environment programs and agencies.

With an emphasis on local and regional partnerships, AuSSI Vic is a prototype of a cost effective means of rolling out sustainability education in all schools and communities of Victoria. At the same time, it includes a wide range of opportunities to incorporate sustainability initiatives within Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS).

How AuSSi Vic helps schools

AuSSI Vic provides a practical and stimulating framework for both existing sustainability programs and new initiatives. Schools have saved money and gained positive marketing and community recognition as a result of their involvement in the program. By bringing together parents, friends, local organisations and businesses, along with utility companies and government agencies, schools develop relationships that strengthen the community whilst enhancing the environment. The program delivers economic, social, environmental and educative outcomes- moving beyond Triple Bottom Line to Quadruple Bottom line!

A summary of how AuSSI Vic benefits schools is as follows:
• The school will save considerable money in waste disposal, cleaning, and excess water and energy bills.

• There will be an improvement of the image, appearance and ‘marketability' of the school.

• Students and teachers will be empowered to work on real-world problems and outcomes. A feeling of personal control and empowerment is a vital factor of success in a rapidly changing world.

• There are numerous opportunities for students to achieve learning outcomes across all VELS domains, in particular IT, the Arts, Mathematics, Science, Geography, History, English, and Outdoor Education while working in a ‘real life' context.

• There are many opportunities to link the program to learning outcomes in many VCE Study Designs, such as English, Maths, Sciences (e.g. Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Agricultural and Horticultural Studies), Outdoor Education, Political Studies, Geography, History, Sociology, Health and Human Development and the Arts.

• Student leadership models can be easily adapted to environmentally linked outcomes. Each module includes professional development and curriculum planning sessions to help staff construct and resource units of work, plan and implement small projects and work towards module accreditation. We are even happy to work with students through our tailored incursion program!

Depending on the AuSSI Vic modules completed, schools will focus on aiming to achieve the aspirational reduction targets and reaching the best practice benchmarks (per student per year, prim/ sec) listed below:
• Reduce waste to landfill by 70%, aim for 0.3m³/ student/ year
• Reduce water use by 40%, aim for 4KL /student/ year
• Reduce energy use by 25%, aim for 250/ 400 KWh /student/yr
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80%, aim for 0.4/ 0.6 T CO² /student/yr
• Increase habitat by 50% on or off site (locality)
• Reduce weeds by 60%

Schools will be able to check their progress towards these targets and benchmarks through use of the School Environment Tracking System (SETS). Timely, accurate tracking of environmental impacts, costs and reaching of targets is possible through the collection and uploading of baseline data onto SETS. Baseline data (on water, waste, electricity and gas) is collected for the year prior to commencement of AuSSI Vic from utility bills. Schools continue to collect and upoload billing data onto SETS on an ongoing basis, which then allows comparisons to be made and evaluation of what the benefits of implemented environmental programs have been.

To read more about what schools have achieved on the ground, read the Victorian Sustainable Schools Initiative 2006 Achievements report (PDF- 1.88Mb) or go to the School Projects section of this website for more inspirational ideas!

Support for Victorian Schools to participate in ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic

From 2008 to 2011, 90 schools each year will be supported by Sustainability Victoria to become ResourceSmart through the completion of the Core Module (60 schools) or the Waste Module (30 schools). Click here (PDF- 21.7Kb) to see a list of schools who have received funding for ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic in 2009 (PDF- 26Kb). Also see the ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic funded schools list for 2008 (PDF- 26Kb).

SCHOOLS THAT HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING FOR 2010

Sustainability Victoria Funded schools for 2010: Core Module and Waste Module

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Funded schools for 2010: Energy Module

Download a flyer on the ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic Core Module (PDF- 137Kb).

Download a flyer on the ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic Waste Module (PDF- 111Kb).

Additionally, between 2009 - 2011 the 480 schools (PDF- 61.5Kb) who have started/ completed SSI, AuSSI Vic or Waste Wise will be supported, free of charge, to transfer/ finalise their baseline data to the SETS and transition to the ResourceSmart 5 star certification system.

Register to participate in ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic

We are now taking expressions of interest for 2010 funded places of ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic (Core or Waste Module). Letters of offer will be sent to schools in Term 4 2009.

Download an Expression of Interest form (Word- 67Kb) for funded places in ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic (Core or Waste Module).

Register to Transition to ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic

Between 2009 - 2011 the 480 schools (PDF- 61.5Kb) who have started/ completed SSI, AuSSI Vic or Waste Wise will be supported, free of charge, to transfer/ finalise their baseline data to the SETS and transition to the ResourceSmart 5 star certification system.

Download a registration pack for Transition to ResourceSmart AUSSI Vic (Core module) (PDF- 137Kb).

Download a registration pack for Transition to ResourceSmart AUSSI Vic (Waste Wise/ Waste module) (PDF- 111Kb).

If your school isn't on the ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic Transition School List (PDF- 61.5Kb) but you think it should be, please contact the CERES ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic Administrative team on rssaussi@ceres.org.au or telephone (03) 9380 1556.

Find out more about ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic

Click on the links below to find out more about ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic:

Certification Read More
Support for Schools/ Get involved  Read More
Register to Participate Read More
Core Module Read More
Resource Modules Read More
Resources  Read More
Glossary Read More

How to get involved

For further information or enquiries about getting involved in ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic, please contact:

Michelle Sanahon (Administration), Lorna Pettifer (Facilitator)
Sustainability Projects Group
CERES Community Environment Park
Cnr Roberts and Stewart Streets, East Brunswick Vic 3057
Phone : (03) 9380 1556 (direct) or 9387 2609 (reception)
Fax : (03) 9381 1844
Email : rssaussi@ceres.org.au, lorna@ceres.org.au

For further information or enquiries about AuSSI in your state, please contact the National AuSSI Coordinator or go to the Department of Water, Environment, Heritage and the Arts website.