Strategic Plan 2022-2025

Strategic Plan 2018-2021

Since 1976, the Australian Association for Environmental Education NSW Chapter (AAEE NSW) has worked collaboratively with a range of stakeholders to promote education for sustainability in NSW.

This plan details the identity, vision, mission, core principles, strategic priorities and goals of the organisation over the next three years.

Our Identity

AAEE NSW is:

• the NSW professional association representing those with a passion for education for sustainability (EfS)¹, both in paid and voluntary capacities, from all sectors and industries;
• part of a national organisation that represents environmental and sustainability educators across Australia. Our activities complement and extend what is being done nationally;
• responsible for providing high quality EfS services to members in New South Wales including our biennial state conference, grant projects, awards, scholarships and the revitalisation of the Sustainable Schools NSW program;
• a not-for-profit, incorporated, member-based, non-government organisation that is guided by our vision, mission, core principles and strategic priorities; and
• committed to promoting and using Make the Change: A Framework for education and engagement for environmental sustainability 2014- 2021 to help achieve this Strategic Plan.

Our Vision

Through education and engagement, enable individuals, communities and organisations to prioritise a quadruple bottom line² approach in decision making and value, protect and conserve our environment for current and future generations.

Our Mission

We enable and support environmental and sustainability educators to achieve our vision by promoting and advocating for sustainability education, best practice programs, research, capacity building, sound government policy, collaborative networks and partnerships across NSW, and by learning from the traditional custodians of the land on which we work.

Our Core Principles

Our core principles underpin our vision, mission and the work we do to achieve our goals.

We:

• Value and give recognition to all who contribute to the work of education for sustainability;
• Recognise the urgency of the ecological issues facing our planet including climate change, energy security, resource use and recovery, and the health of our critical systems including biodiversity, habitat, air, water and earth;
• Share and promote values that underpin education for sustainability and model active citizenship and lifelong learning in caring for the environment;
• Respect and reflect local Aboriginal culture and heritage including cultural and place-based learning;
• Advocate for public policy that enables individuals, communities and organisations to prioritise a quadruple bottom line approach in decision making;
• Provide for the needs of our specific target audience/s in program design and delivery;
• Acknowledge and expand the evidence base underpinning sustainability education and engagement, through research, reflection, critical thinking, monitoring and evaluation and continuous improvement;
• Prioritise collaboration and partnerships at all levels; and
• Invest in the next generation of sustainability and environmental educators.

Our Strategic Priorities

Priority 1. Enabling and Supporting High Quality Education for Sustainability

Goal 1.1 - Deliver and support high-quality and effective programs for sustainability educators

We will implement and support best practice programs that build capacity and enable current and future environmental and sustainability educators across NSW to deliver high quality outcomes for NSW communities and the environment.

Goal 1.2 – Support and prioritise networks, partnerships and collaborations that promote best practice education for sustainability programs

We will collaborate with, and facilitate networks between, individuals and organisations to develop and deliver quality education for sustainability programs that enable individuals, communities and organisations to prioritise a quadruple bottom line approach in decision making.

Priority 2. Leadership and Advocacy

Goal 2.1 - Provide leadership for members and others across NSW who deliver education for sustainability

We will represent the views and interests of our members across all sectors and industries, and operate in a collaborative manner to learn from the traditional custodians of our land, expand the research base underpinning sustainability education and strengthen the education for sustainability movement.

Goal 2.2 - Advocate strongly for effective public policy on education for sustainability

We will lend our voice, research and expertise to model active citizenship and advocate for effective public policy that responds to the urgent challenges facing our environment and prioritises education for sustainability that enables individuals, communities and organisations to prioritise a quadruple bottom line approach in decision making.

Priority 3. Continual Improvement of Member Services

Goal 3.1 Give recognition to the contributions of environmental and sustainability educators

We will celebrate the contributions of environmental and sustainability educators and acknowledge the critical role they play in enabling individuals, communities and organisations to prioritise a quadruple bottom line approach in decision making.

Goal 3.2 Foster diverse and growing membership

We will strive to ensure our membership is relevant, diverse, active and growing while investing in the next generation of educators.

Goal 3.3 Administer the organisation with ethical, active and careful stewardship

We will adhere to good governance and decision-making processes, including effective use of working groups, regional networks and sector groups. We will seek diverse organisational funding and we will ensure the affairs of AAEE NSW are conducted with a commitment to ethical, strategic, transparent, participatory and evidence-based decision making.

Footnotes

¹ The term ‘education for sustainability’ is used as an all-inclusive term including sustainable development practices and approaches, environmental education and nature education.

² The term ‘quadruple bottom line’ is used to refer to the complex, interconnected issues associated with sustainability which include environmental, social, economic and civic leadership or governance factors.

Download the Strategic Plan