Bee-utiful: NSW Govt stumps up cash for key environmental education projects

By EducationHQ News Team
Published April 9, 2024

Eight NSW organisations, including a range of schools, are to benefit from $1.1 million in funding to implement key environmental education initiatives in their local communities, under the NSW Environmental Trust, Environmental Education Grants Program.

The program supports projects that develop, broaden and transform the community’s knowledge, skills and intrinsic motivation to undertake sustainable behaviour and encourage participation in the protection of the environment.

The environmental education program supports projects that help communities to learn, acquire new skills, and be inspired to act in ways that are good for the environment.

NSW Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe said the State Government is 'thrilled' to support projects that will develop skills and share knowledge to empower communities to take actions that improve their local environment.

“The breadth of projects being supported this year is huge, from delivering native bee education to flood-affected school communities in Northern NSW to teaching volunteers propagation techniques so they can grow native plants in their backyards for Monaro revegetation projects,” Sharpe said in a statement.

Examples of projects funded under the Environmental Research Grants Program include:

$59,950 for North Coast Regional Landcare Network to rebuild communities and biodiversity after flooding in Northern NSW by delivering education through flood-affected school communities, emphasising the role of native bees in a sustainable environment.
$228,550 for the Australian Association for Environmental Education to help school communities address climate change challenges by creating an environmental education directory, and empowering teachers to lead climate action projects.
$250,000 for Carbon Eight, which is collaborating with farming landholders to regenerate Threatened Ecological Communities, address land degradation, and promote regenerative agricultural practices in the Nandewar Bioregion.

“I can’t wait to see the positive impact these projects have on our communities,” Sharpe said.

To secure funding, projects should address making a positive impact on the environment, meeting the needs of the community, working together with others, creating learning experiences that lead to positive actions, and sharing the results with others.

The NSW Environmental Trust is an independent statutory body that supports environmental projects through grant funding.

For more information visit the Trust and the Environmental Education Grants Program webpage here.