Teachers Environment Fund

About the Teachers Environment Fund

Launched in March 2008, the Teachers Environment Fund is Teachers Credit Union’s initiative to assist public schools and TAFEs to enhance their sustainability. The Fund allocates grants of up to $5,000 each bi-annually to public schools and TAFEs in NSW, ACT, NT and WA for environmental projects.

"The Teachers Environment Fund underpins our approach to sustainability," says Steve James, CEO of Teachers Credit Union. "We believe that success cannot be measured only in terms of profits and growth, but also how we relate to the community and the ways in which we minimise our environmental impact."

"Through the Teachers Environment Fund, the Credit Union is helping teachers bring to life their sustainability projects. We want to support projects which provide a resource for the school, as well as a practical teaching example that embeds sustainability into students' thinking."

How to apply

Applications for the Teachers Environment Fund have closed for 2011. Winners will be announced at the end of November. Applications for 2012 will open again in March 2012.

Eligibility criteria

Any public school and TAFE in NSW, ACT, NT and WA can apply, and applicants do not have to be a member of Teachers Credit Union.

Teachers Environment Fund grants are allocated for school or TAFE projects that focus on: water and energy saving; composting and recycling; tree planting and biodiversity; or any suitable environmental project.

Projects need to demonstrate that they are:

Viable long-term
Linked to a broader environmental education strategy
Supported by the school community
Monitored effectively.

Supporting documentation to be provided with the application:

A School Environmental Management Plan (SEMP)
Cost estimates/official quotes

See the application form for further details.

Successful schools in the sixth round of grants in early 2011 are:

Bourke-Walgett School of Distance Education, NSW for a recycling project ($826.90)
Bradshaw Primary School, NT for a vegetable garden ($5,000)
Bungendore Public School, NSW for a dry creek bed and indigenous garden ($5,000)
Central Mangrove Public School, NSW for a vegetable garden ($2,136)
Durack Institute of Technology, WA for an environmental education project ($4,885)
Hillcrest Kindergarten, WA for a composting project ($339.95)
Macksville Public School, NSW for a recycling and composting project ($2,803.15)
Smithfield Public School, NSW for a vegetable garden and frog pond ($4,101.70)
Tamworth Public School, NSW for a vegetable garden ($4,000).

Congratulations to the recipients. We look forward to hearing about how your projects progress, and sharing your stories with all our members.

Industry recognition

The Teachers Credit Union has been given the 2010 Sustainability Award by the mutual financial services sector industry body Abacus, for its Teachers Environment Fund. The Abacus Sustainability Award recognises sustainability initiatives by credit unions and mutual building societies that positively benefit the environment or community. The Awards are an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate excellence within the industry and are judged across 131 credit unions and building societies.

Success to date

To date, the Teachers Environment Fund has distributed just over $200,000 to a total of 57 schools and 2 TAFEs. $40,000 of this total was contributed by the credit union on behalf of members who switched from paper to online statements.

The grants have been used for sustainable gardens, native tree planting, indigenous creeks and worm farms, to name a few. These projects have provided teachers with the opportunity to promote sustainability through practical learning experiences that embeds sustainability in the students’ thinking.