Household 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:

• Raise knowledge and 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.

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. 

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

The program has recently been taken up by the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Department of Planning and Infrastructure as part of their Act Now for Climate Change initiative to reduce household greenhouse gas emissions. The initiative incorporates an information service based on the TravelSmart model whereby households are contacted by phone. Participants have been offered the opportunity to attend a Living Smart course.

The first course held in 2008 was a neighbourhood-based course in South Fremantle, the first of its kind. The group is continuing to meet and planning community projects. Courses have also been run at the Meeting Place in South Fremantle and St Paul’s Church in Beaconsfield. Details of current courses are available on the Living Smart website

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