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Policy support

 Curriculum framework

Information on the national Sustainability curriculum framework is available from the Teaching for Sustainability section of this website.

Policy revision

The consultation period for the revision of the Environmental Education policy has concluded and we thank all those who provided feedback.  The policy draft is in the final stages of discussion within DET and will be submitted for approval shortly. 

We will then commence work on advice and resources to support aspects of the new Sustainability Education and Management policy.  This will include a communications package to support schools understanding the new policy statement.

Current policy

NSW Government Schools  are guided by the NSW Environmental Education Policy for Schools which has three core elements for the school community to focus on:

Curriculum integration through investigation, description, planning and implementation of environmental activities into the K-12 teaching and learning programs in all Key Learning Areas.

School grounds  planning and management provide learning opportunities and places for students.  Learn about aesthetic and comfortable spaces and the natural heritage of the school.

School resource use and management in an effort to minimise ecological impacts and minimise waste encourages more environmental friendly purchasing and resource efficiencies.

The Environmental Education Policy for Schools (pdf 592.57KB - published 2001) is a document designed to support effective environmental education programs in government schools in New South Wales. It provides guidelines on the management of school resources in accordance with ecologically sustainable practice and serves as a starting point for addressing global environmental issues.

A comprehensive guide Implementing the Environmental Education Policy in your school (pdf 2.26MB - published 2001) has detailed and useful teaching resources, lesson suggestions and worksheet materials to assist teachers and schools in supporting their students' environmental learning.

Secondary KLA support

Specific KLA support for secondary teachers is provided in the Support for the Environmental Education Policy series of documents published in 2001.

Supporting Environmental Education is the Sustainable Schools NSW website developed in partnership with the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change. A key component of this website is an online scaffold for a process that schools can undertake to plan and develop a School Environmental Management Plan (SEMP). This plan describes a school's environmental objectives outlining the student learning and school management processes to be undertaken to achieve the objectives.

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