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  • Sandwatch
    • About Sandwatch
    • Contact Us
  • Latest News
    • 2015 Archives
  • Participating Countries
  • Our Publications
    • The Sandwatcher Magazines
    • The Sandwatch Manual(s)
    • Most Significant Change Stories
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    • Sandwatch Workshops
    • Sandwatch Competitions
    • International Conferences >
      • Lincoln Symposium
      • Rio+20 Conference
      • UNESCO Experts Meeting
      • The Bonn Conference
      • Paris, UNESCO HQ 2009
  • Beach Records
    • Beach Records (English)
    • Dossier Plage (Français)
    • Countries with Beach Records
  • Tools
    • Sandwatch Turtle Toolkit
    • Sandwatch Training Videos
    • CCESD Course Materials
  • The Caribbean Academy of Science

Sandwatch Most Significant Change Stories: 2017 Australia

Submitted by Craig Wilson, Coastal and Marine Program Manager, Coastcare

WHAT was the change?
Students were more aware of local issues relating to the coast including littering, vegetation damage from pedestrians and erosion events relating to storms.

We then used the local issues as a lead in to global issues and discuss climate change issues including sea level rise and how sea level rise could affect our local beaches. We used the Kiribati experience when discussing climate change and this was highlighted when the Kiribati university student came to the school to talk to the students – a very successful activity when highlighting climate change issues.

Students were involved in renaming their class rooms to Coastlands and they constructed a coastal garden in the school grounds.

WHO was involved?
Students from Year 4 South Coogee Primary School. Teachers, parents, City of Cockburn (Local Government) Perth NRM Coastal and Marine Program

WHEN did it happen?
We have been running the program for five years.

WHY is it significant?
Encourages students to think about climate change issues at the global level and that information is relayed to the home. Energy conservation in the home is discussed in a carbon dioxide reduction perspective. Change in Behaviour We have experienced students from South Coogee Primary and families participating in additional Coastcare events on weekends - highlighting the level of understanding and the importance families place on coastal conservations actions.

Suggestions
  • Expand social media options
  • A Sandwatch app for data entry could be beneficial
  • Increase the number and range of Sandwatch competitions that students can enter
  • Link schools to overseas schools to exchange information on local issues and how they are dealing with them
  • Encourage the involvement of international students in foreign countries to participate in local school visits (having a Kiribati students studying in Australia visit South Coogee Primary, dance in local costume and present her climate change experiences was of great benefit)

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