NAB Schools First

Organisations all over Australia are reaping the benefits of partnering with Australian schools on environmental programs, and many are being financially rewarded for their efforts thanks to NAB Schools First.

NAB Schools First is a partnership between NAB, Australian Council for Educational Research and The Foundation for Young Australians which aims to recognise and rewards school-community partnerships that are contributing to improved student outcomes.

Over the last two years, NAB Schools First has awarded $10.15 million to 195 Australian schools-community partnerships.

This includes a number of school-community partnerships that are designed to raise student and community awareness of sustainability issues.

In addition to sharing in these awards, there are a number of additional benefits for environment organisations to partner with schools that are evident amongst the previous award winning schools including:

• increased staff pride and engagement
• greater access to motivated and work-ready young people
• increased profiling of their cause or service
• improved relationships with their local community

An example of this is the relationship between the BHP Billiton Worsley Alumina and Bunbury Primary School who have joined together with three other local schools as part of the Worsley Energy Challenge, which challenges schools to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by introducing renewable energy resources and changing student attitudes.  One of the aims of the partners was to reduce electricity consumption by 20% over five years to 2011.

To assist Bunbury Primary reach this goal BHB Billiton Worsley Alumina funded the installation of photovoltaic cells in the school to produce solar energy. This project has encouraged a more responsible approach to addressing energy consumption which has started with the students and has resonated throughout the community.

An evaluation of all the applications received for the NAB Schools First Impact Awards in 2009 conducted by ACER has revealed that school-community partnerships are having a positive impact on young people. This research also revealed that there are a variety of reasons motivated the formation of these partnerships including improved student engagement, improved academic outcomes, enhanced social wellbeing and a broadening of vocational skills and options.

Furthermore, partnerships are occurring across a broad range of sectors as illustrated by the cross section of 2010 winners which show:

• 68% involved a not for profit or community organisation
• 26% involved businesses
• 26% involved a University or TAFE
• 14% involved a Government Department or Local Council

"We know that there are many more great partnerships out there that we have not even heard about yet - so we encourage any organisations that are working together with schools to apply for an award this year", said Jodi Cryan, Head of NAB Schools First, NAB.

"If you aren't already in partnership with a school, then we have a number of incentives to foster new partnerships including Seed Funding Awards and our newly launched Partnership Matching Service."

In 2011, there are up to 60 Impact awards valued at $50,000 for schools and community groups that are working together in a partnership that can demonstrate improved student outcomes. There are also up to 50 Seed Funding awards available at $25,000 each for schools and community groups that have a growing partnership that is in its infancy.

Applications for the 2011 NAB Schools First awards open on Monday 20 June, 2011 and close on Friday 29 July, 2011 at www.schoolsfirst.edu.au.