Share your story
Share your story
Actsmart Schools
It’s smart thinking for schools to focus on sustainability. It sets a good example, supports the environment and can lead to cost savings.
Actsmart Schools is a FREE specialised program that helps schools improve their sustainability. The ACT can be proud – all schools have signed up to this program, making us the only jurisdiction in Australia to achieve this.
Actsmart Schools supports schools to save energy, conserve water, increase recycling, protect biodiversity, cut greenhouse gas emissions and integrate sustainability into the curriculum.
This free program provides a range of support, including best practice guides, site visits and advice from specialist staff, professional learning, tools and resources. Schools are evaluated through an accreditation system and rewarded for their efforts. For more information email actsmart@act.gov.au or call Actsmart Schools Officers on 6207 6430
What's new?
Events
- ACTSMART SCHOOLS AWARDS
- Nominations are now open; presentation of awards 20th November 2018
- National Recycling Week 12th - 16th November - book an in class recycling presentation with us today
Useful Resources
- Free resources and services available to all ACT schools - Actsmart Schools Catalogue (PDF)
- International dates and national environment events - Green Events 2018 (PDF)
- Apply for grant funding for your sustainability project - Green Grants for Schools (PDF)
School Case Studies
- Celebrating a Five-Star School - Maribyrnong Primary
- Sustainable school grounds and habitats for biodiversity - Farrer Primary
- Saving energy at school - Hawker Primary
- Reducing waste, separating recycling and organics - Evatt Primary
- Partnerships with community environmental organisations - Lake Tuggeranong College
- Undertaking a school bin waste audit - Daramalan College
Energy
The ACT Government has a bold target to achieve carbon neutrality in public schools by 2020.
The Actsmart Schools program helps schools support the government with this target. The program provides FREE support, practical tips, tools and resources to help all schools more sustainably manage their energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Actsmart Schools Officers are available to visit your school.
Schools that adopt sustainable energy management strategies, demonstrate reductions in energy consumption and prove they are committed to saving energy, can be accredited for energy with Actsmart Schools.
For more information contact actsmart@act.gov.au or 62076430.
Waste
Did you know that up to 86 per cent of the waste a school produces can be recycled or reused? That’s a big figure.
Recent figures from comprehensive waste audits in seven primary and secondary schools in the ACT show that we need to act smart in making our schools sustainable, starting now:
- In primary schools, 16% of waste is recyclable paper and cardboard, 48% compostable organics, 22% other recyclable materials, and only 14% garbage.
- In secondary schools, 27% of waste is recyclable paper and cardboard, 29% compostable organics, 29% other recyclable materials, and only 15% garbage.
Actsmart Schools helps schools establish, improve and in some cases re-establish effective waste and recycling systems. We provide support, services and resources, including an easy-to-use best practice guide with step-by-step instructions. Want to know more or discuss your school’s waste – book a visit with the Actsmart Schools Officers.
For more information contact actsmart@act.gov.au or 62076430.
Water
Schools use a lot of water. Students drink it. Cleaners use it. Maintenance people need it for irrigation. It all adds up.
That’s why it’s important for schools to think about how they can act smart by saving water.
Actsmart Schools can help by providing support, practical tips, tools and resources to help schools with sustainable water management. Our Water Best Practice Guide has recommendations on how to reduce water consumption and prevent pollutants entering our waterways.
Schools that implement audit recommendations, adopt sustainable water management strategies, demonstrate reductions in water consumption, and prove they are committed to maintaining water quality, can be accredited under the Actsmart Schools program.
For more information, email actsmart@act.gov.au or call the Actsmart Schools Officers on 62076430.
Biodiversity
The Actsmart Schools program provides resources to help schools manage their flora, fauna, and soils, through careful landscape design. A horticulturist is available to visit and assist schools.
The aim is to protect plant and animal life, while still managing and developing school grounds.
Actsmart Schools can provide a School Grounds Best Practice Guide with step-by-step instructions on conducting a School Grounds Survey and preparing a School Grounds Action Plan.
For more information contact actsmart@act.gov.au or 62076430.
