•
partnerships with a variety of strategic organisations promotes synergies and
extension of the sphere of influence;
•
policy development at centre, local government and professional organisation levels
assists in sustaining the effort;
•
government recognition through documentation and funding of initiatives is critical;
•
research is vital to provide an evidence base for reflection and change; and,
•
both pre service and in service training of early childhood educators will promote
change.
Constraints:
•
state and national regulatory frameworks that are conservative rather than innovative;
•
an under-resourced early childhood sector by international standards; and,
•
a diverse sector eg service type, regulation, funding, training, such that no one
education for sustainability initiative will be effective across the whole sector.
THOUGHTS FOR THE FUTURE
While we acknowledge there is still much to be achieved, it is important to celebrate what we
have achieved in creating a broad horizon for education for sustainability in Australia over the
last 15-20 years. Inaugural early childhood education for sustainability conferences held in
Christchurch, New Zealand in 2006 and in Sydney, Australia in 2007 have demonstrated
growing awareness, a depth of understanding and the development of ideas that we believe is
unique to Australasia.
We envisage the future to be one of consolidating and building on the foundations created by
the active networks, published resources and emerging research. There is a sense that we
ARE mainstream not marginal and have now carved out a legitimate space in the early
childhood sector. It will be essential to work strategically to effect broader change and to
Convention