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A Sea Country Learning Partnership in Times of Anthropocenic Risk: Offshore Coral Reef Education and Our Story of Practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2018

Hilary Whitehouse ,
Marie Taylor ,
Neus (Snowy) Evans ,
Tanya Doyle ,
Juanita Sellwood  and
Ruth Zee
Hilary Whitehouse*
Affiliation:
James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Marie Taylor
Affiliation:
Reef Magic Cruises, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Neus (Snowy) Evans
Affiliation:
James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Tanya Doyle
Affiliation:
James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Juanita Sellwood
Affiliation:
James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Ruth Zee
Affiliation:
James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia Queensland Department of Education and Training, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
*
Address for correspondence: Hilary Whitehouse, James Cook University, Cairns Campus, 1/14-88 McGregor Rd, Smithfield QLD 4878, Australia. Email: hilary.whitehouse@jcu.edu.au
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Abstract

This is a researched account of an offshore coral reef education partnership formed during a time of rapid environmental change (the coral bleaching events in the years 2015 to 2017). The aim of the partnership is to encourage a learning connection with Sea Country. Framed as civic environmentalism, this article explores the dimensions of practice between a reef tourism provider, local schools, a local university, and local Indigenous rangers that enables primary, secondary and university students, rangers, and educators to travel together on day trips to the outer Great Barrier Reef and islands and have immersive and sharing educational experiences. Offshore environmental education and higher quality marine education is increasingly important in the Anthropocene, when Australian reefs are subject to the pressures of climate change and other impacts other impacts that diminish their resilience.

Keywords

coral reef educationsea countryexperiential learningpartnerships
Type
Feature Articles
Information
Australian Journal of Environmental Education , Volume 33 , Special Issue 3: 2016 Australian Association for Environmental Education Conference: ‘Tomorrow Making – Our Present to the Future’ , November 2017 , pp. 160 - 170
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2018 

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