News

Coronavirus - Department of Education statement

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 20:25:35 AEDT

The department is working with the Ministry of Health to monitor and respond to the unfolding international novel coronavirus situation.

Get up-to-date information about the department's response to novel coronavirus.

Community Compost Grants Program 2019

Mon, 06 May 2019 10:10:19 AEST

5 – 11 May 2019 marks the 14th International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) held in Australia.

Carbon Mate and Riverina Environmental Education Centre (REEC) have launched the 2019 International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) in the Riverina with a Community Compost Grants Program event.

The Community Compost Grants Program provides donations of compost for student garden projects in schools and other worthwhile community projects.

REEC is the recipient of a Community Compost Grant and will use this compost donation for two programs:

Incorporation into natural soils for establishment or native/habitat gardens at the school, and
Student garden beds for growing cereal and vegetable crops to familiarise students with common agricultural crops and cropping cycles in the Riverina.

Some of the many benefits from the use of properly mature compost include increased infiltration and soil moisture retention which improves the establishment of new plantings.

“We deliver practical programs are grounded in a sustainability philosophy that begins with making a tangible connection to country, supporting a sense of care for country and active participation in custodianship for sustainability. Students can get their hands dirty and see that soils are a living ecosystem and a resource that we need to sustain” said Darron Watt, REEC School Principal.

This marries with the Carbon Mate objective of recovering organic carbon and nutrients to manufacture safe, biosecure composts that help sustain long term soil health and productivity.

Carbon Mate produces Australian Standards AS 4454 quality compost from household food waste, garden vegetation, and organic by-products from agriculture and food production.

Australia currently generates around 50 million tonnes of waste every year. Of this around 7.6 million tonnes is food waste. Systematically managed composting is an effective way to recover by-products from agriculture and food production, household food wastes and garden vegetation to safely return the nutrients and organic carbon back to agriculture and garden soils.

“Our composts are used in home lawns and gardens, school gardens and farms. A properly managed hot composting process can treat the material to control biosecurity risks that may be present in the incoming raw materials, but everyone can help to make organics recycling work by keeping contamination like glass, containers and plastics out of their green bins”, says Gill Bannatyne of Carbon Mate who operates the local EPA licenced composting facility at Gregadoo.

“We really want clean organic materials from households to produce high quality composts” said Gill.

Carbon Mate has been donating loads of compost for school programs and community gardens in Wagga Wagga and Albury areas for many years. This new Community Compost Grants Program makes these compost donations more accessible for a wider range of community projects.

“Some schools have received multiple loads of compost over the years, others have missed out. We wanted a more structured way to make this opportunity available to school garden programs in the area and to support other voluntary community efforts like community gardens and Landcare”.

“Sustaining long term soil health and productivity is a strong focus for our recycled organics industry. We feel an obligation to support practical education programs in schools and practical field research projects. We are very fortunate to have this wonderful facility in our area and will provide ongoing support for the Riverina Environmental Education Centre programs”, Gill said.

ICAW was initially established in Canada in 1995. In 2006 a not-for-profit organisation (CORE) initiated the event here in Australia as a platform for local activities and communication to help create a connection between our behaviour as householders that generate compostable organic “waste” and the recovery of these nutrient rich materials for soil health and fertility.

Website links:

The Community Compost Grants Program can be accessed online: www.CarbonMate.com.au

The Riverina Environmental Education Centre (REEC) is a NSW Department of Education facility located within the grounds of the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) in Wagga Wagga. The Centre’s practical sustainability education programs have focus on the Riverina with an emphasis on science and geography that reflects the partnership with the Office of Environment and Heritage. For details see: https://riverina-e.schools.nsw.gov.au/

Details for International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) are online: www.compostweek.com.au

Media interviews:

Gillian Bannatyne (Carbon Mate) – Community Compost Grants Program – 0427 931 572

Darron Watt (Principal) - Riverina Environmental Education Centre – 02 6932 9134

Gus Campbell – Australian Standard AS 4454 Composts, mulches, soil conditioners – 0427 647 654

Students from Willans Hill meet the AIDP

Thu, 02 May 2019 15:45:51 AEST

Testing Coding Software for Drones

Mon, 06 May 2019 10:59:57 AEST

REEC has worked closely with Lachlan Feeney from Australian UAV / Office of Environment and Heritage to test coding software for drones. Here, Lachlan explains how to set a flight path for our fixed wing Parrot Disco drone using an iPad app 'Parrot Free-Flight Pro'. This app is simple to program and has many different applications for use.

