Introduction
Managed by Sustainability Victoria, ResourceSmart Schools provides practical support to reduce resource use, make cost savings, integrate sustainability into the curriculum and share learnings beyond the school gate.
ResourceSmart Schools rewards and recognises students, teachers, and schools for sustainability achievements through Sustainability Certification and the Annual ResourceSmart School Awards.
ResourceSmart Schools helps schools reduce costs while giving students the opportunity to learn about sustainability in a tangible and realistic environment.
Since 2008, ResourceSmart Schools has:
● reached over 1,300 Victorian schools and 96 early learning services
● saved participants over $20 million through energy, waste and water savings
● avoided over 60,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases.
History
In 2003 Victoria and New South Wales concluded pilots that resulted in the start of the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI). These pilots were co-funded by the federal and state governments. The Victorian pilot was managed by two service providers: the Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies (CERES) and the Gould League.
The success of the pilot led to the launch of AuSSI across Australia in 2005. Under AuSSI, the federal government and state and territory jurisdictions offered practical support to schools and their communities to live and work more sustainably. Initially, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) was responsible for rolling out AuSSI in Victoria.
Following the establishment of Sustainability Victoria in 2006, DEECD formed a partnership with Sustainability Victoria to deliver AuSSI under the name of ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic in 2008.
In keeping with its responsibility to develop community education on sustainability, Sustainability Victoria was keen to set up ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic as an ‘umbrella framework’ capable of encompassing the many existing environmental educational programs. In other words, schools could participate in any environmental program or initiative and receive recognition through ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic.
In 2012 DEECD and Sustainability Victoria set up local service providers and coordinators across Victoria to help schools deliver ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic .
Connect with a ResourceSmart Schools delivery partner
ResourceSmart Schools was awarded the 2015 Banksia Education for Sustainability Award which recognises leadership and achievement in raising awareness of sustainability issues, and promoting change in values and behaviour in sustainability. The program was described by Banksia judges as displaying a ‘best-practice’ and ‘world-leading’ approach to sustainability education with strong evidence of its impact.
ResourceSmart Schools – a whole of school approach
ResourceSmart Schools Energy module resources from Sustainability Victoria
ResourceSmart Energy module action toolkit
Schools seeking to improve their energy efficiency are encouraged to take a whole of school approach to sustainability. In Victoria, this is available to all schools through ResourceSmart Schools.
ResourceSmart Schools is a Victorian Government initiative that helps schools reduce costs while giving students the opportunity to learn about sustainability in real-world environment.
ResourceSmart Schools provides a framework that helps schools embed sustainability across all learning areas, assisting schools to address the cross-curriculum priority of sustainability outlined in the Australian Curriculum. The initiative also provides practical support to schools through a network of sustainability experts to help schools reduce their use of energy, water and waste and improve biodiversity.
Key features of the ResourceSmart Schools
● Recognition
Schools can receive Sustainability Certification and can enter the ResourceSmart Schools Awards to be recognised and rewarded for school activities and achievements.
● Facilitation and support
Sustainability experts support schools on their journey to embed sustainability into operations and provide support on how to measure and track their school progress.
● Savings
Schools learn to operate more sustainably; reducing costs to save on electricity, water and waste bills – and greenhouse gas emissions to minimise their impact on the environment.
● Flexibility
Schools work through the ResourceSmart Schools program and create a unique environmental management system tailored to their needs.