The Centre for Sustainable Skills

A call for action

This project came from the National action plan for education for sustainability - Living sustainably and the policy framework for that national action plan, Caring for our future, which is the Australian Government's response to the United Nations' Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UNDESD).

Vision All Australians have the awareness, knowledge, skills, values, and motivation to live sustainably.

Mission To engage industry and the community in sustainability through education and lifelong learning strategies and actions. This involves:

  • demonstrating the Australian Government's leadership
  • reorienting education systems to sustainability
  • fostering sustainability in business and industry
  • harnessing community spirit to act.

Wodonga Institute's response

The Centre for Sustainable Skills is a partnership between Wodonga Institute of TAFE, the City of Wodonga, and a number of key supporting organisations including the North East Greenhouse Alliance, the Murray Sustainability Alliance, the Murray Hume Business Enterprise Centre, Wodonga Chamber of Commerce, and North East Water. Additionally, Wodonga Institute has a strong relationship with Charles Sturt University and La Trobe University, the region's two key universities.

Our plan is part of a larger initiative to use the training power of Wodonga TAFE and its partners to create a regional hub for community-based action. Recent funding from the Federal and State Governments enabled the development of a new building in central Wodonga to house the Centre for Sustainable Skills. We are embarking on a series of exciting initiatives in association with the North East Greenhouse Alliance and the Murray Sustainability Alliance (jointly-managed, green-focused alliances of industry and higher education that cover the regions of southern NSW and northern Victoria),

Albury Wodonga has been the manufacturing hub of this region but is experiencing significant social and economic impacts as a result of the global financial crisis and climate change. New skill development, new industry, and an increased focus on new technology and green skills are needed if the region is to continue to prosper. Added to that, Albury Wodonga is on the Murray River which is experiencing significant impacts related to climate change. These impacts have highlighted water issues and sustainable industry practice.

The aims of this project are to:

  • upskill lower-skilled employees or displaced workers from manufacturing to meet emerging demands for a higher and green-skilled workforce
  • ensure that disadvantaged groups are engaged in the retraining process
  • upskill rural industries
  • promote and invite new, green, high value-adding industries that use and drive sustainable manufacturing processes to the region
  • sustain urban industries and communities by reducing pressure on the Murray River and introducing sustainable water practices
  • promote new sustainable practices with producers
  • transform the way that skills formation is embedded in the community
  • create a high-tech, accessible and flexible learning space that the community can access
  • align the training needs of key driving agencies in the region, aimed at supporting industry development and green skills.

Phone 02 6055 6669 | Email sustainability@wodongatafe.edu.au

Blog http://sustainabilitywiot.wordpress.com/