A state in which people, now and in the future, can meet their needs within the limits of what nature can provide without compromising human and environmental well being.

FOTE is a not-for-profit multidisciplinary organisation dedicated to supporting the teaching of environmental, cultural and social sustainability. FOTE began in 2005 to supply an opportunity for teachers to network with other environmentally minded educators. The result is cross-polination from science, heritage and industry that benefits the education of children across ever expanding and diverse geographic regions and with no limit to its growth.

This is a member driven organisation. As a Friend Of The Environment you can get involved in a myriad of different ways, quiet or active.

Topics discussed at regular meetings concentrate on environmental issues and awareness of indigenous care for the land. Our responsibility as educators is to not only teach following generations how to care for our world but how we can actively contribute to its effective enhancement and preservation today.

Today public and private schools along with colleges, universities, government departments and private companies are regularly represented.  Meetings are held monthly with specially invited guest speakers attending quarterly events. Once a year (August/September) a larger event is planned.

These free professional development sessions link teachers to sources of information, funding and people.

Members and the general public can support schools’ revegetation efforts with tax-deductible contributions. Rewards apply for introducing new members to the Healthy Earth Living Planet Fund and its support for the carbon-offset program for schools (underwritten by Greening Australia). The HELP Fund also supports the development of professional learning programs for educators. This benefits children, the future carers of our world, as well as our environment.

In October 2007 the organisation ratified a constitution. Membership is by application for a nominal $20.00 fee. As a member, communication from FOTE is primarily by email. FOTE members come from such diverse fields as marine biology, native plant propagation, indigenous heritage, national parks management, solar energy, invasive pest management, climate change, geology, horticulture, zoology, botany and physics as well as teachers from all subject areas in public and private primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities.

If you are an educator and want to know something or someone to do with educating for sustainability this is the group for you.

You might not be a teacher but through teachers you could influence kids to create a sustainable future. If you have a passion for environmental, cultural and/or social sustainability and expertise to offer, this is the group for you.

If you have an interest in creating a local FOTE group we can help you there as well.

As Anita Roddick (Body Shop founder) said, “ think global, act local ” and you can be part of the change we need to see.