Summer 2005

Education for sustainability

Guarding the future

Over 60,000 students in over 190 primary, secondary and non-government schools across Queensland are involved in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Reef Guardian School Program. Angela Colliver showcases this exciting program for schools.

Teachers and students across the globe are learning a range of sustainability life-skills and taking part in projects that address outputs that affect the environment—from energy audits to consideration of biodiversity protection. Here in Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef is at the heart of many of those projects.

Committing to the Reef

The Reef Guardian School Program is an innovative and exciting school participation program that has touched the lives of people in communities throughout Queensland. It is providing excellent results in environmental protection of Australia’s precious environments, in particular the Great Barrier Reef.

Students and teachers involved have created and participated in individual projects to monitor, maintain and protect local environments and have incorporated environmental management into their curriculum. Learning and practical areas of the Reef Guardian Schools Program align with and complement the Australian Government’s Sustainable Schools Initiative.

The Reef Guardian School Program requires schools and/ or individual classes to make a commitment to the protection and conservation of the Great Barrier Reef in four main areas; curriculum offerings, management of resources, management of school grounds and surrounding areas, and educating the community.

Wonga Beach State School

At Wonga Beach State School in Far North Queensland students understand the valuable role that wetlands play in absorbing pollutants and providing habitat for animals and plants. Students are actively involved in rehabilitating a local wetland area adjacent to the school grounds. By doing this, they aim to trap nutrients and sediment that would otherwise flow into the Reef lagoon.

Toowong College

At Toowong College in Brisbane, a student environment council has been established to identify environmental problems and solutions, and train other students in sustainable practices. Students are involved in a range of on-campus biodiversity projects from the rehabilitation of a local creek to the planting of native tree species.

Mt Larcom State School

Mt Larcom State School and Secondary Department in Central Queensland has made a whole-school commitment. They have developed a matrix of P–10 course units and syllabus outcomes incorporating units of work that develop knowledge and understandings about the Great Barrier Reef and ways to support its protection and conservation in the actions they take in their local community.

Learning in all related Mt Larcom school programs develops skills in investigating, communicating and participating in ways that protect our environments and the Great Barrier Reef. Students develop attitudes and behaviours that demonstrate a respect for all life in their catchment and on the Great Barrier Reef, and a commitment to act for the long-term protection of these areas.

Energy, water, biodiversity and waste audits are carried out by the school and used as a basis for planning future actions and responses. The school also works actively with its own community and has enlisted the support of Indigenous Elders in planting native bush in the school grounds.

Belgian Gardens State School

At Belgian Gardens State School in Townsville, the students’ experiences in Technology have produced some very innovative tools used in their weekly clean up of Rowes Bay. Students designed, appraised their sketches, and then made working models that are the envy of nearby householders. The school shares the data collected each month with the local council and has been recognised as ‘Young Legends’ for their efforts.

Alexandra Bay State School

In the Daintree area, Alexandra Bay State School has cut its production of waste to near zero through a range of innovative programs aimed at recycling, reusing and minimising waste. Worm farms also process the school’s food scraps, turning them into castings that are used as fertiliser on all garden beds.

Benefits for all

When the Reef Guardian Schools Program is incorporated into the school curriculum, students learn about the Great Barrier Reef, develop skills to investigate and solve issues in the Reef environment, acquire attitudes of care and concern for the Reef, adopt behaviours and practices which protect the Reef environment and understand the principles of ecological sustainable development.

Through the strengthening of links between schools, the community, businesses, environmental groups, governments and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Reef Guardian Schools Program has produced amazing outcomes. Students, teachers, communities and Australia’s precious environments all benefit.

For further information or to register as a Reef Guardian School please visit www.reefed.edu.au or email A.Colliver@gbrmpa.gov.au

Angela Colliver is the national education programme manager at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

The author owns the copyright in this article. For information related to the reuse of this work in any form please contact the publisher denise.quinn@curriculum.edu.au