Increased awareness and concern about global warming and limited natural resources has led TAFE NSW – New England Institute to offer a new course, the Graduate Certificate in Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD).
The course is designed for employees from a range of sectors including industry, business, teaching and local government. Current students are drawn from a variety of backgrounds including waste management, construction, environmental education and urban design.
The course covers ESD principles and how to apply them in the workplace, as well as environmental law and community development. Participants can also elect to study a range of units such as eco-efficiency and cleaner production, public environmental reporting, environmental education and solid waste management.
The course includes a three-day residential component each semester, tutorial support sessions with the facilitator and self-paced learning materials. Lynda Lewis, course co-ordinator at New England Institute, said the residential component allows participants to immerse themselves in the subjects and to meet with others from diverse backgrounds.
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Noretta Terry, Director, Best Practice Constructions is passionate about helping the environment by recycling and reusing materials generated from the company’s construction and demolition projects, while keeping her Tamworth-based business profitable.
‘Global warming means we are starting to look after the environment and stop wasting resources and learn how to readjust our lives and workplaces,’ Ms Terry said. ‘I find the course quite exciting because it’s something very close to my heart.’
Best Practice has around 20 employees and has been running for eight years. Ms Terry said the course had numerous benefits, including educating her staff in ESD principles, learning how to be sustainable in a financially viable manner, and meeting other people and hearing their ideas.
Another course participant, Sue Clarke, is the environmental learning advisor for NetWaste, an organisation comprising 28 local government councils from around central and western NSW. Her focus is waste management, education and community development. ‘The course is just great,’ Ms Clarke said. ‘The class discussions give you a variety of perspectives.’
Specialised workshops in the workplace are also available. They suit organisations embarking on environmental management, awareness and education programs, or seeking to raise environmental profiles.
‘Courses can be developed for those working on the factory floor, supervisors, managers and others, and can focus on either developing an environmental program or improving one already in place,’ Ms Lewis said. ‘We can be flexible – we’ll come to the workplace, and structure a program to suit the setting.’
