2019-12-10 P&E Agenda - Item 6 - Attachment 1 - NBRF Annual Report 2018-19

Data Collection & Management

USC has recent experience developing a repository of data and documents about Fraser Island. This has
attracted many priceless additions covering the history, culture and science of the island that is now easily
available to researchers and academics.

Noosa has a unique history of development and should be able to provide many case studies for the future.
NBRF will work with the Council Heritage team and the library at USC to scope out this idea.


Schools/Education - Noosa Environmental Education Hub (NEEH)

In our second grants round in 2017/18 NBRF sponsored a project in outdoor education at the Sunshine Beach
Primary School. Together with other donations and support this enabled two outdoor classrooms to be built
and a vibrant program of outdoor teaching to be developed. This was a great success in generating enthusiasm
and study in the young pupils. This was not just about environmental issues but showed the benefit of outdoor
education in general.

Given the success of the investment, together with the leaders of the project, Di Seels and Dalia Mikhail, the
NBRF were keen to extend this success to other schools.

As this discussion developed, it was decided that having a centre which many schools could use would enable
a far bigger impact. The concept of the Noosa Environmental Education Hub (NEEH) was proposed in which
curriculum extension opportunities could be developed.

The Noosa Scout Headquarters has some surplus buildings and land ideal for such a hub close to the Noosa
River. An agreement has been reached with the Scouts who are very enthusiastic to support this initiative.

The government does provide funding for outside teaching as pupils are now required to spend a minimum of
2 hours a week outside. The curriculum for these sessions has been developed and approved. The government
provides up to $102 per pupil for this service and this will ensure the long term future of the hub.

Exciting programs have been developed with local schools who are enthusiastically taking up the facilities.

NBRF has sponsored the pilot stage of this project as a “big idea” investment.

This pilot project costs $185,920 in total and NBRF is contributing $51,250. In kind effort totals $80,420 and other
cash is $54,250. A leverage of 3.6:1 meets our funding challenge.

This is a major development which the previous project shows is a tremendous way to encourage young people
with the environment, the Biosphere and sustainability.


Schools/Education - The Biosphere in Action

At a recent Australian Biosphere Conference, the power of short one minute videos was used to illustrate a
biosphere by showing examples of activities contributing to our objectives.

Concentrating on what has been done and ending with a tag line describing things and finishing with “The
Biosphere in Action”

We see this a good way to “creep up” on what a Biosphere is.

Proposals are being developed.



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