OWAD koala detection dogs visit REEC

Mon, 13 Aug 2018 11:36:10 AEST

Last week we were lucky enough to witness the brilliance of the OWAD koala and quoll detection dogs in action.

Recruits connect to country

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 15:13:44 AEST

Kapooka AIDP program offers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island recruits an opportunity to connect to culture.

Augmented Reality Sandbox

Wed, 03 Oct 2018 10:43:36 AEST

Updated entry to come soon

AIDP Recruits connect to country at REEC

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 15:15:22 AEST

AIDP recruits benefit from connecting with each other at REEC to alleviate home sickness and form strong bonds.

A Walk with Kapooka Recruits

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 23:00:48 AEST

On the eve of Remembrance Day, we would like to acknowledge all Australian service personnel.

Recently, REEC staff had the privilege of walking with the Army Indigenous Development Program (AIDP) recruits from Kapooka army base onto the grounds of the Wagga Research Centre ending at the Aboriginal campsite. It was fantastic to see the recruits connect with Aboriginal Elder, Aunty Joycelan Williams, and REEC staff sharing their individual stories will us all around the campsite.

Wagga Wagga High School Year 10 boys Motion Sensor Cameras

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 23:00:48 AEST

A group of Year 10 male students from Wagga Wagga High School have been visiting the Riverina Environmental Education Centre every Tuesday for Terms 2 and 3.

Working with Mr Paul Phyland, the students have been using motion sensor cameras to capture digital footage of the what species of native and feral animals are present on the Wagga Research Station Centre site located on the Olympic Highway.

Congratulations to the Year 10 young men as they have collected some amazing images showing the diversity of species located at our site.

NAIDOC WEEK 2017

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 23:00:48 AEST

REEC staff were fortunate to spend a day during NAIDOC Week with Aunty Joycelan Williams and the ladies who are responsible for the production of our beautiful Possum Skin Healing Cloak. We travelled to the Lake Cowal Conservation Centre where we were host

ed by the marvellous Sally Russell and Mal Carnegie. Sally accompanied our group to the sacred grinding grooves at Manna Mountain. We were lucky to observe the ancient Wiradjuri grooves that were formed through rock grindings around the base of the mountain. Our thanks must be extended to the Lake Cowal Conservation Centre for sharing their amazing knowledge of the area.

Stage 2 Friends or Foes - School of Ants

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 23:00:48 AEST

We have just completed our first time lapse photography trial for our new Stage 2 Unit "Friends or Foes".

This activity was inspired by the School of Ants work currently being delivered from the University of New England.

http://www.schoolofants.net.au/

Please find below the first footage that students have collected whilst studying at the Riverina Environmental Education Centre. A big thank you to the students from E.A. Southee Public School at Cootamundra.

POSSUM SKIN CLOAK OF HEALING

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 23:00:48 AEST

Cloak Warms Healing Spirit

Students and staff sharing in the experience of being wrapped in the possum cloak and the individual stories the cloak tells.

Dept of Ed News

http://www.dec.nsw.gov.au/about-us/news-at-det/news/healing-cloak

Ceremonial handover to REEC of Healing Possum Skin Cloak

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 23:00:48 AEST

CEREMONIAL HANDOVER OF POSSUM SKIN CLOAK TO INSPIRE HEALING FOR GENERATIONS

A possum skin cloak representing reconciliation and healing will be handed over as an aid to education of future generations at a traditional ceremony at the Riverina Environmental Education Centre in March, 2017.

Aunty Joycelan Williams is a proud Wiradjuri woman with a strong connection to her people and her country and together with her group of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women, including her 8 year old granddaughter, they share their personal stories and collective journeys through the creation of the cloak using traditional techniques of art, burning and ochre.

Together the cloak and a book depicting it's creation will be used to promote learning in the areas of Connecting with Country, Aboriginal Land Management, Sustainable Practice and Cultural Vibrancy for students across all ages.

Introduction of new Infants and Primary Curriculum

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 23:00:48 AEST

For 2017 new studies are being introduced at the Riverina Environmental Education Centre.

