GGAA 2012 - Skills for Sustainability - TAFE NSW Northern Sydney Institute - Winner

Embedding Education for Sustainability principles and practice into vocational education and training at TAFENSW Northern Sydney Institute

TAFE NSW Northern Sydney Institute (NSI) made a commitment in 2011 to embed education for sustainability (EfS) into all education and training programs by 2013. NSI had already ensured a program of engagement of all its apprentices in environmental work practices.

This commitment requires a whole of Institute approach to EfS including a focus through the Institute’s governance model and accountability at the Executive level for embedding EfS into all training programs; building staff capability in the principles and practice of EfS relevant to their vocational areas; facilitating Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs such as new green skills in Grid Connected PV Systems and Solar Hot Water Installation; engaging teachers in EfS innovations and initiatives through partnerships with community groups, government agencies and enterprises and establishing interdisciplinary programs for training in the Cert IV Business Sustainability Assessment, Staement of Attainment (SoA) Carbon Accounting, Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Building for building trades and architectural services.

All NSI colleges have an Environmental Management System (EMS) certified to ISO14001 which provides the educational foundation of practising environmental sustainability. NSI is unique in the Australian tertiary sector to hold this certification. In July 2012, NSI achieved a Gold Partnership with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) in recognition of NSI’s leadership in EfS and the integration of sustainability into all aspects of our business and is the only NSW Government organisation and Registered Training Organisation to obtain this level of achievement.