Eco Schools Grants
This program provides grants to schools to give them the opportunity to involve their students and community in developing and implementing 
environmental management projects.
Objectives
The overall objective of the Eco Schools Program is to support schools to develop best practice in environmental education and innovative solutions to environmental issues. The program will fund school environmental management projects aimed at one or more of the objectives below.
Students:
- to promote the development of students' knowledge, values and behaviour that supports environmental sustainability
- to promote participation of some or all students in identifying, designing, implementing and monitoring solutions that improve the quality of the school and local environment.
Teachers:
- to assist teachers to integrate school environmental management projects into school programs and therefore maximise student learning
- to enable project related professional learning for teachers to gain practical and pedagogical skills and knowledge about the environment.
School development and management:
- to encourage a whole of school approach to sustainable management of school operations
- to fund schools to utilise the natural and built environment to facilitate student learning
- to encourage schools to link with the local community (including other schools) to undertake activities which address local environmental issues.
Environment
- to promote more efficient resource use and improve the quality of the local environment
- to enable schools to address community and government environmental concerns and priorities
The ultimate goal of the Eco Schools Grant Program is the development of ecologically sustainable schools.
Eligibility
Schools that did not receive an Environmental Trust grant in the previous year are eligible to apply. Schools must also be registered on the Sustainable Schools NSW website, www.sustainableschools.nsw.edu.au Please note that preschools are not eligible to apply.
Grants awarded in 2008
The Trust awarded 60 grants of $2,500 totalling $150,000. A total of 83 applications were received requesting $207,500. The Technical Committee noted that the quality of applications to the program improved in 2008. It was also pleasing that most schools that applied had SEMPS (School Environmental Management Plans) and that the link was made between the SEMP and the project application.
A list of successful projects is available on the 2008 Eco Schools Grant page.
Workshops
Workshops are usually held every 2 years and it is anticipated that they will be offered again in early 2009 during the call for applications.
Funding for 2008
A total of $150,000 was offered in 2008 to the Eco Schools Program (60 grants of $2,500 each).
Guidelines and Application form
Note: The following documentation is for information only and will be updated at the next call for applications.
Stage | Opening Date | Closing Date | Forms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application (one-stage process) | 15 March 2008 | Closed | 2008 Guidelines GLES2008.pdf (34kb, PDF) |
| 2008 Application Form APPES2008.doc (172kb, Word document) |
Help on downloading and completing application forms.
Reporting Guidelines
A new reporting pro-forma was developed in March 2008. All grantees should use this pro-forma for their final report. It is recommended that all schools read the pro-forma prior to completing their application.
Case Studies
A range of case studies from previously conducted Eco Schools projects are available on the Case Studies page. These projects all have their unique way of assisting to conserve and enhance the New South Wales environment.
For further information please contact the Environmental Trust on (02) 8837 6093.
Environmental Trust
PO Box 644, PARRAMATTA 2124
Phone: (02) 8837 6093
E-mail:info@environmentaltrust.nsw.gov.au