2014 Green Gown Awards Australasia
Launch Press Release
Searching for sustainability stars on campus
News Release –3 June 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Australasia’s sustainability champion for the tertiary education sector, ACTS, has today launched the
highly anticipated 2014 Green Gown Awards Australasia. In their 5th year, the Awards are quickly
becoming established as the most prestigious recognition of sustainability best practice within
Australia and New Zealand.
As sustainability moves up the global agenda, the Green Gown Awards Australasia is providing the
opportunity to recognise and reward institutions and individuals that are putting sustainability at the
heart of their initiatives. The awards continue to grow in size, reputation and prestige and are definitely
THE sustainability Awards to win!
“Winning this Award it a very good driver to be able to implement other sustainability programs in our
institution. It gives the executive a really good idea of what can be achieved, as well as the level of
sustainability that is happening across the tertiary education sector” said Lania Lynch, James Cook
University, Award winner.
Three new categories in 2014, making a total of 11, means there should be something for everyone!
Best Newcomer is aimed at those who may be at the start of their journey and have not been an Award
finalist before, Facilities & Services, rewarding those institutions that are targeting areas across the
entire campus and the ACTS Award of Excellence - Student, looking for individuals that are helping to
champion and inspire the next generation.
2014 is also a first, with the International Green Gown Awards being hosted in Australasia. Regional
winners from the UK, France and Australasian will compete head to head in three categories to be
crowned the international winner. Hosted in Hobart on 6 November, at the ACTS Annual conference,
this is an event not to be missed. Local contenders will be hoping to claim a full house, increasing their
outstanding achievements from 2013 where two of the three Awards went to Sunshine Coast TAFE and
University of Wollongong.
2014 also sees the UK founders of the Awards celebrate their 10th anniversary. Respected and valued by
institutions, government, decision makers and industry these Awards are truly the most anticipated in
the tertiary education sector calendar.
ACTS President Leanne Denby says “The Green Gown Awards provide an excellent opportunity for
educational institutions to show business, industry and the community just how seriously and innovatively
they are addressing sustainability across all elements of core business. The international component of the
Awards is particularly exciting as Australasian institutions hope to shine on a global level and Hobart
plays host to the International Awards for the first time”.
Entries are now open for all tertiary education institutions, including universities; TAFEs; polytechnics,
and Registered Training Organisations (RTO’s); as well as third parties for the 2014 Green Gown
Awards Australasia. Being part of the Awards not only inspires those already taking part but motivates
others to do more! Applications must be submitted by Tuesday 5 August 2014.
The Green Gown Awards Australasia would not be possible without the generous support of our 2014
sponsors: Envizi and Learning & Teaching Sustainability and the Office for Learning & Teaching.
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For more information please visit: http://www.acts.asn.au/initiatives/ggaa/2014-ggaa/
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Contact:
Sue Hopkins, Green Gown Awards Australasia Manager; ACTS Inc
sue.hopkins@acts.asn.au - Tel: 0405 564755
Alternative Contact:
Rhiannon Chamberlain, Communications & Administrations Manager, ACTS Inc
r.chamberlain@acts.asn.au – Tel: 0404 178088
Notes to the editor
2014 AWARD CATEGORIES
1. Best Newcomer - NEW
2. Carbon Reduction
3. Continuous Improvement – Institutional Change
4. Facilities & Services - NEW
5. Learning & Teaching*
6. Skills for Sustainability
7. Social Responsibility
8. Student Engagement
9. ACTS Award of Excellence – Institutional
10. ACTS Award of Excellence – Staff
11. ACTS Award of Excellence - Student
* In Collaboration with Learning & Teaching Sustainability (sustainability.edu.au) and the Office for
Learning & Teaching.
1. The awards were founded in the UK by the Higher Education Environmental Performance
Improvement Programme (HEEPI), and are now run by the Environmental Association for
Universities and Colleges (EAUC), the Awards were created in 2004 to recognise and reward those
institutions making a positive impact towards sustainability within the education sector.
2. Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability - ACTS is a non-profit member based organisation
representing higher and further education institutions within Australia and New Zealand. ACTS
aims to inspire, promote and support change towards sustainability within the operations,
curriculum and research of the tertiary education sector.
3. The Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC) is the sector champion for
sustainability with the UK for universities and Colleges.
4. The Awards will be held in conjunction with the 15th Annual ACTS Conference at the Hotel Grand
Chancellor in Hobart 5-7 November 2014. Titled ‘Bridging Divides – Connections for Holistic
Sustainability’
5. The 2014 conference backs on to the Australian Association for Environmental Education’s (AAEE)
Biennial conference, and precedes Tasmania’s iconic Sustainability Living Festival. A week in
Tasmania not to be missed.
6. 2013 saw a tremendously successful Green Gown Awards Australasia, recognising 18 winners and
highly commended institutions for their excellent initiatives, including Griffith University, Deakin
University, Unitec Institute of Technology and TAFE NSW Western Sydney Institute. Taking place at
the scenic WatervieW in Bicentennial Park Sydney it was a night to remember.
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