Staff Environment Advocates
On this page:
- What does a Staff Environment Advocate do?
- Staff Environment Advocates' Mailing List and Forum
- Who is my Staff Environment Advocate?
- Becoming a Staff Environment Advocate
What does a Staff Environment Advocate do?
A Staff Environment Advocate (SEA) is an employee nominated to represent other employees in environmental management matters. The SEA's formal role definition is set out in EHS Manual 8.5.New. EHS Representation and EHS Committees.
The SEA acts as an advocate for the implementation of environmental management programs throughout the workplace. This role includes:
- Advocacy and day to day communication of the EMS to staff and students within their Department as required
- Manages the environmental management system within the department
- Auditing and reporting audit results back to the departments and the Environment Health and Safety Unit, if appropriate
- Maintains pertinent EMS records relative to department activities and undertake review of environmental aspects on a periodic basis.
Staff Environment Advocates' Mailing List and Forum
Mailing List
If you're a SEA, make sure you've made yourself known to the EHS Unit so we can put you on our mailing list. From the mailing list, you will receive monthly Environment & Sustainability Updates containing information for you to champion in your departments, information about the quarterly Staff Environment Advocates' Forum, and (occasionally) information of general or professional development interest.
Most mailing list postings are also made available on the Achieving a Sustainable Campus Blog.
Please keep your department's representatives' information up to date with the EHS Unit by emailing changes to ehs-info@unimelb.edu.au. Our current list is reflected at http://www.unimelb.edu.au/ehsm/EHS_Representatives.pdf
Staff Environment Advocates Forum
The Staff Environment Advocates' forum is a quarterly forum for the communication of environmental issues to Staff Environment Advocates, and for Advocates to raise environmental issues. This is an informal informational meeting run by the Manager, Sustainability. Your attendance will allow you to ask questions and meet peers and contacts.
Minutes are distributed subsequently. Some meetings (depending on the venue we have been able to obtain) can be video conferenced to off-Parkville locations by prior arrangement - we will call for expressions of interest in a video conference ahead of time in each case.
- Minutes Archive (on EHS website)
- Meeting calendar (on EHS website)
Who is my Staff Environment Advocate?
Staff Environment Advocates are listed by Division and Department at http://www.unimelb.edu.au/ehsm/EHS_Representatives.pdf.
If you need to discuss environmental issues in your area, and your area does not have a listed Staff Environment Advocate, you can talk to:
- Your area's EHS Coordinator (also listed in http://www.unimelb.edu.au/ehsm/EHS_Representatives.pdf);
- Your supervisor, manager or Head;
- Your EHS Adviser/Manager in the EHS Unit, or the Manager, Sustainability (refer to EHS Unit Contacts);
You could also consider becoming a Staff Environment Advocate yourself (see below).
Please keep your department's representatives' information up to date with the EHS Unit by emailing changes to ehs-info@unimelb.edu.au.
Becoming a Staff Environment Advocate
Staff Environment Advocates are formally nominated by the Dean or Vice-Principal (for Divisions/Faculties) or the Head of Department/School (for departments/schools).
To become your department's SEA, first check that nobody else is already doing the job (if so, consider establishing a green team rather than a single rep!). The EHS Unit's current list is reflected at http://www.unimelb.edu.au/ehsm/EHS_Representatives.pdf. Then seek the approval of appropriate senior staff in the department to become the SEA. Finally, contact the Manager, Sustainability to be added to the database.
Training
The EHS training course Achieving a Sustainable Campus - in Departments is targetted to Staff Environment Advocates and EHS Coordinators. Refer to the EHS Unit training page for information on enrollment.