Environmental education programs

School Environment Program

Our Environment team are able to help with environmental education in preschool, primary school and high school curriculums through presentations and resource kits.

Our environmental education kits include:

• Water: Our Life
  Through information and hands on activities this online kit aims to provide educators of younger children with a means of discussing the impact of water use and pollution. Kits can be loaned for a period of up to two months.
• Let’s Cycle to School and Clear Maitland’s Air
  Through information and activities this online kit looks at the environmental benefits of cycling over using a motor vehicle.
• A Sense of Place in Maitland
  This online kit provides information on Maitland’s natural and cultural heritage, environmental issues and their management, and excursion opportunities to explore the local environment.
• Protecting and Saving Our Water Resources in Maitland
  Through the use of this kit students in Years 3-6 have the opportunity to use role play to explore how we can save water and protect local water quality. The kit also provides a mathematics component suitable for use by year 5 and 6 students. Kits can be loaned for a period of up to three weeks.

The Maitland Schools Environment Program aims to build partnerships between Council, local schools and the community. It promotes environmental awareness and encourages environmental responsibility.

Environmental resources for schools

Schools in the Maitland local government area are able to apply for small resource allocations to help with environmental projects. Requests can be made each financial year by using the Resource Request Form.

Council is also able to help schools investigate external avenues for funding.

School newsletter

Each term, we distribute the Environmental Educator newsletter to all schools across the City. The newsletter provides information on topics of interest, upcoming environmental events and available grants.

Subscribe to receive this newsletter and other environmental education information by completing the Contact Teacher Form.

Preschool Presentations

Council provides free environmental presentations to preschool aged children. Presentations run for around 20 minutes and cover topics including our 3 Bin System, Water Pollution, Composting and Worm Farming, and Energy and Water Saving. Presentations are run for a max of 20 children.

For more information or to book a presentation, contact our Environment team. 

Green Communities Newsletter

You keep up to date with the latest environmental information with our Green Communities Newsletter. This includes updates on our free seedling and compost giveaways, tree planting program, grants available and biodiversity.

You can save energy by following a few simple tips:

• Turn off lights, televisions and other appliances when you leave a room.
• Open curtains to let light in rather than turning on a light, and to warm your house during the day.
• Turn appliances off at the wall rather than leaving them in stand by mode. Stand by mode still uses energy and costs money.
• Only use appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines when you have a full load to wash.
• When purchasing new electrical appliances, consider the energy star rating to save you money in the future.
• For every degree lower or higher you set your air conditioning thermostat, your running costs can jump by up to 10%. Set your air conditioner at 24°C in summer and 19°C in winter.

To assist residents in making informed decisions in relation to household energy use, Council has energy power meters available for loan. You can borrow a meter free of charge from any library branch.

For additional hints and tips, view our brochure on saving energy, or use the NSW Government's Energy Switch Comparison Tool, which can be used to independently compare gas and electricity plans for NSW households. There are also rebates available under the NSW Energy Savings Scheme.

Solar power

The Australian Government’s Solar Consumer Guide provides useful information to assist residents looking to install rooftop solar and batteries. 

The guide also links to the SunSPOT solar and battery calculator which assists residents in sizing and choosing the location for future rooftop solar systems and will assist in calculating future energy savings.

Water saving tips

Each person in the Hunter uses around 205 litres of water per day. You can save water by following a few simple tips:

• When purchasing water using appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines, choose one with a high water efficiency star rating to save you water in the future.
• Repair leaking taps as soon as they are identified as dripping taps can waste between 30 to 200 litres of water per day.
• Install water efficient tapware/shower head or retrofit with aerators or flow control valves.

For additional hints and tips, view our brochure on saving water.