School of Business and Law

Principle 2: Values

ECU and SBL have been actively involved in developing and implementing strategies which have improved the university’s overall social and environmental footprint as well as increasing awareness of SDGS. Since 2008, ECU has been measuring its carbon footprint and has managed to reduce it by one third since then.

In its efforts to contribute to global responsibility, sustainability, and responsible leadership, SBL has been involved with several initiatives:

Wanneroo Urban Pantry

In July 2019, a collection box was placed in the SBL staff reception area for the collection of donations including food and household items. This initiative is still ongoing and on a monthly basis, the box is delivered to Wanneroo Urban Pantry to support those in need in the local community.

News article: School of Business and Law making monthly donations to people in need with Wanneroo Urban Pantry

ECU Tax Clinic

The SBL opened a Tax Clinic in August 2020. The Tax Clinic is pro bono making it the second of its kind in WA. It’s run on a mutually beneficial model where students are employed to gain experience as they provide tax advice to individuals often from disadvantaged backgrounds with limited access to tax agents. To date, the clinic has employed 11 students offering over 250 hours of service to more than 55 clients. This continues to foster social responsibility.

News articles:

• ECU Joondalup Opens pro bono tax clinic
• ECU Tax Clinic celebrates the receipt of Australian Government Grant

Black Lives Matter

In alignment with SDGs 10 & 16, on 5^th June 2020, the SBL knelt down in support of equality and Black Lives Matter. A movement that demonstrated against police brutality and institutional racism

Enactus

Enactus is an international not-for-profit organisation dedicated to inspiring university students to improve the world through entrepreneurial action. With the support of a Business Advisory Board (BAB) Enactus ECU team has provided students with a platform to partner with industry in finding solutions to sustainability challenges.

The team participated in the National Showcase in 2015 and 2017 taking the Runners-up position. In 2016, competed in the National Champions where they represented Australia in Enactus Work Cup in Canada. In 2018, they were National Semi-Finalists.

News articles: Enactus ECU

Enactus ECU has run some of the most successful projects in WA. They include:

• Net University: A project that aimed to bridge the gap of digital literacy that is affecting senior citizens in order to create a more inclusive digital community. The project started in 2013 and has impacted over 1200 senior citizens.
• Be Safe:  Enactus ECU partnered with Tokyo City University and Mullaloo Surf Life Saving Club to deliver beach safety, basic first aid and sun awareness to visiting international students in response to the tragic drownings of international students.
• Behavioural Change for Climate Action: The PRME and Sustainability Steering Committee has embarked on several initiatives and practices that contribute to behavioural change for climate action, responsible consumption, and a circular economy. Below are some of the initiatives.
  • GIVE Initiative: The initiative encourages staff to donate unwanted items. Since its operations in 2019, more than 92kg of clothing, shoes, handbags, and accessories have been given a second life, an equivalent of saving 18,400 litres of water.
  • Plastic Bottle Cap Collection:  The distribution of plastic bottle cap collection buckets around the school has led to the collection of approximately seven kilograms of plastic bottle caps which are delivered to Greenbatch, WA’s first PET plastic reprocessing facility. They will be used in producing filament for 3D printers for schools.
  • Tree Planting:  PRME and Sustainability Steering Committee continues to lead the school in behavioural change to combat climate change and sequester carbon through tree planting.

  In 2020, staff and students have planted 208 trees in Whiteman Park, Mundy Regional Park, Booyeembara Park, and ECU, to name a few. News article: Sustainability team introduced to combat carbon emissions and climate change.