Green Steps

Extra Curricular

Want to use your degree to change the world? 

Apply for Green Steps - a transformational sustainability leadership program, equipping Monash students with the skills, tools and knowledge needed to become effective leaders and sustainability change agents.

 

About Green Steps

Green Steps is an award-winning sustainability leadership program run by Monash Sustainable Development Institute. The program offers innovative and practical sustainability training and consultancy projects for ambitious emerging leaders. Over the past 22 years, the extracurricular program has transformed lives, launched careers and most importantly, created a network of leaders who are now working in organisations to make the world a more sustainable place to live.

EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST IN THE 2023 PROGRAM

Green steps is a fantastic course. I gained a lot of great skills that I look forward to applying not only in the sustainability context but also in my life.

Tom, Bachelor of Engineering.

The program will help you to:
  • Gain an understanding of global sustainability challenges through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Develop new skills to transform attitudes and drive change for a more equitable, sustainable and resilient world.
  • Explore how sustainability is applied within organisations and develop your personal leadership capabilities
  • Engage in interactive, group-based learning.
  • Apply your knowledge and develop solutions to real-world sustainability problems.
  • Be part of a select cohort of emerging sustainability leaders.
What's involved?

Online sustainability challenge: As part of the application process, you’ll take part in Take One Step, an online platform that challenges you to take an action towards sustainability. Once you've posted a step, we'll also ask you to submit an application form, with a short video of yourself.

Training: Selected students will participate in five days of hands-on sustainability training (in person).

Sustainability consultancy project: Following the training, apply for a 25-hour team-based consultancy role undertaking a sustainability-related project at Monash University

What you'll learn

The five-day training is spread over two weeks and draws on teaching expertise and guest speakers from across Monash Sustainable Development Institute, including from ClimateWorks, BehaviourWorks and the Oxfam-Monash Partnership. The training component also includes a visit to the site of Monash’s Net Zero Initiative.

In the program, we'll explore explore change from three perspectives: Global, organisational and individual.

  • Sustainability issues and responses – climate change and net zero emissions, poverty and social inequality, consumption and waste, and organisational responses to these issues.
  • Systems thinking and planning interventions – problem mapping, strategic prioritisation and action planning for sustainability in an organisation.
  • Behavioural change and designing interventions – understanding your role as a change agent and personal and organisational drivers, and behavioural change theory and program design.

  • Communication for change – effective communication to foster change within organisations, including constructing coherent arguments, presenting recommendations, stakeholder engagement and presentation skills.

  • Leadership for sustainability – developing interpersonal skills, collaborating across multi-disciplinary teams, building networks and envisioning bold futures

Dates

Please note, training will take place in person on the Clayton campus.

Take One Step Challenge:

Application deadline:

Applicants notified:

Training (5 days):

 

 

 

 

Consultancy Projects:

Application Link:

From 1 December 2022

TBC, 2023

TBC, 2023

TBC, 9am - 5pm

TBC, 9am - 5pm

TBC, 9am - 5pm

TBC, 9am - 5pm

TBC, 9am - 5pm

TBC 2023

Express your interest.

How to apply

STEP ONE: Sign up for the Take One Step challenge and commit to an action to live more sustainably

STEP TWO: Prepare a 60–90 second video presenting three ways you’ll roll out your Take One Step pledge across the University

STEP THREE: Upload your application, complete with resume and video, via the application form before midnight on the application deadline date.

Who should apply

Green Steps is open to all current Monash University students however preference is given to students in their final years of study.  Students who have a passion for the environment, social justice and sustainability, are committed to furthering their skills in sustainability and leadership or would like to gain hands-on experience by working on a real consultancy project are encouraged to apply.

Due to the introductory nature of Green Steps, the program is best suited to students who have little or no knowledge of sustainability. We select students with a diversity of skills and career aspirations because we know that for the world to be truly sustainable, we need leaders working in all types of organisations and industries.

Application tips

Here's a few ways to make your application stand out:

  • Be creative with your Take One Step. We're looking for students (and 'Steps') who think outside the box. Take a look at the Sustainable Development Goals and consider how you might align your action with a social, environmental or economic target or indicator. Please read the Take One Step User Guide to help with creating an account and using the platform.
     
  • We'll also ask you to submit a video of yourself with your application explaining three actions you would take to implement your ‘step’ or pledge across Monash University. Check out this guide on how to shoot an effective video. When filming your video, make sure you reference your step on Take One Step and explain how it might be implemented as a campaign or set of activities across Monash.
Learning style

Green Steps training style is unlike any university course. We encourage engagement, collaboration and above all, a fun approach to learning new skills. The training combines critical inquiry and pragmatic tools with insights from sustainability experts and entrepreneurial practice. It’s highly interactive and is focused on teamwork and group discussion. You’ll be learning from our highly experienced trainers, guest speakers and other participants from a range of study areas.

Cost

The program is free. Monash Sustainable Development Institute provides 30 fully-funded places to students at Monash. 

The fine print

Availability

To apply for Green Steps, you must be available to attend training on all days specified in the listed training dates. It is your responsibility to cancel, swap, or take leave from any lectures, tutorials, interviews, work, and extracurricular commitments during this time. Some preparation is also required between training days. Depending on your availability and interest, you may also apply for a sustainability consultancy role with Monash University's Campus Sustainability and Enel Green Power.

Committment

Repeatedly we hear from alumni that Green Steps is one of the most valuable things they did while they were at university. However it's worth keeping in mind that Green Steps is a challenging program. Firstly, training is intensive, with lots of small group activities and group discussions where you’ll be expected to stretch yourself and contribute as much as possible. Secondly, and most importantly, Green Steps is demanding of your outlook, requiring goodwill and openness to the content, trainers and fellow participants.

What participants say
The style is unlike anything you get in a regular uni class. It is so engaging, respectful, welcoming and informative. I immediately felt comfortable in the group.

Participant, 2017.

Green Steps is a fantastic course. I gained a lot of great skills that I look forward to applying, not only in the sustainability context, but also in my life.

Milly, Bachelor of Engineering.

Participating in Green Steps has genuinely changed the courses of what I plan to pursue in the future.

Joanna, Bachelor of Arts/Science, 2019.

Program history

Green Steps was created in 1999 by a group of students who wanted their peers to gain the skills needed to make sustainability-related change in the organisations they will one day work for. Across five days of group-based training sessions, Green Steps gives students practical skills and knowledge which they're then able apply to a multi-disciplinary team based consultancy project.

Our program has been recognised with several prestigious awards, including the Premier's Sustainability Award, the United Nations Association Education Award and the Banksia Environmental Award.

If you have any questions about the program please contact msdi-education@monash.edu.