Curriculum
Educating and engaging young people in sustainability has never been more important. It empowers them to make decisions and act for a sustainable future. Sustainability is one of the three cross-curriculum priorities in the Australian Curriculum.
Actsmart Schools helps schools embed sustainability across the curriculum by providing support and resources, including an easy-to-use best practice guide with step-by-step instructions.
Curriculum is one of the five focus areas of the Actsmart Schools Program. The program supports schools to adopt sustainable practices into the management of waste, water, energy and school grounds/biodiversity. Introducing new sustainable practices provides a stimulus to introduce new teaching and learning programs.
Schools can be rewarded for their efforts by gaining Actsmart Schools accreditation for the effective delivery of sustainability education through the curriculum.
For more information email actsmart@act.gov.au or call the Actsmart Schools Officers on 62076430.
Actsmart Schools Awards 2018
Actsmart Schools is celebrating its first ever awards on 20th November 2018. The awards celebrate excellence in the Actsmart Schools focus areas; waste and recycling management, efficient use of energy, actions to address water use and quality, improvements to school grounds and biodiversity, and the inclusion of sustainability within the curriculum.
The awards aim to recognise exemplary sustainability innovations and projects undertaken, and significant individual contributions made by students, teachers or school staff.
The awards will be presented at a ceremony in the ACT Legislative Assembly, followed by a celebratory lunch.
For more information please contact actsmart@act.gov.au.
Categories
Actsmart Schools Awards Categories 2018
Innovation Award - Nomination Form
- This category recognises a school that has implemented a project or innovation in 2018 which has resulted in improvements in sustainability.
Sustainability Leadership
- This category recognises individuals for outstanding leadership in school sustainability by best demonstrating the spirit of the Actsmart Schools program. Nominees must show exceptional commitment to improving their school’s sustainability. Choose the sub-category that best represents your nomination:
- Nomination Form: Teacher / Staff Member
- Nomination Form: Primary Student
- Nomination Form: Secondary / College student
Sustainable School of the Year - Nomination Form
- This category recognises schools who have successfully improved their sustainability in 2018 through student and staff behaviour change and action. It will be awarded to a school that demonstrates excellence across the five Actsmart schools focus areas: water, waste, energy, biodiversity and school grounds, and the integration of sustainability in the curriculum.
Please submit nominations to actsmart@act.gov.au
How to nominate
Nominations are now open for the Actsmart Schools Awards 2018
Nominations close Wednesday 7th November 2018
How to nominate
- Decide which category or categories you wish to submit a nomination.
- Review the award categories and the terms and conditions.
- Download and complete the nomination form for that category.
- Submit completed nomination form/s to Actsmart Schools via email.
For more information contact actsmart@act.gov.au.
Conditions of entry
Conditions of entry
Who can submit a nomination
Any staff member at an ACT school can submit a nomination. Students enrolled in ACT Schools and staff members working in any ACT school are eligible to be nominated. Nominations must be endorsed by a staff member of the school being nominated.
Nominations
All nominations become the property of the ACT Government. Entrants agree to various types of promotion in the public domain. Information in nominations may be reproduced for promotional purposes. The judging panel reserves the right to move a nomination from one category to another should they deem it a more appropriate fit. All decisions of the judging panel are final.
Eligibility in more than one category
Projects or innovations may be included in more than one award category. For example a project could be included in the Innovation Award, and could also be used to support the Sustainable School of the Year Award.
Number of nominations
A school may submit up to three nominations for each category, excluding the Sustainable School of the Year Award. A separate nomination form must be completed for each nomination and category.
Supporting information
Entrants are encouraged to provide supporting documentation (photos, graphs or statistics) to substantiate claims in your nomination. However, this is not a condition of entry. Supporting evidence is restricted to 3MB and must be in JPEG, PDF, Microsoft Word or Excel format. Entrants can email supporting documentation as attachments to actsmart@act.gov.au stating the school and relevant nomination category. Photos being used to support nominations must be accompanied by a completed media permissions form available from Actsmart Schools.
How entries are judged
The judging panel will comprise of representatives from the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate and one independent judge from outside of the Directorate.
Judges reserve the right to move an entry from one category to another should they deem it a more appropriate fit. Judges decisions are final.
