Resources for educators

Moreland City Council subsidises or assists with a number of sustainability education programs for local schools, pre schools and early learning centres.

Incursions and excursions (subsidised for Merri-bek schools and kinders)

Biodiversity education programs – for a range of sustainability and biodiversity themed incursions delivered by CERES and Merri Creek Management Committee. These are free of charge for Merri-bek schools.
Waste education programs – for a range of waste and litter themed incursions delivered by Envirocom. These are free of charge for Merri-bek schools.
Energy and water efficiency programs – including Resource Smart

Resource Smart Schools and Resource Smart in Early Childhood

Resource Smart is a state government program designed to embed sustainability across school facilities, community and curriculum, while saving resources and money for the school.

Resource Smart Schools - delivered locally by CERES for schools and Early Learning Centres.
CERES also offers an Student Environment Leadship Program for years 3 to 10. An annual Expression of Interest is required.

Curriculum-linked sustainability education resources for teachers

There is a wide variety of programs and resources available to support educators teaching units of work related to environmental sustainability. Many are ready-linked to Victorian curriculum content.

The following documents have been developed to assist teachers to find sustainability education resources specifically suited to the year level and subject they are teaching.

These detailed lists include excursions, incursions, virtual or online experiences and other resources. Some are free and others may involve a cost.

These resource lists are intended as living documents. Please download, copy, adapt and update as needed.

(Please note: the content of these documents was correct at the time of publication, however providers may change programs, resources, content, offerings and website links over time. Please let us know if you find any broken links or other problems.)

Pre Schools and Early Learning Centres:

Early Childhood Sustainability Resources

Primary Schools:

Secondary Schools:

Summary of sustainability programs and classroom resources

Here is a brief summary of key providers. (For more details see the relevant resource list document above):

CERES has a range of online resources for sustainability activities to use at school or at home, and covering a range of Victorian Curriculum areas including Science, English, Mathematics, Design Technology, The Arts and Digital Technology. CERES also offers a range of excursion programs, including incursions and virtual excursions, as well as the ResourceSmart Schools program.

Sustainability Victoria offer a free program called ResourceSmart Schools which includes the Energy Champions Challenge and an online learning hub.

Merri Creek Management Committee offers a range of Waterwatch programs for all levels (early childhood to tertiary). MCMC also have two Water Education Manuals available on their website, suitable for KIndergarten to Year 2 and upper primary (years 5 – 6).

Earth Ed and Ecolinc are Victorian state government education centres providing excursion, incursion and remote programs. Earth Ed specialises in STEM and Earth Sciences, whilst Ecolinc specialises in sustainable environment programs

Zoos Victoria offer a range of educational resources and programs for Early childhood to year 12, including digital programs, teacher resources and PD. Zoos Victoria also have a Facebook group called Teacher Tribe for teachers to share stories, ideas and resources with zoo staff and other teachers.

The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria have many resources and programs aimed at all levels from Early Childhood to Tertiary.

Melbourne Water has a range of curriculum linked resources and tours for Foundation through to year 10. These cover Science, Geography, Design and Digital Technologies as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and culture. Melbourne Water also offers various citizen science programs , including Waterwatch.

Museums Victoria offer online and onsite education programs, some of which align well with sustainabilty themes

Parks Victoria's Learning in nature program offers a range of educational resources and excursion opportunities.

Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium has a range of guided and self guided excursion programs.

Birdlife Australia has teaching resources available on the Birds in Backyards website including a comprehensive resource for Primary School children called Beaks, Feet and Feathers. Birdlife Australia also offers the Birds in Schools program for primary schools.

Gould League offers excursion and incursions on environmental sustainability topics.

ABC Education has a wide range of sustainability and climate change resources searchable by subject and year level. ABC Behind the News has videos on a variety of sustainability topics and environmental issues. The ABC also have a Bin Audit Teacher Resource suited to Geography year 4, HASS years 4 and 7, and Science years 4 – 7.