The Green Hub: a portal to sustainability education

The Green Hub is a national education website which has been created by Greening Australia in partnership with Hydro Tasmania and TasWater. Young visitors to the site can investigate biodiversity, water, climate change and sustainability topics. Teachers have access to lesson resources, professional learning and upcoming events.

Following the opening of the Sustainability Learning Centre (SLC) at Mount Nelson in Hobart, Tasmania, in November 2012, the Green Hub provides a virtual link to the centre and sustainability education. The SLC, situated amongst 65 hectares of threatened bushland, delivers science, ecology and sustainability education, and is aiming to be a 6 Green Stars building. It houses the CSIRO Science Education Centre and Greening Australia operations.

Through the Green Hub portal, schools can book class visits, see what is happening at the centre and use the site to complement lessons and activities.

For young people, the portal is full of links to videos, games and information, and the opportunity to ask an expert their questions and participate in a quiz.

Brendan Foran, National CEO of Greening Australia, sees the Green Hub as an important link between the educational activities taking place in and around the SLC and the wider community.

“As an example, Green Hub resources support the Water for Life education program. This is available to all schools in Tasmania at no cost, thanks to the generous support of our partner Hydro Tasmania. Hydro Tasmania is also a founding partner in the Sustainability Learning Centre.”

The website is a hub for another of our water education programs - Water Warriors - which is free for schools thanks to our partner TasWater.

The Green Hub also provides information about Greening Australia’s environmental education program in partnership with RACV: ‘Green Miles’; and the teacher Toolbox for Environmental Change Forums. These forums in turn support Education for Sustainability teachers via workshops, displays and keynote speakers.

Foran encourages students and educators alike to use the Green Hub, “which will connect them to a wealth of information and activities - about their environment locally, around Australia and beyond”.

Kate Hickey, Hydro Tasmania’s Stakeholder and Community Coordinator said, “‘Green Hub’ is an important tool to extend the reach of sustainability education activities undertaken at the Sustainability Learning Centre. As a founding partner in the centre, we look forward to seeing the results of the Water for Life education program to help young people better understand and prevent negative human impacts on our landscapes and rivers.”

The aim of the Green Hub website is to provide the opportunity to explore, be inspired and feel empowered to make positive change for our environment. Visit greenhub.org.au for further information.