AAEE South Australia Chapter

SASTA Conference is coming up. Bruce is presenting a workshop on birds this year for the Australian Association for Environmental Education SA Chapter (AAEESA) and SASTA.
5.06 Bringing Birds Around Your School Into The Curriculum.

It's here. The 2026 SASTA Annual Conference program is live 🔬✨

Two days.
More than 40 workshops.
Keynote and Cutting Edge sessions showcasing contemporary science shaping our world.

From AI in the classroom and real radiation experiments to climate research, dataloggers, robotics and South Australia's remarkable fossil record, this is science learning that connects directly to your classroom.

Have a look at the program. Start planning your sessions. Get excited. https://bit.ly/SASTAConf2026

Early bird registration closes 15 March 🌱

Join us at Morialta Secondary College on 13 and 14 April. See less

Sound familiar?

Environmental educators, connected to community, place, and each other. Supporting one another to keep doing work that matters.

That’s AAEE.
Make it official and join us as a member.

👀 Member-only initiatives are coming in 2026…
https://www.aaee.org.au/get-involved/become-a-member/

SeaWeek is fast approaching! We're excited to welcome students and teachers from across Australia and New Zealand for a special online webinar with marine scientists exploring how the ocean influences and connects life on Earth 🌊🌏

When: Weds 4 March, 12-12.45pm AEDT
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: Free.
RSVP: https://events.humanitix.com/seaweek-2026-webinar

This webinar is a collaboration between AAEE, Seaweek New Zealand, Sir Peter Blake Marine Education & Recreation Centre, and Western Australia's Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions' Marine Science Program and North West Shelf Flatback Turtle Conservation Program.

The webinar is supported by Big Blue Ocean.

Strong climate change education benefits students, teachers, and the broader community. We can all agree on that, yet good quality climate change education isn't resourced well in Australia.

In partnership with the Australian Science Teachers Association and the Australian Geography Teachers Association, we present 5 key actions necessary to ensure students and teachers are given the support and resources they need:

1. Make climate change education explicit and mandatory across the F–12 curriculum to support Australian students to be active, responsible citizens.

2. Develop a conceptual progression of learning, through the curriculum, that leads to deep engagement with human-induced climate change across all years of schooling.

3. Provide professional learning for pre-service and in-service teachers, school leaders, and administrators to build knowledge, values, and skills related to climate change education across disciplines.

4. Develop a national education action plan that prioritises climate action.

5. Fund a coordinated program that enables multiple cross-institutional research initiatives to inform effective climate change education in schools.

To read more and get involved, check out the full paper here:
https://www.aaee.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-ASTA-AGTA-and-AAEE-Climate-change-education-position-paper.pdf

A great opportunity for our younger people.

SeaWeek Student Competition! 🐙
Blend scientific understanding with storytelling and visual art to support ocean literacy learning.

The activities are curriculum-aligned and encourage students to explore how the ocean makes Earth habitable 🌊

Early Learners (Kindy – Year 1): Wave Energy Mixed Media Collage
Primary Students (Year 2 – 6): Creative Mapping

Please submit entries by 23 Feb 2026
Learn More: https://www.aaee.org.au/seaweek/competitions/

Learn more about our coast.

Reef Watch SA Greater Adelaide Reef Rambles 2025-2026 | Humanitix The continuing algal bloom along the South Australian coastline is having a devastating impact on our unique, local marine life and community.As the situation continues, Citizen Science Programs are playing a vital role in tracking the spread and impact of the algal bloom and assisting scientists in...

World Wetlands Day 2026

Our wetlands are truly magical. Next Monday is World Wetlands Day, with events across Australia connecting people to their unique local wetlands.
https://www.worldwetlandsday.org/events

And if you're in WA, the Wetlands Conference is being held next week in Cockburn: https://www.thewetlandscentre.org.au/conference/

If you work in Wetland education, let us know below & tag your project 🔽

HASS SA is holding its State Conference for R-12 teachers on Saturday 7th March 2026, at Urrbrae Agricultural High School, Fullarton Road, Netherby.
Many of the workshop presenters are from HASS SA member associations: HTASA, GTASA, BETASA, HAA, AAEE, Aboriginal Studies, as well as practising teachers, ATO and SA Museum.
Join HaSS educators from across South Australia for a dynamic and inspiring full-day conference designed to spark new ideas, build confidence, and strengthen classroom practice. This year’s program brings together expert presenters, hands-on workshops, fresh resources, and real-world examples across History, Geography, Economics and Business, Environmental Sustainability, and Aboriginal Studies.
Teachers can check out the 21 different workshop sessions in the conference program at www.hass-sa.asn.au/conference then register at https://events.humanitix.com/2026-hass-sa-annual-conference-connections- strategies-resources.

Check out the bats if you go past Botanic Park but remember to give them some space and never touch a bat (alive or dead).

Give our bats space in the heat, and remember to never touch a bat 🦇 ☀️

This weekend’s hot weather can be challenging for our resident grey-headed flying foxes.

Unfortunately, grey-headed flying-foxes struggle with extreme heat, which makes this threatened species vulnerable during our summer heatwaves.

You might see bats hanging closer to water sources, such as the River Torrens, in the warmer weather. Give them space, and try to avoid the area.

But if you do find a bat in distress, it is important to contact a wildlife rescue operation, and not try to approach or handle the bat yourself. All bat species, including the grey-headed flying fox, are potential carriers of disease. It is safest not to touch them.

Instead, you can call Fauna Rescue’s 24 hour helpline on 8486 1139 or Bat Rescue on 0475 132 093.

World Teachers Day Awards Ceremony at Adelaide Oval Friday 31 Oct 2025. Australian Association for Environmental Education SA Chapter (AAEE SA) representatives attending the Educators SA function. Convenor David Larritt, Committee members Debbie Loke and Bruce Baker (recipient). Minister for Education, Blair Boyer presenting awards. Thanks to organisers and all involved and congratulations to all recipients.

Great team work again with AAEESA and WACRA at the Tennyson Dunes open day 🦋