New national initiative for environmental education

A new national initiative to improve the delivery of environmental education programs was launched at the Enviro10 Conference in Melbourne last week.

The National Professional Development Initiative for Sustainability Educators will equip environmental educators with the right skills to deliver environmental education programs. The initiative follows research which identified a need for a consistent and strategic approach to training, for those responsible for the delivery of Education for Sustainability programs.

Launching the initiative, Grahame Collier, the Project Management Group Chair, said: “It is essential that communities, industry and governments understand and respond to the challenges of sustainability. Individuals involved in sustainability education programs play a key role in improving understanding around sustainability, so it is important that they have the right skills to deliver these programs effectively.”

The initiative has been developed and supported by four peak environmental education organisations:

• the Waste Management Association of Australia
• the Australian Water Association
• the Australian Association for Environmental Education and
• the Marine Education Society of Australasia

The initiative is funded by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. The first modules will be delivered during August 2010.