Getting started
Local support
Need to find out more about your local waterways, and how to go about monitoring water condition, or doing a bug survey? Contact local community-based organisations who may be keen to engage with schools. Regional natural resource management (NRM) bodies often have staff to assist community groups and schools interested in learning more about their local waterways. For contact details see Regional contacts.
Outdoor and Environmental Education Centres (O&EECs) "promote, develop provide and deliver highly effective outdoor and environmental education programs for schools and the community, and provide professional development for teachers". To find your local centre, visit the Queensland Education website - http://education.qld.gov.au/schools/environment/outdoor/index.html
Monitoring equipment
Water monitoring equipment can be expensive - contact your local council, Regional NRM group, or Catchment group to see if they have equipment you can borrow. For contact details see Regional contacts.
Alternatively, check with other local schools to see if you can share or pool resources.
Funding
Check the website of your local council to see if it has any school environmental education grants.
Information on general community environmental grants are available - see Funding sources.
School specific grants are also available:
- Department of Environment and Water Resources: Education for Sustainable Development grants program – www.environment.gov.au/education/programs
- Junior Landcare grants program – www.juniorlandcare.com.au
- Dilmah Water Quality Funding Best Tea, Best Water program – www.landcareonline.com
Last updated 19 February 2008
