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Living Smart, Living Sustainably, Living Well

                                  

Community Program
Living Smart is a community environmental education program that empowers participants with the knowledge and skills to take action to improve the sustainability of their homes and their community.
The aim of Living Smart is to:
  • Promote broader understanding of sustainability issues;
  • Create positive behaviour change in participants; and
  • Develop a sense of community and empower participants to actively participate in their community.
Living Smart is different to other environmental education programs in that it does not focus on a single environmental issue but adopts a holistic approach by looking at environment, lifestyle and community. It also includes a winning formula to facilitate behaviour change both in the home and community.

              

 

What makes Living Smart so unique is that it is a thoroughly researched and evaluated program and has been formed through a unique partnership. Its strength lies in the evaluation process and how the results over time have improved the program and its delivery. The Living Smart Kit has been developed from the findings of seven trials, four of which have been held in Fremantle.

 

This evaluation and research has led to the incorporation of goal setting as an integral part of the program. Nowadays information is easy to access and disseminate and environmental programs that focus purely on information are providing minimal additional impetus for change. Living Smart makes use of goal setting to encourage participants to identify and implement actions that are appropriate and realistic for them. This self directed approach results in much more behaviour change than other similar programs.
These strengths have been recognised and as a program has been awarded the:
  • 2004 National Eureka Prize for Sustainability Education;
  • Adult Learners Week 2003 Award for Outstanding Environmental Care Program; and
  • contributed to the City of Fremantle winning the Western Australian Environment Award for Government Leading by Example in 2002.
Living Smart is the outcome of a strong partnership between The Meeting Place Community Centre, City of Fremantle, Murdoch University and Southern Metropolitan Regional Council.
We have pooled our resources, time and effort to produce the Living Smart Kit so that other organisations, community groups, individuals and businesses can take Living Smart into their own home, community and workplace. Living Smart has been run in regional locations through WA as well as in several other Australian states. Details of current courses are available on the Living Smart website

The Living Smart ‘Community’ Partnership also works closely with the Living Smart ‘household’ program that has been initiated by the state government’s Department for Transport. Both the community and household program include a range of topics, goal setting and opportunity to network with likeminded people in the local community.

It is our way of sharing and caring for the community and making it easier for others to lead and support a sustainable lifestyle.

Evaluation reports and studies are available on the Living Smart website

For more information, please contact the Sustainability Officer (City of Fremantle) on 9432 9735.