Green Steps

Interview with Nina*, Program Facilitator/Education Co-ordinator

What is the system we're engaging with?

We’re working within the broader university and education system to equip students with sustainability knowledge and leadership skills. The Green Steps program at Monash Sustainable Development Institute (MSDI) fills a critical gap  where students often lack, practical and interdisciplinary education in sustainability. Our goal is to empower them recognise real-world problems and feel confident they have the tools to address them.

What needs to change?

Traditional degrees often don’t devote enough time and space to hands-on sustainability practice. We see students who are eager and passionate but haven’t had formal education in environmental and social dimensions, or in the practicalities of driving systems change. We need a bridge – something that takes that passion and transforms it into actionable skills and deeper understanding. Green Steps aims to be that bridge.

What are we doing about it?

We deliver a “powerful and impactful education experience” outside students’ standard curriculum. We welcome applicants from across faculties – engineering, design, IT, and more – immersing  them in workshops on systems thinking, behaviour change, and communication. We look at progress change on three levels:  the global scale (i.e. the SDGs), the organisational level, and the personal leadership level. Being a  co-curricular program means students join by choice – and that enthusiasm translates into incredible engagement and growth.

Why you/us?

I started as a participant myself in 2015. I felt the 'lightbulb moment' that so many students describe after participating in the program. After finishing, I moved into a casual marketing role while completing my Masters, and eventually joined MSDI more formally. The program has a strong alignment with the MSDI mission of “serving current and future generations.” I love seeing students’ transformations and hearing them say things like, “I finally feel like I’m in the right place.” That joy in discovering purpose is why I continue to champion Green Steps.

What was a pivotal moment or challenge in the process?

Back in 2015, Green Steps had been running for 16 years and faced a juncture where it needed to evolve. At that point, it had expanded to multiple universities, and the model was not sustainable. But people like Annette and Gitanjali recognised the value and launched a thorough review of the program’s impact challenges and future opportunities. It wasn’t easy – there were tough conversations with senior leadership – but the review showed how the program was influencing students’ career paths, building practical skills, and furthering the Institute’s priorities. It provided that evidence and research.

What did we draw on to respond?

We drew on the alumni’s experience, their testimonials, program partner feedback and the program’s reputation. We also broadened the focus of the program (beyond only environmental) and aligned it with with the newly announced UN Sustainable Development Goals, which helped demonstrate how Green Steps sits squarely in the heart of MSDI’s strategy. New consultancy projects were developed, where students could apply their newly-acquired knowledge and skills directly to a sustainability project on campus. Collaborations across MSDI to deliver the program – with BehaviourWorks, ClimateWorks, and research arms – also strengthened the delivery model, showing that this wasn’t just a small education program but a broader institute-wide effort.

What was the change, and why was it significant?
For whom? Any unintended impacts?

The biggest shift came when we realigned the content and introduced a broader sustainability framework. In the early years, the focus was narrower (environmental including waste and energy audits), but we realised through the review that alumni weren’t necessarily using those skills directly. By weaving in the SDGs and a systems-change lens, we repositioned the program to reflect the increasingly complex and interconnected nature of sustainability challenges. Students say they leave determined to pursue sustainability-focused careers or to embed sustainable thinking wherever they go. An unintended but wonderful outcome is that some students have told us they specifically choose to study at Monash  so they can participate in Green Steps.

What other contributions and actors, beyond the initiative, influenced what happened?

Several actors helped shape Green Steps’ evolution. Enel Green Power and Buildings and Property have provided funding and host student consultancy projects.They see the potential of training future sustainability leaders. Buildings and Property have been a long-running and valued partner who have supported students and the success of the program through on-campus projects. Internally, people across MSDI devote their time to teaching and the development of the program. Having these different parts of MSDI pitching in has been great for students – it opens their eyes to different perspectives and career pathways into sustainability and fosters a sense of community – that really makes what the program is today. We rely heavily on that spirit of collaboration.

What was the result, and why did it work?

Every year, at the end of the program, we do an evaluation and reflection. Students often say the program has been a profound experience that’s solidified their sense of purpose and clarity around career direction. Others feel empowered to champion sustainability into their disciplines, future workplaces and personal lives. Some go on to do sustainability in a formal role capacity, while others apply the soft skills elsewhere. But all of them walk away more confident in their ability to create change. And we actively encourage them to think about what role they want to play and how they would like to contribute to change. Green Steps works  because it’s personal, co-curricular, and hands-on, with real consultancy projects that allow students to apply what they’ve learned. And, crucially, it has strong internal support – from alumni to staff – who believe in the program’s impact.

What can we learn from this example?

For me, Green Steps illustrates how a long-running co-curricular education initiative can drive genuine systems change at the individual level. When students engage voluntarily, they bring incredible energy that fosters deeper learning and community. Our alumni are incredible advocates with many now working at MSDI - which is a testament to the program and type of dedicated and committed student it attracts. It also shows the power of partnerships – an external funder might see a chance to build up future leaders, and that interest can keep a program afloat in challenging times. The program has adapted and evolved and stayed relevant since its beginnings as a student-led initiative in 1999. Lastly, it’s a reminder that if you align your efforts with a broader vision, like the SDGs and MSDI’s strategic purpose, you can transform a program into something that’s still going strong after more than two decades – and creating real impact, one student at a time.

*Name has been changed for privacy reasons.