6 September 2016

Sustainability is about working together with others in our community to get our hands dirty in our learning, while helping the world to be a safe and healthy place.

The Education for Sustainability in the Archdiocese in Melbourne resource was officially launched at James Goold House on 1 September 2016. The launch was celebrated by students, teachers and education officers from Catholic Education Melbourne who had collaborated to produce this ‘rich resource’.

Speakers included students from St Mary’s School, Williamstown, talking of their work on sustainability, as well as Auxiliary Bishop Mark Edwards, and the Executive Director of Catholic Education, Stephen Elder.

‘Our students are growing up in challenging times, with a number of world issues impacting the health and wellbeing of society, including pollution, the loss of biodiversity, and carbon levels in the atmosphere’, said Mr Elder.

‘Our Catholic schools are leading the way in Victoria in Sustainability. While Catholic schools make up about 23% of Victorian schools, almost 45% are participants in some way in sustainability initiatives, such as ResourceSmart Schools.’

Mr Elder highlighted that the Education for Sustainability in the Archdiocese in Melbourne resource ‘is a very practical guide for schools, with resources and curriculum advice for teachers to provide the very best opportunities for our students to make a difference in the world, inspired by the gospel to act for justice and the common good’.

Being sustainable is the act of being in the world in a different way. We have to truly care to make a difference - you can't just be aware, you have to care, to get up and do something about it!

Saskia, St Mary’s School, Williamstown