Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative Victoria (AuSSI Vic)

ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic provides a holistic approach to sustainability. It integrates educational, environmental, social and economic outcomes so that schools do not see each area in isolation but as components of the bigger picture of sustainability.

ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic modules

ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic is a framework that guides schools through modules to go beyond awareness raising to strategic planning, then on to action and in many cases environmental leadership.

There are five modules:

• Core Module
• Biodiversity Module
• Energy Module
• Waste Module
• Water Module

Schools can complete the modules over time in whichever sequence suits them.  The process aims to build on existing achievements and generate high participation of students, staff, the wider school community, environment agencies, community groups and other organisations.

For additional information and support about ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic please download the ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic Information for Schools document below.

Changes to certification in 2009

ResourceSmart Schools 5Star Sustainability Certification replaces the Sustainable Schools Initiative and the previous Waste Wise programs certification processes. Current certified schools under the Sustainable Schools Initiative and Waste Wise will continue to be recognised by ResourceSmart 5Star Sustainability Certification until they expire according to your current certification end date. These schools are invited to transition to ResourceSmart 5Star Sustainability Certification.

This process of improvement is being led by Sustainability Victoria on behalf of the Victorian Government.

Further information on ResourceSmart 5Star Sustainability Certification will be available soon on this site.

Further information on ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic is available through the CERES Sustainability Hub (see link at bottom of page).

ResourceSmart Certification Tools

Each ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic module has a certification tool (see downloads, below) which allows schools to be certified in the ResourceSmart 5Star Sustainability Certification. It also allows schools to gain recognition for the completion of a ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic resource module.

Depending on the ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic modules completed, schools will focus on aiming to achieve the aspirational reduction targets and reaching the best practice benchmarks (per student per year, primary/secondary) as listed in each of the certification tools.

Transition Schools

Schools that were engaged in former sustainable programs such as Sustainable Schools Initiative, Planet Savers, Towards Zero Waste and Waste Wise certification programs have been invited to transition to ResourceSmart Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI Vic). Sustainability Victoria is funding the transition to ResourceSmart 5Star Sustainability Certification.

ResourceSmart 5Star Sustainability Certification places schools in the same system as state and local governments, venues, businesses across Victoria in their sustainability achievements, thus raising the status of schools working on sustainability. ResourceSmart 5Star Sustainability Certification provides schools with the opportunity to strive for sustainability, recognition and leadership.

ResourceSmart 5Star Sustainability Certification requires schools to record and monitor their resource use on the Schools Environment Tracking System (SETS). SETS is an online tool that enables a school to log in their resource consumption data. To assist your school to collect resource data, use the Transition SETS Form to get started.

This transition funding is only available until the end of 2010. Transition schools are being asked to respond to this offer by 27 August 2009 as there are only 60 spaces available this year. First schools in with their Transition SETS baseline data details and school details will be offered SETS for free for the first year of transition (unless the school is already on SETS).

 The membership is normally $250.00 but your school will receive this for free under this transition phase. Beyond this year, the annual subscription fee for SETS is $150.00. The school will be required to pay to maintain SETS.

Schools are encouraged to transition to become part of ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic and reap the benefits of being connected to the valuable SETS resource data management tool.