Overview
The core module assists to evaluate where each school is and where it wants to get to, and how it will get there.
Key areas
Workplace/operational
Create a snapshot of how the school is approaching sustainability by gathering baseline data, reviewing curriculum, infrastructure and daily operations and recognising prior achievements and opportunities for improvement.
Use this data to plan how to embed sustainability principles throughout the school and to set up a framework to track the school’s progress and achievements.
Learning and teaching
Create a plan to build sustainability into teaching and learning to embed sustainability into the curriculum.
Whole school community engagement
Communicate with the school community about the fantastic work and share learnings to demonstrate leadership in sustainability.
Module completion
The core module has 17 actions. To complete the module, all 17 actions must be completed. To see the full list of actions, download the core module checklist.
Resources
| Resource | Description | Date |
|---|---|---|
| ResourceSmart Schools core module checklist (DOCX, 126.4 KB) | A list of all actions to help each school through the ResourceSmart Schools program Core Module. | 18 July 2022 |
| Quick guide core module (DOCX, 96.1 KB) Quick guide core module (PDF, 114.6 KB) | This guide helps a school to work through the core module. | 10 March 2023 |
| School environmental management plan for primary schools (DOCX, 151.3 KB) School environmental management plan for secondary and F-12 schools (DOCX, 151.4 KB) | This template helps schools to develop their SEMP. | November 2025 |
| Quick guide - Creating a vision statement (PDF, 142.6 KB) | This guide will help you create a unique sustainability vision statement for your school. | 28 March 2023 |
| Quick guide - Setting sustainability goals (PDF, 117.9 KB) | This guide provides examples of SMART sustainability goals. | 28 March 2023 |
| Quick guide - Building a sustainability team (PDF, 106.3 KB) | This guide will take you through the considerations required to build a sustainability team. | 28 March 2023 |
| Sustainability policy template (DOCX, 111.7 KB) | This policy template helps schools articulate their approach to sustainability across school campus, curriculum and community. | 14 March 2023 |
| Green purchasing policy template (DOCX, 112.2 KB) | This policy template helps schools articulate their purchasing structure that promotes the sustainable procurement and use of resources. | 14 March 2023 |
| Quick guide - Creating a student action team (PDF, 112.3 KB) | This guide will take you through the considerations required to build a student action team. | 28 March 2023 |
| Quick guide - Introducing RSS to school community (PDF, 125.6 KB) | This document provides you with sample text you can use to introduce the RSS program to your community. | 28 March 2023 |
| Quick guide - Promoting RSS progress (PDF, 68.5 KB) | This guide will assist you to promote your sustainability work within the wider community. | 28 March 2023 |
| Quick guide - Preparing for 5 star certification (PDF, 150.1 KB) | This guide explains what a 5 Star school looks like and the process of achieving 5 Star Certification using the 7 actions in the 5 Star checklist. | 28 March 2023 |
| ResourceSmart Schools curriculum links: Level F to 6 (PDF, 14.2 MB) | Helping schools to build sustainability into their curriculum in all subject areas from foundation to grade six. | 18 July 2019 |
Contact us
ResourceSmart Schools Education Team
Sustainability Victoria
1300 363 744
schools@sustainability.vic.gov.au
Page last updated: 24/09/26