What is "RESPECT" Award?
"Recognition of Excellent Sustainable Practice in Early Childhood Teaching"
The inaugural RESPECT Award commenced in 2008.
We felt that early childhood best practice should be rewarded and recognized.
2009 Winners are showcased in the Green Beginnings December newsletter and the winning entry and runner up won a plaque and a basket of prizes.
Be a leader in sustainable education and share with others how you achieved your goals.
Respect Awards
Winner of the RESPECT Award 2010 (single service division)
North Fitzroy Child Care Co-Operative
Name of the project: The greening of co-op
Brief outline of the project: Our project is to tread lightly, respecting the environment by reducing our ecological footprint. We do this by:
- Engaging in educating and involving co-op staff, families, children and the wider community in sustainable practices.
- Introducing environmental education into the curriculum.
- Introducing initiatives to recycle, reuse and reduce in all areas of our practice.
The inspiration for the project: It began when an olive tree was donated to the co-op by one of the families, which we then planted with the children on World Environment Day. This then sparked a lot of enthusiasm and interest in gardening amongst the children. It was quite fitting, as the olive tree possesses a wealth of symbolism from peace and hope to prosperity and wisdom. It is also known as the ‘tree of eternity’ because of its ability to regenerate.
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| In 2009, North Fitzroy co-op installed solar panels as part of the City of Yarra program; this generated a lot of interest with the children. | |
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These initiatives awakened motivation within the centre and a reflective process on our need to encourage the development of a culture that is committed to sustainable practices.
Outcomes of the project: The outcomes of the project to date have been to:
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- Install a rain water tank.
- Minimize the use of plastic and increased emphasis on more natural and recycled materials(sourced from parent donations and Reverse Garbage).
- Distribute sustainability tips via monthly newsletter to co-op families.
- Minimize printing of newsletters and invoices, which are now sent electronically.
- Establish recycling systems for paper, glass, cans.
- Replace paper hand towels with cloth hand towels.
- Review of our cleaning products with a view to purchasing more environmentally sensitive options.
- Re-use of items from hard rubbish collection.
Our Greening Co-op Project is a continuing journey that will have specific short and long term goals such as policy development, completion of an environmental audit, and setting targets that incorporate all aspects of our service (education, practices, and broader community).
How the project goals and outcomes link with environmental sustainability principles:
The project goals and outcomes link with the environmental sustainability principles outlined by UN-DESD by encouraging and passing on skills, knowledge and attitudes to children and by staff and families learning about environmental and conservation issues. In addition, implementing sustainable practices; with an emphasis on the use of natural and recycle materials, wise water usage, power saving, recycling, worm farming/composting, vegetable and indigenous gardening, biodiversity, waste minimisation and adopting a positive regard and sense of responsibility for all living things.Winner of the RESPECT Award 2010 (multi service division)
Alpine Children's Services
Name of the project: The Green Team (Sustainability Group)
Brief outline of the project: Alpine Children?s Services (ACS) is a not-for-profit organisation which provides quality early childhood services throughout the Alpine Shire in North East Victoria. The service has a committee of management made up of two directors, two representatives from the Alpine Shire and parent representatives.
The organisation's 2008-2010 strategic plan identified the first core value of the service as 'sustainability'. From this flowed a number of objectives including, "To make Alpine Children's Services a recognised leader in environmental practices within the early childhood sector".
The strategic plan was taken very seriously by ACS. The directors and manager of ACS understood that achieving this objective required far more than just a one-off process. Instead what was required included systems, frameworks, a "bottom-up" approach and shared ownership and values. It was acknowledged that behavioural change would not happen overnight, but rather required a consistent and ongoing focus.
A model was developed to embed "green" initiatives at all of our centres and most importantly in staff practices and the educational curriculum. Our sustainable group (aka The Green Team) was born. Just like OH&S Officers at each centre ACS has Sustainability Officers. The team is layered from director, manager, staff (educators and administrative staff) and parent representation. The team has been in operation for 18 months and meets on a monthly basis.
The team had a vision to create an "environmental auditing system" to be used by early childhood organisations. After some research the team discovered the ResourceSmart Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative Victoria (AuSSI Vic). It was with some disappointment that the team realised this was designed (by CERES and Sustainability Victoria) for primary and secondary schools with no consideration of early childhood services.
The team recognised the value and worth of the AuSSI Vic program. Further investigation identified sections that did not relate to early childhood and soon made modifications for the program to be adapted for early childhood. ACS has been working through the five modules of the AuSSI Vic program. Through this process systemic and long-term changes have been achieved.
Into the future, ACS is well positioned to advocate for the inclusion of early childhood into the AuSSI Vic program. Our achievements demonstrate this is not only achievable but necessary to ensure we are building and nurturing ecologically sustainable values and practices (A. Elliot, Every Child, 2007)
The inspiration for the project: The United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014) inspired „sustainability? to become one of the four core values of ACS (alongside innovation, collaborative relationships and integrity).
The following is an extract from ACS 2008-2010 strategic plan:
1. Sustainability
A sustainable organisation through exploration of new practices and a commitment to environmental protection, social responsibility and economic progress.
Objectives:
- To make Alpine Children's Services a recognised leader in environmental practices within the early childhood sector.
- To maintain a financially sustainable service.
- To encourage our children to connect with, and enjoy, the environment – to maintain and improve their physical and mental health.
- To promote child friendly communities that provide children with opportunities for optimal growth and development: emotionally, socially, culturally and spiritually.
- To promote the adoption and practise of sustainability as a core value of our services.
- To substantially minimise Alpine Children's Services environmental footprint.
The outcomes of the project:
- Creation of our Little Green Gums newsletter – From little things, big things grow.
This is a biannual publication that aims to keep parents and families informed of the new green initiatives that we are implementing across the Alpine Shire?s early childhood services. Please take a moment to read our newsletter on the link provided below which details our progress
http://www.alpinechildrensservices.asn.au/documents/newsletters/littlegreengums_July10.pdf - A number of articles in the local newspaper
- Results from our recent on-line parent surveys (Sept 2010) with 90 responses.
Parents were then asked what they thought about these green initiatives. The responses were overwhelmingly positive. Parents were asked to elaborate on the changes in their home as a result of their child's education in sustainability.
Again, the results were fantastic. - Staff uptake. Staff progress is detailed in our staff newsletter "the Endeavour".
- Rainbow Garden usage. In 2008 a year long project to create and manage a "Rainbow Garden" a sensory and edible garden for Lake View Children?s Centre was launched. It took a dedicated small team of volunteers, parents, staff and community members to plan, to raise funds and to build the garden. The garden is being used heavily by the children. They love to explore, dig, climb, and play in there. From funds raised we invested $1000 in gardening related books for the children to enjoy. Curriculum and observations are being recorded by staff. We run workshops here in conjunction with major community events, such as the Bright Spring Festival where we were lucky enough to have Tino Carnevale from Gardening Australia come and present on "how to start an edible garden from scratch".
http://www.alpinechildrensservices.asn.au/
How to Apply
Follow The procedure below to apply for the respect award.
- Download the Application Form from the link Above.
- Complete the application before the due date in September. Ensure you provide evidence, a detailed example of what you have achieved and supply us with visual documentation.
- Send The form to EEEC.
- Call the resource center manager if you require further assistance or Tracy Young Project Officer 9214 6114.