NRM Sustainable Schools Initiative

Help is now at hand for educators that are enthusiastic about implementing sustainability initiatives at their school but don’t know where to start.

Using an established framework, the South Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI- SA), has seen more than 350 schools and preschools register with the program across the state.

Eyre Peninsula has joined their ranks, with Lake Wangary Primary School being the first to sign up for the program and they will partner with Natural Resources Eyre Peninsula. Tumby Bay Area School, Samaritan Saint Teresa’s Primary School in Whyalla and St Josephs have also registered with the program.

Natural Resources Eyre Peninsula Officer Kerryn McEwan said many schools across the region are already striving for sustainability but now they’ll benefit from a more holistic and structured approach.

“School are already doing really great things, like installing recycle bins, composting, kitchen gardens and nature play areas, but often sustainability initiatives are driven by one keen person, and lose momentum once that person leaves the school,“ Ms McEwan said.

Natural Resources Eyre Peninsula staff are available to assist schools to develop a Site Environment Management Plan (SEMP).

“Developing a plan is a good way for schools to assess what they are already doing in terms of sustainability initiatives.

“You can envision what you want your site to be like in say five years, then set small achievable goals that will put you on the path of realising that vision.

“We encourage schools to start small and narrow their focus to a single theme or project such as ‘waste’ or ‘biodiversity’.

“For busy educators, using a ‘themed’ approach makes implementing sustainability initiatives manageable and is a good way to get started,“ Ms McEwan said.

Lake Wangary Primary School teacher, Tessa Roberts, said her school is concentrating on the themes of waste, biodiversity, and economics.

“First we are doing a sustainability audit for the school so we can see what we are already doing and where we would like to go,” she said.

“Natural Resources EP are giving us a financial incentive towards implementing our sustainability initiatives.”

“It’s very exciting for our small school to be the first school on Eyre Peninsula to sign up and lead the way with the sustainable schools initiative and I can’t wait to get started and see where it takes us, “Ms Roberts said.

For more information about becoming a sustainable school and registering with AuSSI-SA contact Natural Resources EP on 8688 3111.