Sustainable Campus Group

The Sustainable Campus Group (SCG) aims to progress sustainability in the Tertiary Sector. It provides a forum for tertiary institutions to benchmark their environmental performance and to share information on practical, cost effective measures to reduce operational environmental impacts. The SCG engages institutions in monitoring and reporting on sustainability performance across key operations and in driving cultural change across institutional campuses. Funded by Sustainability Victoria, the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Skills Victoria and the Environment Protection Agency; the SCG is a joint initiative between Monash University and AECOM.

The SCG provides a comprehensive environmental database system (SCG workbook tool), which covers current government environmental data requirements for both universities and TAFE institutes.

Thirteen TAFE institutions and universities participated in Stage One of the SCG in 2006 and 2007. This Stage established an annual Sector Environment Report - the first state-wide FHE report in Australia.

Stage Two of the SCG was launched on December 4, 2008 and featured presentations on climate change and carbon trading from climate change scientist, Professor Dave Griggs, and Michael Nolan of AECOM.

The SCG also offers two bulletins showcasing best practice stories at institutions and external programs available to support tertiary institutions engaging in sustainability improvements.

All members attend a forum and launch of the Sector Report, which features guest speakers on sustainability related topics and provides opportunities to network and share experiences.

The SCG training shows staff how to improve their institutional environmental performance. Topics covered include:

• Data collection and analysis
• Applying the environmental database system (SCG workbook tool)
• Setting targets and KPIs
• Overcoming institutional barriers
• How to write an environmental report and communicate to management
• How to meet government policy commitments and voluntary targets

Current SCG Members are:

• Australian Catholic University
• Deakin University
• Monash University
• RMIT University
• University of Melbourne
• University of Ballarat
• Victoria University
• Chisholm Institute of TAFE
• Gordon Institute of TAFE
• Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE
• Kangan Batman Institute of TAFE
• Sunraysia Institute of TAFE

Training has been completed for 2009. If you have any questions about the SCG please contact: Belinda Towns