Values Vision Aims Objectives

VALUES

Fostering of social change on environmental issues;

Use of sustainability principles;

Excellence in education using reflective practice;

Inclusive, democratic, collaborative and empowering approaches;

Use of holistic, integrated and global perspectives;

High ethical standards;

High quality research and evaluation to underpin practice; and

Productive international, national, interstate and sector based partnerships.

VISION

“We have a dream…. for education for a sustainable future”

AAEE’s Ten Point Vision about Environmental Education for Sustainability in Australia

The purpose of this statement is to identify a vision for the role of education in developing a sustainable future for Australia. This vision has been developed by the Australian Association for Environmental Education but will belong to all those who take a role in its implementation.

Every Australian government – federal, state, territory and local – recognises sustainability as an essential goal by having comprehensive sustainability policies and programs to support all Australians in moving to more sustainable lifestyles through integrated education, regulatory, economic and infrastructure provision measures.

Every business in Australia is encouraged to develop sustainable practices through appropriate infrastructure and educational support, economic incentives and regulatory framework.

Every large and medium corporate entity trading in Australia uses a sustainability reporting framework and trains its staff in environmental conservation and practices beyond legislative compliance.

Every community and professional organisation takes a role in supporting its members to integrate sustainable practices into their activities.

Every formal educational institution (pre-school, school, TAFE college, university and registered training organisation) demonstrates best practice in establishing sustainable campuses and curriculum that integrates sustainability content and principles to enable all graduates to develop sustainable lifestyles and working practices.

Every school student is engaged in practical, hands-on, dynamic sustainability education, including experiences in the natural world, in every year of their learning through a curriculum that integrates coherent sustainability principles.

Every educator (in both formal and non-formal sectors) is professionally trained in both education and sustainability content, methods and principles.

Every provider of environmental education for sustainability recognizes that education should be directed at developing improved knowledge, skills, capacity and motivation to adopt more sustainable practices.

Every member of the Australian community and every visitor to Australia learns about sustainable practices in all spheres of their lives or visit to Australia, including the sustainability implications of all purchases of goods and services, and is provided with relevant infrastructure and appropriate choices in all aspects of their lives in, or visit to, Australia.

Every household, supported by ongoing education, improved public infrastructure and a supportive culture, engages in an increasing range of sustainable behaviours.

AIMS

The role of education is a critical tool in the path towards sustainability. Increasingly environmental education is playing a major role in, and across sectors including government, business, industry, the broader community, and in schools. AAEE exists to provide a network for this growing force of environmental educators. It aims to support this network through:

• growing professionally, providing a forum for sharing lessons and experiences;
• providing a common voice to champion our cause in policy arenas and to generate funding; and
• forging partnerships with organisations that have common aims to further build the profile and recognition of EE.

AAEE has professional links with similar associations in North America, New Zealand, Abu Dhabi and Japan and is currently developing closer ties with Europe and Africa. The biennial, national conferences have an international perspective and our members represent AAEE at conferences both at home and overseas.

OBJECTIVES

The Objects of the Association are as follows:

Be a robust professional organisation with an active growing membership in all states and territories, supporting environmental/sustainability educators in rich and diverse ways, promoting professional leading practice and advocating at all levels for better educational and sustainability outcomes.

Take leadership in promoting, advocating for and advancing environmental and sustainability education in Australia.

Serve as a guardian of, and advocate for, professional standards in environmental and sustainability education and facilitate research, practice and policy dialogue on professional practice.

Be a catalyst for and develop, support and contribute to continuing professional development programs to assist educators to work effectively with all sectors of society towards a sustainable Australia.

Build a strong professional body valued by all those delivering Environmental Education and Education for Sustainability through external and internal communication and by providing an attractive and useful range of services to members.

Develop partnerships, affiliations and cooperative projects to advance the work of the Association.

Ensure the operations of the Association adopt environmentally sustainable practices, are financially viable and are undertaken with transparent and effective governance.

Establish and maintain a public fund to be called the Australian Association for Environmental Education Gift Fund for the specific purpose of supporting the environmental education objects and activities of the Association.

The consitution of the Australian Association for Environmental Education Inc., can be found here.