THE AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION: A PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION ADAPTING IN A CHANGING WORLD Grahame Collier [President] Phil Smith [Vice President] Presented by Cam Mackenzie

ADAPTING IN A CHANGING WORLD I want to tell you a story ….. well five stories really

Chronicle a path  A path that might raise some points of similarity and difference that could be useful for you  A path that identifies some of what we have learnt, some directions we have taken.  A path taken by Education [EE/ESD/LfS/ EfS] interwoven with a path for a professional body  A pathway to further conversation locally, Nationally, internationally

In my country it is appropriate to…. Pay respect to and acknowledge the indigenous owners of the land. I would like to do this here, too. The indigenous people are the first step on the path of people’s interaction with their environment in this place

Three recurring themes Progressing education policy/programs or progressing an Association CommunicatingPlanningActing

Communicating, Planning and Acting Is a helix. They do not happen in silos

The Association has three major roles: To promote the most extensive and effective use of education to help people to live more sustainably. To support its members and others in the sector through professional development. To develop local networks that facilitate people to share programs and skills

The Association is… > a space machine! Making space in which educators can act. A vehicle for support… > an enabling body… individual educators can act in their own place and space… > an influencing group that influences the broader field so educators can act in bigger and bigger places and space….. without powerful, active, alert, attentive, creative members, the Association can be none of these. A professional body is built on and of people!

STORY 1: WHERE OUR STORY TAKES PLACE large, sparse, coastal fringe, mostly urban, multicultural, rich, minerals, still not a republic, three tiers of government. When it comes to sustainability the national head has been not so much in the sand as in the pocket

STORY 2: EVOLUTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Mirroring International Activity 1970 First Environmental Education [EE] conference held I973 First World Environment Day held Belgrade 1977 Tiblisi AAEE established Rio and Agenda Agenda 21 was first enshrined in law [Local Gov] Environmental Education for a Sustainable Future: National Action Plan [NAP] the National Environmental Education Council [NEEC] 2005 Decade for Education for Sustainable Development 2005 AUSSI and Schools Policy 2007 Second NAP

Perhaps evolution looks like this….

Progressing from…… Nature studies Environmental Education Education for Sustainability Continuing Evolutionary process at varying rates to ?????

Progressing from…… School-based Academic driven [champions] to Community education Industry education Practitioner/agency/policy driven…academic informed

STORY 3: LEADERSHIP FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Our National Action Plan [NAP ] National Environmental Education Network, the National Environmental Education Council and the Australian Research Institute in Education for Sustainability [ARIES] State Territory and local govt roles NGOs

Who are the real leaders?  The people?  The scientists and academics?  The species in our remaining flora and fauna - reducing biodiversity?  The government?  Our industries?  The professional bodies - our association – what is our role?

STORY 4: GROWTH OF THE FIELD Quantity: there are more of us… Capacity: We are moving from isolated problems ‘solving’ to systemic thinking – about sustainability. Better integration of education. Quality: We are taking more time to study and learn from others. More networking, evaluating, reflecting. Evolving: We are evolving quickly into a more powerful force for change.

STORY 5: THE EVOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION There has never been a more important time for us to have a vibrant Association, but a couple of years ago the Association was at risk of stagnating. New…. Vision Structure Relevance to our people Relevance to the stakeholders Integrating communicating, planning and acting

THE ONGOING STORY… our likely future story Chapter 1: How we talk about ourselves and what we do? Integrating communicating, planning and acting Chapter 2: We Need professional standards and accreditation Chapter 3. We require adequate public policy Chapter 4: We will be an outward looking Association

AAEE lessons from our stories so far… A vibrant well governed professional body, full of active workers. A body that values people in promoting change. we strong when we are working together. Clear objectives and vision – an organisation of power and punch. A means of balancing volunteerism with funded support. Strengthened strategic thinking and planning. Building membership by receptiveness to member needs.

In Conclusion Our lessons and our futures are likely to be not too far removed from yours