Tools for Healthy Schools -
Community Information Website

PROJECT FOR THE NATIONAL TOXICS NETWORK AUSTRALIA
FUNDED BY HEALTHPACT ACT 2000 - 2001

Project Summary:

Practical tools and information for school managers, staff and students, to help reduce the chemical load in the school environment.

Resource material will be drawn from the US EPA Tools for Schools kit, the recent Australian book The Toxic Playground (Jo Imig, TEC, Sydney 2000), and the IAQ Guidelines for the Sydney Olympic Facilities (Imig, J. & Rish, S; TEC Green Office for Green Games Watch, Sydney 2000).

Website incorporates:

Information about chemicals and children's health

Information about indoor air quality, toxicology, and the most dangerous chemicals commonly found in schools

A chemical hazards audit for identifying sources of chemical pollutants in schools

Guidelines for schools to develop a chemical risk reduction strategy in both indoor & outdoor environments

Project Outcomes:

Environmental advocacy and promotion of healthier school environments throughout ACT schools

Facilitate distribution and availability of relevant environmental research from around the world, to assist schools & school communities with their duty of care in relation to children's welfare and learning outcomes.

Foster Environmentally Sustainable Development and pollution reduction in children's environments, and promote the concept of the Precautionary Principle in school management.

* Provide a directory of alternative products and services to school managers and administrators. (NB: this part of the project is continuing, with an online directory called The Non Toxic Directory, although funding is no longer available.)

Project Outputs:

The website is complete, and has been used in a case study at a local primary school, to conduct the chemical hazards audit, and train the school's OH&S Officer.

The ACT Department of Education has reviewed the site and the policy document guidelines. They have declined to follow through with promotion. There are no new purchasing or policy initiatives planned as a result, although they will direct schools to the website when requests about toxics are received.

Further promotion to schools via email is planned for this year. Any schools interested in using the website to conduct an audit are very welcome to contact CAS for assistance.

PROJECT UPDATE Nov 2003

Queries from ACT teachers & staff re toxics are referred to the TFHS website by the ACT Education department.

Departmental policy is still on a "case by case" basis, despite recommendations by the ACT Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Health (Report no. 4 April 2003) for comprehensive chemical audits, and a stronger oversight role for the department in minimising chemical hazards in schools.

UPDATE 2006