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About Green Steps

A decade ago, a group of students at Monash University grew tired of being lectured by ‘experts’ so  they established the Green Steps program to provide a hands-on, practical approach to learning that translated theories into action.

Green Steps bridges the gap between knowledge acquired at university and skills required in the ‘real world’ of work. Green Steps has an alumni of over 500 people and has engaged in sustainability projects with over 300 different organisations throughout Australia.

Green Steps is offered to tertiary students through host universities in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra and Perth. Typical course intake is around 14 people.

Green Steps is free to successful applicants. As you’d imagine, places are limited and the application process is highly competitive.

Green Steps has proven to be a valuable platform for people embarking on an environmental career with the majority of Green Steppers going on to work in the environment sector and making a positive difference within organisations and the community.

Hear what our alumni have to say here.

Curriculum

The Green Steps university program consists of two phases: training and a work placement.

Training

Thirty hours of intense (but fun) training is spread over two weekends and covers five key areas we detail below. Training is highly interactive and emphasises teamwork. We have opted for a style that is described as informal, engaging, and hands-on. We draw on the experience of the group to facilitate learning. Specialist guest speakers and former Green Steps participants also share their experiences.

The training tackles the following:

1. Environmental issues and responses: such as waste, energy and water, and an understanding of organisational responses to environmental issues.
2. Environmental auditing: an introduction to waste, energy, water auditing, and conducting staff interviews and surveys.
3. Project planning and management: action plan design, problem map creation and creative solution development.
4. Communication for change: effective communication to foster change within organisations, including professional presentation and report-writing, compiling promotional materials, constructing coherent arguments and negotiation skills.
5. Behavioural change management: understanding the role of the change agent, personal and organisational drivers, behavioural change theory and practice.

Internships

Green Steppers put what they have learnt into practice through a work-based placement with a host organisation. Students seek out host organisations in a field that interests them though we support and assist you to organise placements and negotiate projects. Projects are a minimum of 12 days long, often 3-4 days per week over several weeks. Projects often provide Green Step participants the chance to quickly bring about change. Work placements create and enhance professional networks, while advancing career opportunities – particularly useful for university students looking to enter the environmental sector.

Examples of host organisations, projects, and further details around payment and timing of work placements are available on the Student Internships page.

Adelaide City Council Alexandra and Associates Alinta Anglo Coal Australia ANZ Banking Group Australian Council for Educational Research Aviva Insurance Group Bayside City Council BP Australia Central Coast Council (Tasmania) Chisholm Institute of TAFE City of Monash City of Port Philip City of Stonnington City of Whitehorse Coca-Cola Amatil Coles Supermarkets De Bortoli Department of Human Services - Vic Department of Treasury and Finance - Vic

KPMG Lonely Planet Publishing Melbourne City Council Moreland City Council Municipal Association of Victoria National Tertiary Education Union Origin Energy Parks Victoria Parsons Brinkerhoff Shire of Yarra Ranges Telstra The Blood Bank The University of Melbourne Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Victoria University of Technology Visy Industries Vodafone and Yarra Valley Water

Testimonials

"This course has given me the confidence and approach to know how to begin effectively challenging the way things are done." (Melbourne Region, Semester 2, 2007)

"It was one of the best things I have done throughout my university studies." (Flinders University, Adelaide, Semester 1, 2007)

"I now have the tools and knowledge to work towards environmental change. Trainers were so supportive and genuinely interested in everything we had to say. Thanks!" (Griffith University, Brisbane, Semester 2, 2007)

"The group work was good - it really highlighted the different ways in which people tackle a problem and helped me see more than one solution to the same issue." (Melbourne Region, Semester 2, 2007)

"[Green Steps] provides skills that I would not otherwise have learnt at uni." (Melbourne Region, Semester 2, 2007)

"I am more confident knowing there are like-minded and intelligent people out there wanting to help initiate change." (Sydney Region, Semester 2, 2007)