Sustainability Skills

Learn about sustainability

What is sustainability?

Business sustainability is a goal for most enterprises. As a micro business owner you may want to sustain an income to retirement or to hand over a viable business to your family. You might be involved in a larger company which has a responsibility … More

Skills and qualifications

Skills and qualifications for sustainability

Sustainability skills Sustainability is recognised as a key driver for new directions within manufacturing enterprises and across the entire value stream. Manufacturing Skills Australia has identified key areas of skills that can support the … More

Sustainability skills resources

Sustainability skills resources

The resources will help Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and enterprises to design and deliver effective skills development programs for sustainability. They are intended as one source of information about the breadth and complexity of … More

Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Commonwealth)

The Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (previously know as the Trade Practices Act 1974) is administered by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The Act provides protection for small businesses and consumers and prevents some restrictive trade practices including: Market activities that manipulate supply or demand Price fixing Market sharing deals Misleading or deceptive conduct False representation Bait advertising – eg advertising exceptional deals that do not … [Read more...]

Anti-discrimination legislation (Commonwealth)

The Australian Human Rights Commission manages the following federal laws to protect people from discrimination and harassment: Age Discrimination Act 2004 Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 Disability Discrimination Act 1992 Racial Discrimination Act 1975 Sex Discrimination Act 1984 Discrimination is where someone is treated differently or unfairly due to a perceived characteristic. Characteristics might be: Religion Ethnicity Sexual … [Read more...]

EPA Environmental management of foundries guideline (SA)

This guideline provides information to the foundry industry to support compliance with the provisions of the Environment Protection Act 1993 and associated legislation. While it aligns to SA legislation it gives a good outline of how to address sustainability issues in a foundry. See Environmental management of foundries guideline … [Read more...]

Product Stewardship Bill 2011 (Commonwealth)

Product stewardship extends the responsibility for environmental impact of a product to everyone involved in its life-cycle; not only manufacturers but also retailers, consumers and recyclers etc. The Product Stewardship Bill 2011 was passed by Parliament on 22 June 2011. It provides the framework to effectively manage the environmental, health and safety impacts of products in Australia. It forms part of the National Waste Policy and includes voluntary, co-regulatory and mandatory product … [Read more...]

Sustainability Advantage (NSW)

The Sustainability Advantage program (NSW) provides an initial management diagnostic to help evaluate your current environmental performance and rank possible initiatives. It brings together groups of businesses into clusters that share regional, industry or supply chain interests. Cluster meetings held 3-4 times a year provide an opportunity to draw on the ideas and experiences of like minded organisations. See http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/sustainabilityadvantage/index.htm … [Read more...]

Office of Environment and Heritage (NSW)

The sustainable business section of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage website provides links to information, programs and legislation covering topics such as: Environmental legislation and compliance Energy efficiency Sector specific guides Training programs The Sustainability Advantage program (NSW) Energy Savings Action Plans requirements (NSW). See http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/sustainbus/ … [Read more...]

Education for sustainability

This is the federal government's sustainability education information. It includes links to reports and books and information on Australian government activities and global initiatives such as the UN Decade for Education for Sustainable Development. See http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/sustainable-communities/sustainability-education … [Read more...]

Australian Packaging Covenant

The Australian Packaging Covenant sits under the National Waste Policy and is the voluntary component of a regulatory arrangement based on the principles of shared responsibility through product stewardship, between key stakeholders in the supply chain and all levels of government. The Covenant is designed to minimise environmental impacts arising from the disposal of used packaging, conserve resources through better design and production processes and facilitate the re-use and recycling of … [Read more...]

Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA)

The Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) website provides information about environmental legislation and requirements in the NT. It also provides a list of legislation (NT and federal) for environmental protection for example: Environmental Assessment Act Waste management and pollution control Act Water Act Air toxins Contaminated sites Diesel vehicle emissions Movement of controlled waste Used packaging materials. See http://www.ntepa.nt.gov.au/ … [Read more...]

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This website and many of the products have been produced with the assistance of funding provided by the Australian Government; including through the Green Skills Agreement and the Clean Energy and Other Skills Package.