Working with Schools

Working with Schools

Schools are important places for children and their families to learn about the environment and living sustainably. Schools are also large users of water and energy and would benefit from operating their facilities more efficiently and sustainably. This page provides information on a range of resources available to schools and school communities to help them achieve this.

Sustainable Schools NSW

Sustainable Schools NSW is a NSW Government website that has been created to support all schools, their partners and the community in realising a positive environment vision.

The Sustainable Schools website provides guidance on developing a School Environmental Management Plan as well as providing other environmental education activities. Through a School Environmental Management Plan, your school community can implement, review and celebrate sustainability education initiatives.

For more information, please visit the Sustainable Schools NSW website.

Our Place Environmental Network

Be part of the Our Place Environment Network for teachers in Marrickville - a forum for environmental and sustainability education issues.

All teachers from schools in the Marrickville Local Government Area are invited to attend this network; this includes all government and non-government schools and all primary and high school teachers.

The Network provides teachers with opportunities for staff development, resource-sharing and networking on environmental education and sustainable school issues.

The Network meetings will provide:

  • a forum where teachers can discuss environmental initiatives;
  • a link between Council and schools;
  • an opportunity to share learning and experiences in sustainable education;
  • professional development opportunities relating to environmental & sustainability education;
  • practical ideas to integrate environmental education into the curriculum;
  • resource sharing and funding information; and
  • an information newsletter each term.

For more information please email or contact Council's Community Sustainability Coordinator on 9335 2129 or email csc@marrickville.nsw.gov.au.

School Environmental Management Plans

Through a School Environmental Management Plan, your school community can implement, review and celebrate sustainability education initiatives. Sustainable Schools NSW provides guidance and resources to assist schools develop a School Environment Management Plan (SEMP). Having an SEMP in place may also increase a schools chance of gaining government grant funding for sustainability projects and infrastructure.

Rebates and Support

Marrickville Council

Grants are available from Council through the Community Grants Program and the Arts and Cultural Grants Program. Both of these programs fund sustainability projects.

Free workshops on a range of sustainability topics are offered regularly by Marrickville Council. These may be relevant to the interests and development of your community group. For upcoming workshops, please refer to Council's events calendar.

Green Living Centre

The Green Living Centre in Newtown offers regular free workshops that cover a range of sustainability topics. These may be relevant to the interests and development of your school group. For upcoming workshops, please refer to the Green Living Centre's workshop page.

Community Builders NSW

This site is an interactive electronic clearing house for everyone involved in community level social, economic and environmental renewal. It provides information on funding opportunities, awards and scholarships available to community groups and provides advice on creating successful funding applications and submissions.