27 July 2009
Monash University's groundbreaking environmental training program Green Steps has won the education category in this year's Banksia Environmental Awards, regarded as the most prestigious environmental awards in Australia.
Celebrating its tenth year, Green Steps has been recognised for providing businesses and students with practical skills to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve their environmental performance.
Monash currently runs two programs -- Green Steps at University, which is open to students across all academic disciplines, and Green Steps @ Work for those people already in the workforce.
In each program, participants are encouraged to turn talk and passion into action by learning practical, hands-on skills that will help them to create and drive sustainability initiatives in organisations and the broader community.
Since it began in 2000 it has supported more than 450 people in their efforts to become agents of environmental change within organisations through a combination of training and internships.
Students join Green Steps from a diverse range of disciplines including law, business, engineering and health to complement their formal studies with practical green skills they can take into their chosen industry.
Green Steps manager Mark Boulet said Monash was honoured to be recognised at the Banksia Awards.
"The students who developed this program back in 2000 knew that green skills were the missing link between organisations and environmental change and on Friday night they were recognised for this vision," Mr Boulet said.
"Through Green Steps we work with businesses and individuals to help find solutions to climate change and in doing so contribute to a more sustainable future."
The next Green Steps @ Work course will be held in October in Melbourne.
For more details on the program or upcoming courses, visit the Green Steps website or call Anna Lohse on 0423 015 357.
For more information, contact Shaunnagh O'Loughlin, Media and Communications, on +61 3 9903 4843 or 0448 574 148.
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