The introduction of a national school curriculum,
the Australian Curriculum, presents an opportunity for water businesses
and government agencies that deliver water education programs to
collaborate efforts and become national advocates for water education .
The Australian Curriculum Project is an industry wide project that
will provide a means for the water sector pool funds in order to combine
efforts, resources and ensure the quality of water education messages
are delivered across all learning areas in Australia. This will lead to
equity across the sector and allow for informed communities who are
able to make balanced decisions about future water issues and
infrastructure, such as desalination and recycling projects.
The concept of an industry program, The Australian Curriculum Project,
has been developed by representatives in the water sector. An initial
Steering Committee was formed and met on 16 June in Sydney to develop
the scope and construct a business plan. Members of the committee are
from Sydney Water, Water Corporation, Qld Department of Environment and
Resource Management, SA Water, Melbourne Water and AWA. Since then both
Sydney Water and SA Water have contributed financially with other
agencies eager to contribute.
Importantly this project offers the opportunity for the water sector to
collaborate with national education agencies such as the Australian
Curriculum and Reporting Authroity (ACARA) and Education Services
Australia (ESA).
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This collaboration is essential in ensuring
existing water education materials are updated, new materials are
developed and all resources are integrated into the Australian
Curriculum and produced in a new and useable digital format. By working
together it will mean there will be less duplication of resources,
efforts can be shared and costs can be saved.
Latest News
8 April 2013
Nominations open for the three remaining places on the Australian Curriculum Project Steering Committee. The Steering Committee considers any aspect related to the development and
operation of the Australian Curriculum.
The specific duties of the
Committee are to:
- Develop the key outcomes of the project;
- ‘Champion’ and actively encourage involvement and support
for the project from water sector organisations;
- Provide input on funding model for the project;
- Establish appropriate terms, conditions and procedures to ensure
effective delivery of the project;
- Develop and implement appropriate marketing strategies for
the project;
- Establish and appoint sub committees as it sees fit (with
appropriate expertise) to help deliver the project;
- Liaise with the Australian Curriculum and Reporting
Authority, Education Services Australia, education institutions, the water and
education sector to support the introduction, development and promotion of the
Australian Curriculum Project;
- Assess and review the performance of the project and report
annually on the activities of the project to AWA and project stakeholders.
Interested subscribers should email the
nomination form the Jacilyn O'Grady (Project Manager) by Monday 10am, 22 April.
4 April 2013 We are pleased to announce that Mary Rowland from Aqius Education has been contracted to undertake the role of Water Education Curriculum Officer for the AWA Australian Curriculum Project – Water Education in Schools. Mary will work with AWA over the next six months auditing existing water education resources, identifying gaps in resources and linking resources to the Australian Curriculum.
Mary has extensive experience in education. Previously a secondary science teacher, she has developed water-related curriculum resources and delivered teacher professional learning for the Queensland Government's Water: Learn it for life! program. Mary has been actively engaged in water education for the past 15 year, during which time she has sat on a number of committees including the Australian Curriculum Steering Committee.
Mary will make contact with subscribers over the coming weeks to discuss their expectations of the project.
6 March 2013
Mary Catus-Wood, a member of the Curriculum Project Steering Committee, hosted a workshop on the Australian Curriculum Project at the National Water Education Conference. During the workshop participants heard about how the Australian Water Association and industry subscribers are collaborating to develop common messages and themes via a single framework, the Australian Curriculum Project. Martin Stone from Education Services Australia, the organisation contracted by the Australia Government to manage the Australian Curriculum Connect Project, talked on education resource portals and some of the challengers educators face when developing resources, such as Intellectual Property.
25 February 2013
Subscriber Update available. To view the update
click here.
14 February 2013
The Water Industry Operators Association (WIOA) join with 20 other subscribers on the Australian Curriculum Project.
For more
information or to contribute to this exciting new industry project,
please download the Business Plan and Prospectus or contact AWA’s
Project Manager: