Educating for Sustainability in Queensland Schools

The Sustainable Schools Network (SSN) advocates for more Educating for Sustainability (EfS) curriculum in Queensland schools. To further this effort, they have curated a Discussion Paper that we’d like to share with you. Your feedback will help shape their message to government officials. We hope this is the start of building a state-based strategy for EfS in Queensland. Please download the Discussion Paper here.

Their website features a number of ‘calls to action’ that the community can engage in https://www.ssn.org.au/discussion-paper, along with a petition that will be presented to State Government: https://www.ssn.org.au/efs-petition-1.

The SSN has also produced a summary document of election recommendations. This can be downloaded here.

We appreciate your support. For more information, please visit www.ssn.org.au.

Bretts Wharf, Hamilton, Brisbane City site clean-up

Located on the Northern side of the Brisbane River, Bretts Wharf serves the Brisbane suburb of Hamilton. A 150m stretch of river bank was cleaned up by Tangaroa Blue Foundation staff in June 2020 over a 5-day period at low tide, for 1.5 hours each day. The team collected close to 4,000 items with all rubbish collected recorded according to material type and density. The site was then re-examined a few days after the clean-ups to assess the volume of debris post site clean-up. Read the full report to find out more about the positive correlation that was observed between rainfall events, tide levels and overall quantities of debris washed ashore. Read more “Bretts Wharf, Hamilton, Brisbane City site clean-up”

Youth Ambassadors on Stradbroke Island

Youth Ambassadors – It’s Our Turn to Change the Tide!

South Stradbroke Island – Marine Debris Project

by Charlie-Jane Hamblyn and Zara McConachy

South Stradbroke Island is a destination for tourists and locals alike. Located on the South East coast of Queensland within the Moreton Bay Region (Quandamooka Country), this beautiful and unique island ecosystem has fallen victim to a devastating and increasing marine debris problem. Earlier this year, Cyclone Oma caused severe weather that resulted in parts of the island that usually remain untouched becoming overwhelmed with marine debris. Large amounts of remains created by the waste habits of humans were pushed by the cyclone above the tide line and alongside the litter left from travellers. This waste is now wreaking havoc on the islands’ beautiful and unique ecosystems. Read more “Youth Ambassadors on Stradbroke Island”

The School for Field Studies at Orpheus Island, October 2019

Twenty-nine students and staff from the School for Field Studies (SFS) visited Orpheus Island from 10-12 October 2019. Marine debris was our focus on the day that we arrived on Orpheus and we made our way over to Figtree Bay in the afternoon heat. Once there we divided into three teams and set about our two tasks.

Our first task was to sort the bags of debris collected, but not sorted, by the previous SFS group who visited Orpheus in July. That group did a thorough job of clearing up adjacent Big Rock Bay, which was accessible on that occasion on the low tide. Two groups set about sorting their predecessors’ booty while the third group braved the heat and began to clean up Figtree Bay. Read more “The School for Field Studies at Orpheus Island, October 2019”

Tangaroa Blue Foundation Partners with Australian Skateboarding

In June, the Tangaroa Blue Foundation welcomed our newest partners,  the Australian Skateboarding Community Initiative (ASCI).

The ASCI have a large community network and following all around Australia, that works to connect skatepark users, Councils, Government, Sponsors and other partners in the development of sustainable skatepark plans which benefit the whole community. Beyond skateboarding, the ASCI ethos extends to environmental stewardship and support for charitable organisations.

The ASCI will connect skateboarding events such as the ‘Rumble on the Reef’ festival in September with Tangaroa Blue Foundation activities.

We are excited to embark on this original partnership with ASCI, connecting and expanding our audiences and bringing light to the issue of marine debris, and in particular single-use plastics.

You can learn more about the Australian Skateboarding Community Initiative on the ASCI website.