Marine education planning A Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries Education Plan will be developed to increase community understanding and appreciation of the Consultation will be an important process for decision-making and understanding values, diversity and sensitivity of coastal areas community views and aspirations. and marine environments by leading integrated (Photography Parks Victoria). community outreach and curriculum- driven programs for Marine National Parks and COMMUNITY CONSULTATION Sanctuaries. Community consultation is a two-way process that This Plan will be developed by managers, shares and analyses information and gives community groups and stakeholders associated guidance in making. Understanding with Marine National Parks and Sanctuaries. community attitudes towards and expectations for Highlights of the Plan will include: system of Marine National Parks and Victoria’s a review of previous successful (and Sanctuaries will be vital for the implementation of unsuccessful) community education this strategy. Community consultation directly strategies related to the protection and contributes to the management of the system by: conservation of the marine environment; giving insights into community expectations options for specialised training and materials for the conservation and use of Marine appropriately targeted for park staff, National Parks and Sanctuaries, for input community leaders, peak body into management decision- making; and representatives, teachers and other reference assessing the understanding of community’s points for the community; issues to target education programs better, and understanding community needs for marine where necessary developing new strategies or education at a regional and local level through programs to address community views. consultation; and Community consultation is also important in identification of opportunities for innovative developing performance and satisfaction indicators research, curriculum development, and related to the management of the system, thus integration with related Commonwealth and ensuring accountability. As people become more State marine education programs. informed about marine issues their expectations for marine environmental policy and implementation are likely to change. Marine environmental managers must ensure that management approaches based on community expectations are monitored to ensure that those approaches continue to be relevant. Opportunities for the community to be actively consulted about decisions that impact on Victoria’s Marine National Parks and Sanctuaries are an important part of their long- term acceptance in local and regional communities. Through these processes, communities will begin to develop a sense of ownership, and will be far more likely to become advocates for, and custodians of, these areas. Management framework Management agencies will inform, listen and respond to communities, organisations and
Marine education planning A Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries Education Plan will be developed to increase community understanding and appreciation of the values, diversity and sensitivity of coastal areas and marine environments by leading integrated community outreach and curriculum- driven programs for Marine National Parks and Sanctuaries. This Plan will be developed by managers, community groups and stakeholders associated with Marine National Parks and Sanctuaries. Highlights of the Plan will include: a review of previous successful (and unsuccessful) community education strategies related to the protection and conservation of the marine environment; options for specialised training and materials appropriately targeted for park staff, community leaders, peak body representatives, teachers and other reference points for the community; understanding community needs for marine education at a regional and local level through consultation; and identification of opportunities for innovative research, curriculum development, and integration with related Commonwealth and State marine education programs. Consultation will be an important process for decision-making and understanding community views and aspirations. (Photography Parks Victoria). COMMUNITY CONSULTATION Community consultation is a two-way process that shares and analyses information and gives guidance in making. Understanding community attitudes towards and expectations for Victoria’s system of Marine National Parks and Sanctuaries will be vital for the implementation of this strategy. Community consultation directly contributes to the management of the system by: giving insights into community expectations for the conservation and use of Marine National Parks and Sanctuaries, for input into management decision- making; and assessing the community’s understanding of issues to target education programs better, and where necessary developing new strategies or programs to address community views. Community consultation is also important in developing performance and satisfaction indicators related to the management of the system, thus ensuring accountability. As people become more informed about marine issues their expectations for marine environmental policy and implementation are likely to change. Marine environmental managers must ensure that management approaches based on community expectations are monitored to ensure that those approaches continue to be relevant. Opportunities for the community to be actively consulted about decisions that impact on Victoria’s Marine National Parks and Sanctuaries are an important part of their long- term acceptance in local and regional communities. Through these processes, communities will begin to develop a sense of ownership, and will be far more likely to become advocates for, and custodians of, these areas. Management framework Management agencies will inform, listen and respond to communities, organisations and