North East Water

North East Victorian schools and teachers have been given a large green helping hand with the launch of the Schools Environment Education Directory (SEED) project tomorrow (Wednesday 19 November).

Federal Member for Indi, Sophie Mirabella, and the Chair of NevRwaste Mr Peter Graham will launch the project at the Wangaratta Government Centre.

The Schools Environment Education Directory is a project that was created by a number of environment organisations who have worked together to provide local teachers with easy access to environment sustainability curriculum information that relates to the Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS).

"SEED was developed to give schools, teachers and students the ability to learn about environmental events affecting the world on a local scale. By understanding and being hands-on locally students can appreciate why they are the future custodians of our planet." said Ms Karen Jones, SEED Project Officer.

SEED has brought together over 400 curriculum related websites from around the world on the topics of biodiversity, climate change, waste, water and general sustainability, and made them accessible from one central, easy-to-use website.  It also lists local environment staff and excursions to further connect teachers to local resources. To access the website go to www.necma.vic.gov.au/seed.

To complement the website, SEED also runs four professional development days a year for teachers on the topics of biodiversity, climate change and energy use, waste and water. These days are held at a local school that is leading the sustainability journey and delivered by local environment staff to VELS standards.

"SEED was developed to help teachers become better equipped to teach about sustainability in their schools. However we are mindful not to forget the benefits of teaching students directly as well.  So SEED also organises 4 hands-on environmental days annually for all grade 5 and 6 students in north east Victoria," Ms Jones said. 

"These days bring over 100 students together and it is great to see them experience hands- on environmental learning with local environment staff on a range of local issues.  These have included water conservation, catchment health, Waterwatch, reducing organic waste, greenhouse gases and climate change, fish health, salinity, recycling, soil health, indigenous culture and biodiversity. Amazingly these days are offered FREE, and the students, teachers and environmental staff alike all have a blast."

Already in 2008 1000 people have visited the SEED website (www.necma.vic.gov.au/seed) and students and teachers from more than 30 schools in north east Victoria have participated in a SEED Student Environment Day. Bookings are now being taken for all 2009 SEED events.

The SEED project has been funded by the Federal Government through the former Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) funding and the current Caring for Country funding. Support from the Catholic Education Office, Indigo Shire Council, North East Greenhouse Alliance, North East Catchment Management Authority, North East Water, NevRwaste and the Rural City of Wangaratta has guided the development of the SEED project and has connected teachers to our local environment.

Information for Journalists:

SEED welcomes you to attend the officially launch of the SEED project on Wednesday 19 November 2008 starting at 4.30pm until 6pm in the Auditorium of the Wangaratta Government Centre Corner Ford and Ovens Streets Wangaratta.  Please join us in these celebrations including local food, wine and carbon neutral beer.

Further information is available from Karen Jones SEED Project Manager on ph (03) 5722 9232 or mobile 0438 261 596 and email seed@nevrwaste.vic.gov.au.