Climate Change Education Policy Landscape: Australia

Government DepartmentDocument NameYear of PublicationLink to PublicationGoal / Target / ActionOther
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) — CthSecond National Action Plan to Implement the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework2023https://www.nema.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-08/28605%20NEMA%20Second%20Action%20Plan_V10_A_1.pdfNational commitment to drive down disaster risk and build resilience across communities; builds on the First National Action Plan and aligns to Sendai Framework targets for 2030.Endorsed by National Emergency Management Ministers 25 Aug 2023. Not education-specific, but underpins state/DET emergency and disaster resilience obligations that flow into school policy.
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) — CthNational Disaster Risk Reduction Framework2019https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/emergency/files/national-disaster-risk-reduction-framework.pdfSets a 2030 vision and foundational national strategies to reduce existing and minimise new disaster risk, aligned to the Sendai Framework and SDGs.Foundational framework the Second National Action Plan implements; original home was Dept of Home Affairs, now NEMA.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) — CthNational Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy 2021–20252021https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/policy/adaptation/strategyThree objectives: (1) drive investment/action through collaboration, (2) improve climate information and services, (3) assess progress and improve over time — across natural, built, social and economic domains.Supersedes the 2015 NCRAS. Community/business-facing, not education-specific.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) — CthNational Adaptation Plan2025 (current)https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/publications/national-adaptation-planVision and objectives for a ‘well-adapted Australia’; sets current/prospective actions by sector and articulates Australian Government leadership and governance role in adaptation.Follows the National Climate Risk Assessment (‘understand and assess’ step); action agenda to be developed with states/territories.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) — CthTorres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area Climate Resilience Centre / Climate Resilience Grant Program2022–23 to 2027–28 (ongoing)https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/policy/torres-strait-northern-peninsula-area-climate-resilience-centre$15.9m over 6 years; grants of up to $10.8m over 3 years to recruit and train local First Nations Climate Resilience Officers to lead adaptation projects and community education.First Nations-led; explicit ‘community education’ function. Relevant to community-facing (not school-based) CCE.
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) — CthSustainability Cross-Curriculum Priority (Australian Curriculum Version 9.0)2022 (V9 revision)https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/curriculum-information/understand-this-cross-curriculum-priority/sustainabilityEmbeds sustainability (incl. climate change) as one of 3 cross-curriculum priorities across all learning areas via 4 organising idea sets: Systems, World Views, Design, Futures.Not a standalone subject — taught through Science, Geography, HASS, Technologies etc. V9 revisions explicitly foreground climate change as a ‘critical 21st century issue’ per ACARA’s own review report.
Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), VictoriaVictoria’s Climate Change Strategy2021 (to 2030)https://www.climatechange.vic.gov.auSets Victoria’s roadmap to net-zero emissions by 2050 and a target to halve emissions by 2030; establishes the 5-yearly Adaptation Action Plan framework under the Climate Change Act 2017.Parent strategy for the 7 sector-based Adaptation Action Plans, including Education and Training.
DEECA / Department of Education, VictoriaEducation and Training Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan 2022–20262022https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/about/department/education-and-training-climate-change-adaptation-action-plan-2022-2026.pdfActions to: integrate environmental sustainability into ECE, curriculum and whole-school action (ResourceSmart Schools); build educator/learner capacity to understand and respond to climate risk; identify climate risks to the school asset portfolio; prepare a plan for thermal-comfort impacts in schools; embed climate data into land-use planning and site selection; support adult/community education providers to address climate-related learning barriers.One of 7 statewide Adaptation Action Plans (with Natural Environment, Water Cycle, Built Environment, Transport, Primary Production, Health and Human Services). ~2 million Victorians participate in education/training annually. Explicitly names eco-anxiety and youth mental wellbeing as a driver.
Premier of Victoria / DEECAHistoric Action for Climate Change Adaptation (127 actions across 7 Adaptation Action Plans)2022https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/historic-action-climate-change-adaptation127 actions across the 7 sector plans (incl. education) to withstand and cope with climate change, backed by ~$2 billion in climate action investment over the preceding two years.Media release accompanying the launch of all 7 Adaptation Action Plans; useful as a top-level summary/citation for the whole AAP suite.
DEECA, VictoriaVictoria’s Bushfire Management Strategy2023 (10-year strategy)https://www.vic.gov.au/victorias-bushfire-management-strategy10-year vision across 7 domains (incl. people & community safety, ecosystem resilience, shared responsibility) to manage bushfire risk ‘for safer communities and healthy ecosystems in a changing climate’; supported by a rolling 3-year implementation plan and a Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Framework.Co-designed with land/fire agencies, community, Traditional Owners. Explicitly frames bushfire risk as intensifying ‘in a changing climate.’ Underpins DET’s Bushfire and Grassfire Preparedness Policy for schools.
