SUSTAINABILITY PUSH

THE Sustainable Schools Network is hosting an online event to connect regional schools in North and far north Queensland.

The event will create positive momentum for school communities that can contribute to economic recovery through action in sustainability.

The Sustainable Schools Summit will create an opportunity for local schools to contribute to the local economy by learning about leading local schools and offering sustainability-based learning experiences for students, teachers, parents and school operational leaders that can flow on to local businesses.

Sustainable Schools Network CEO Katie Norman said Cairns and Townsville mayors would take part in the online summit to demonstrate their support for the huge opportunity schools had to scale change, not just in education, but also in the environment, the economy and in health and wellbeing.

“Our communities all interact through our schools and we have 2794 schools in Queensland,” Mrs Norman said.

“That’s around 25 per cent of Australia’s schools. We urge our Queensland government leaders to implement the 15 recommendations outlined in our EFS

Discussion Paper.” Mrs Norman said the paper highlighted the need for a whole of school approach that was embedded in the design of the summit.

“Every member of a school community has a role and we need our school leaders, business service managers, school officers, parents, teachers and students working together,” she said.

“School communities have a huge impact on our environment, while they are centres of learning they also consume water and electricity and generate waste.

“The benefits of adopting a whole of school approach to teaching EFS includes economic, social and environmental benefits to the broader local community. Collectively, the 2794 schools across Queensland can deliver these benefits across Queensland.”

She said sustainability wasn’t just about the environment.

“It’s also about our economy and our society as a whole,” she said.

“We believe educating for sustainability is the pathway to building back better from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This year schools have had to rapidly adapt and change, demonstrating it is possible to do education differently.”

>> Sustainable Schools Summit is on Monday, October 19 from 9am to 3pm.