A pilot project is underway at CQU Rockhampton to identify and acknowledge any activities across all schools and divisions at the Rockhampton Campus that are committed to environmental best practice.

"CQU offers programs to students in environmental science, environmental management and sustainable development. We're working to identify and promote green practices that we, the University, could integrate into existing campus wide management strategies, and to identify areas where we can switch to sustainable alternatives," explained Matthew Quaife-Ryan, Chaplain and coordinator of Greening CQU.

Greening CQU is a volunteer ad-hoc group of CQU student and staff working within the university to help develop a multi-campus environmental management strategy.

"The study also seeks to identify those sustainable practices that result in both a cost benefit to the University and assist CQU in gaining green credentials in the business sector for reducing its environmental impact," said Desley (Dee) Reeve , Greening CQU member from the Institute for Sustainable Regional Development.

With financial support from the Vice Chancellor's Initiative Fund and the Institute for Sustainable Regional Development, the group will perform an audit across all schools and divisions within CQU Rockhampton. The Human Research Ethics Committee has approved the project.

"Many CQU staff are already involved in small-scale 'clean and green' activities, but there's a need to improve and develop practices for reducing consumption, reusing equipment or recycling consumables," said Matthew. This study will provide an opportunity for the promotion of these ad hoc sustainable management practices, explore solutions for existing problems, analyse successes and failures, and establish a framework upon which to develop large-scale sustainability initiatives.

Outcomes of the study will be made available for comment in an interim report to Senior Management and to the Directors of the Institute for Sustainable Regional Development (ISRD), the joint funding partners for the study. Results of the study will likely be published at the Third Sustainable Universities Conference (2003).

Greening CQU researchers expect to work with Deans, Heads of School and Heads of Divisions to arrange staff meetings.

"We're not going to focus on negatives. The idea is to identify, recognise and promote groups who have the best environment practices and then integrate their methods with a campus-wide 'green' management strategy," said Matthew.