With the introduction of new Syllabus in the areas of Science, History and Geography we have developed some new and exciting units.

These units will exhibit:

Alignment with Primary Connections
Suggested pre-visit activities to support the learning once at REEC
Literacy strategies supporting visual literacy, inferential comprehension, analysis from observations and explicit vocabulary
Numeracy strategies supporting data collection, representation and interpretation
These areas that have been identified through SMARTdata analysis with the Amaroo Community of Schools to support Premiers Priority targets in school plans
Post-visit activities to support the teaching and learning upon return to school

Teaching Stage	Old REEC studies	New 2017 REEC Studies	Alignment to Primary Connections
Early Stage One	Sensory Study	Needs of Living Things	Staying Alive
Stage One	Bush	Minibeasts	Schoolyard Safari
Stage Two	Minibeasts	Friends or Foes	Friends or Foes
Stage Two	Soil	Beneath our feet	Beneath our feet
Stage Three	Water	Rising Salt	Rising Salt
Stage Three	Energy	Essential Energy	Essential Energy
Stage Three	Traditional Culture	Traditional Culture

Our website will be undergoing a phase of transition to support these changes.

Please do not hesitate to contact us directly on 69329134 to discuss your schools specific needs.

Waste Reduction and Litter prevention iBook

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 23:00:49 AEST

"Trash Talk"

This Multi-Touch iBook provides an innovative way to explore the issues of litter and garbage disposal.

Download for free from the iBookstore

https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/trash-talk/id1037985880?mt=13&at=10IGCa

iBook: Traditional Wiradjuri Culture

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 23:00:48 AEST

"Traditional Wiradjuri Culture".

This Multi-Touch book explores the culture and traditions of the Wiradjuri People. The book includes chapters on shelters, bush resources, tools, weapons and traditional art.
Learn about Wiradjuri culture through detailed text, interactive activities, videos and beautiful images.
This book supports Australian Curriculum English, Geography and History.

Download for free from the iBookstore.

https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/traditional-wiradjuri-culture/id987810429?mt=13&at=10lGCa

Black Anzac iBook launched

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 23:00:48 AEST

A forbidden tale of ‘Black Diggers' is more than just a war story

The often overlooked contribution of Indigenous servicemen in forging the legend of Anzac is revealed in a newly-released free multitouch ibook, Black Anzacs.

Designed to bring a fresh insight to school students, the book offers a perspective through the eyes of William Williams.

He was one of more than a thousand Indigenous men who enlisted in the AIF (Australian Infantry Forces) in World War I despite the Defence Act of 1903 rejecting men of ‘colour' because they were not ‘substantially of European descent'.

Black Anzacs will broaden the understanding of the foundations of a rich tradition of Aboriginal people serving Australia through the armed forces.

Black Anzacs is more than a war story. It also treats sensitively many other aspects of the Australian Curriculum including treatment of Aboriginal people, lack of recognition of Indigenous service personnel, mission life, displacement and the Stolen Generation.

Using the ibook platform, Black Anzacs brings new life to learning because as well as detailed text, it also offers still and moving historical images and interactive activities.

William Williams was a proud but humble Ngiyaampaa who felt committed to fight for his Country.

Born under a tree near Cobar, Mr Williams was raised on Carowra Tank Mission and worked on stations around Roto in the heart of far western NSW between Ivanhoe and Hillston.

He walked well over 300 kilometres to Forbes to enlist and served with the 45^th Battalion in Europe before being shot and captured by the Germans as a prisoner-of-war – one of only five known Aboriginal POWs.

Four of his nephews from Griffith followed in his ground-breaking footsteps serving in World War II.

One paid the price of ultimate sacrifice and remains buried on the battlefields of Papua New Guinea.

Many of Mr Williams' personal papers and stories - told through his great granddaughter Alison Johnstone, an Education and Engagement Officer with the Department of Education at Griffith - were used in Black Anzacs.

Units of study based on the Australian Curriculum that will transform Black Anzacs into a complete learning package are being developed in collaboration with Riverina schools.

Black Anzacs was produced by the Riverina Environmental Education Centre in partnership with Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre.

It is available for free download through the Apple iBooks site (https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/black-anzacs/id1079267435?mt=11).