Sustainability Victoria (transitioning to DEECA, 1 June 2026)ResourceSmart Schools programSince 2008 (ongoing; transitioning to DEECA)https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/about-us/what-we-do/resourcesmart-schoolsFree whole-school sustainability program (Core, Biodiversity, Energy, Waste, Water modules) helping schools cut resource use/emissions, embed sustainability in curriculum, and achieve 1–5 Star Sustainability Certification.1,600+ Victorian schools participated since 2008. Sustainability Victoria itself is being abolished in 2026 (per Silver Review response) — program moves to DEECA. Directly relevant to T4CCE as a comparator/partner program.
Department of Education, Victoria (Policy and Advisory Library)Environmental Sustainability in Schools: PolicyCurrent (reviewed 2023–24)https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/environmental-sustainability-schools/policyGuidance across 6 priority areas for a whole-school approach to environmental sustainability and climate change; mandates compliance with the Single-Use Plastics Ban and balloon-release laws; offers (non-mandatory) Environmental Sustainability Plan template.Developed in partnership with the University of Melbourne Faculty of Education and Melbourne Climate Futures. Defines ‘eco-anxiety’ in its glossary — directly relevant to T4CCE’s wellbeing angle.
Department of Education, Victoria (PAL)Bushfire and Grassfire Preparedness: PolicyFeb 2020 (last updated 30 Mar 2023)https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/bushfire-and-grassfire-preparedness/policyRequires all registered schools to comply with VRQA bushfire preparedness guidelines; mandates pre-emptive closure of Bushfire At-Risk Register (BARR) and Category 4 schools on Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating days; sets CSIRO-informed risk categorisation methodology (0–6).Notes research finding that student participation in bushfire planning improves risk-reduction outcomes at home/school/community — a concrete curriculum-connection point for T4CCE.
Department of Education, Victoria (PAL)Emergency and Critical Incident Management Planning: PolicyCurrenthttps://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/emergency-critical-incident-management-planning/policyMandates every school maintain an annually-reviewed, site-specific Emergency Management Plan (EMP) via the Online EMP Portal, covering all hazards (including bushfire) and offsite activities (camps/excursions); requires debriefs and trauma-informed recovery support after incidents.Cross-references the Bushfire and Grassfire Preparedness policy. ‘Managing Trauma’ guide and eLearning modules available to school staff — relevant to student/staff wellbeing dimension of CCE.
Department of Education, Victoria (PAL)Sustainable and Climate Resilient Facilities: PolicyCurrenthttps://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/sustainable-climate-resilient-facilities/policyRequires new/upgraded school facilities to apply environmentally-sustainable design, reduce emissions and increase climate resilience (shade, light-coloured roofing, ventilation, solar/wind where installed) per the Building Quality Standards Handbook (BQSH); addresses heat, UV and air-quality risk to students and staff.Connects to Student Dress Code and Sun & UV Protection policies as extreme-heat adaptation measures — useful cross-reference for a ‘built environment meets curriculum’ angle in T4CCE.
NSW Department of EducationOur Commitment to Sustainability (incl. Net Zero Roadmap)2023 (to 2030)https://education.nsw.gov.au/about-us/strategies-and-reports/our-commitment-to-sustainability9 sustainability goals to be reached by end of 2030, including net-zero operations by 2030; commits to ‘preparing young people’ as one of 6 focus pillars, alongside built environment, culture and community reach.Explicitly ties commitment to the Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration (2019). Useful interstate comparator to Victoria’s AAP.
NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and WaterAdaptNSW — Climate Change Education for StudentsOngoing (syllabus updates from 2024)https://www.climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/climate-change-education-studentsSupports NSW curriculum delivery of climate change via Geography, Science, Business Studies and Economics; cites the 2022 NSW Flood Inquiry recommendation for an evidence-based, targeted DoE climate education campaign.References OECD Future of Education and Skills 2030 framework. Good comparator for T4CCE’s teacher-resource function.
Queensland Department of EducationSustainable Schools initiative (incl. School Environmental Management Plan template)Ongoinghttps://education.qld.gov.au/initiatives-and-strategies/strategies-and-programs/sustainable-schoolsProvides a central sustainability resource hub, 20+ Outdoor and Environmental Education Centres, and a School Environmental Management Plan (SEMP) template; links school action to the UN SDGs.Less climate-specific / more general sustainability framing than Victoria’s AAP-based approach — worth noting as a contrast in your comparative table.