Mentor, creativity and reflection building significant changes in tertiary education: integrating sustainability as a cross-curriculum priority in teacher education programs

This accredited teacher education program offered at a Sydney-based university in 2018 was designed to make a difference in participants’ understandings of sustainability principles by integrating it into schools as a cross-curriculum priority. The programs focus was on intercultural experiential learning, fostering creativity and reflective practices and engaging participants’ through current sustainability knowledge, learning and skills. Additionally, teachers were encouraged to mentor pre-service and in-service teachers in a diverse range of creative strategies to integrate Science, Technology, English, Arts and Maths (STEAM). The paper presents a new and fresh approach to education for sustainability and discusses the evaluative analysis results from the program. Findings include increased teacher competency in initiating new creative approaches using inquiry-based learning for generational future change and action. Improved ability to teach others, work with colleagues towards leading change through newly acquired collaborative leadership approaches and recognised by colleagues as accredited highly accomplished teachers.