The Australian Curriculum is a national document but is implemented by the states and territories with variations that suit their circumstances. Resources developed to meet the needs of a state or territory are often made available on websites for their teachers. They can be accessed by teachers from other locations and, depending on their design, may used as found or with adaptation to local needs.
Resources are listed here under the name of a state or territory. Additional resources may be added as they are identified.
Queensland
This page on the website of the Queensland Department of Education is intended to “to provide all Queensland schools with a central hub for sustainability resources.” Among other information it includes information about competitions, scholarships, awards, and grant opportunities. The page is kept current as of March 2024.
This site offers free waste management and waste education resources for schools and early learning centres. The resources are to assist schools and early learning centres to nurture positive waste behaviours in their communities, and to reduce their waste footprint and costs. They cover both the curriculum needs and the practical aspects of school waste management. The Waste Education Queensland educational resources were developed in 2019 with funding from the Queensland Government.
New South Wales
This site has been built by Environment Education NSW (a state chapter of the Australian Association for Environmental Education) to enable environmental educators to engage in a whole school approach to sustainability. It hosts a variety of materials for professional learning and teaching resources. The teaching resources on waste include materials for primary and secondary classes and practical options for waste audits, container recycling, and composting or worm farming.
Ku-ring-gai waste and recycling resources
The Ku-ring-gai area on the north-eastern edge of Sydney is known for its national parks. The local council offers this collection of resources as part of its effort to maintain its environmental values.
Campbelltown waste education resources
Campbelltown council at the south-western edge of Sydney also offers resources for students and teachers as part of its waste management strategy.
Australian Capital Territory
Sustainable schools in the ACT
The ACT government sustainable schools program is intended to help schools toward climate action through attention to water, waste, and energy. The site includes resources and information about awards and funding sources.
Victoria
According to the website, “ResourceSmart Schools is a free program offered by Sustainability Victoria that supports Victorian schools to embed sustainability across the school facilities, community and curriculum, while saving resources and money for the school. Schools join the program, then have access to an online portal (ResourceSmart Schools online), where they learn and practice ways to integrate sustainability.” Although the full benefits may be available only to Victorian schools that join the program the site has ideas and resources that can be access and applied by teachers elsewhere.
Environment Sustainability in Schools
This Victorian Education Department site has policy documents and guidance for implementation along with collections of resources to support school leadership, facilities and operations, teaching and learning, community partnerships, Koorie perspectives, and student-led action. Many of those resources are not specific to Victorian schools and will be useful to teachers in other jurisdictions.
Tasmania
Sustainability Learning Centre
The Tasmanian Department for Education, Children and Young People operates a purpose built educational facility near Hobart which offers programs both on and off-site. The website has details about those programs and resource materials for sustainability education.
Education for sustainability Tasmania
This United Nations recognised Regional Centre of Expertise operates out of the University of Tasmania.
This program operates throughout Tasmania using best practice education for sustainability principles. The overarching message of the program is to reduce, reuse and recycle, to promote the sustainable use of natural resources and minimise our collective environmental footprint. The site has links to toolkits and other resources that may be useful for schools seeking to audit their waste and take action to reduce it.
South Australia
Sustainability program for schools and preschools
The South Australian Department for Education program helps schools to: learn about and connect to the natural world, educate children and young people about the environment, and learn how to take action for sustainability.
This site is a FREE South Australian initiative providing circular economy and resource management education resources. It offers incursion programs, downloadable resources, events and activities available to sites from pre-school to Year 12+
The Climate Ready Schools Program provides teachers with professional development sessions and learning packages to upskill their year 4 to year 10 classes about how to respond to climate change and deliver an end-of-year group project. The site offers information about projects that may suggests similar opportunities in other locations.
River Murray teaching resources
This South Australian government site has links to a variety of teaching resources related to sustaining the riverine environment.
Western Australia
This initiative supports a whole-school approach to education for sustainability, consistent with the Western Australian Curriculum and Australian Curriculum cross curriculum priority of sustainability. The site includes supporting documentation and resources.
This Western Australian government site supports schools in waste avoidance and resource recovery. The site includes educational resources and information about grants for WA schools.
Northern Territory
The City of Darwin is establishing a Waste Education Centre and Waste Education Program at the Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility.
Reducing Waste in Alice Springs
The Arid Lands Environment Centre offers advice and resources for reducing waste and living more sustainably in the Alice Springs area.
