Vegan Australia is excited to announce the launch of our new Vegan Education in Schools program, an initiative that seeks to provide accurate, comprehensive education focusing on veganism and the ethical relationship between humans and our fellow animals.
The initiative also aims to balance the inappropriate influence that the meat, dairy and egg industries exert over what is taught to our kids. Programs such as Dairy Australia's School Education Program, Meat & Livestock Australia's Good Meat Schools Program, Beef Australia's Schools Program and Australian Eggs' All About Eggs Program represent just a small part of a growing effort by the animal-using industries to promote their businesses in schools. These programs present a one-sided view, omitting the critical ethical, environmental and health impacts of animal agriculture.
Vegan Australia's new program goes beyond challenging these narratives - it is about empowering students to think critically and make informed, ethical decisions. We aim to:
Provide students with the tools to critically evaluate the messages presented by the meat, dairy and egg industries.
Promote ethical and sustainable vegan foods that align with the commonly held values of justice and environmental stewardship.
Foster an understanding of animal sentience and animal rights, including the ethical considerations for animals used for food, clothing, entertainment and other ways.
Raise awareness about the environmental impacts of land clearing and habitat loss, including the role of animal agriculture in driving deforestation and biodiversity decline.
Inspire a vision of coexistence, creating a world where human and non-human animals can share the planet in harmony.
To lead this groundbreaking initiative, we are proud to introduce Ric Allport as our Vegan Education in Schools program manager. Ric is an experienced animal rights activist, a vegan for over 20 years, and a former high school teacher. With his deep passion for educating young and old about veganism, animal rights and environmental sustainability, Ric brings the perfect blend of expertise and dedication to this initiative.
Education is one of the most powerful tools for shaping the future. For too long, programs created by industries that exploit animals have dominated classrooms, presenting biased perspectives while suppressing critical discussions about ethical and sustainable alternatives.
This program will challenge the status quo by:
Breaking down myths perpetuated by animal industry-funded programs.
Providing fact-based education about animals in all contexts, from their roles in ecosystems to their capacity for sentience and emotion.
Empowering students to address the environmental challenges of habitat destruction, climate change and resource depletion.
Promoting values of justice and sustainability, fostering a more ethical and responsible generation.
The program seeks to counter the dominance of animal industry narratives in schools by promoting fact-based, ethical, and sustainable education.
As this program develops, we will keep you updated on how you can support these efforts. There will be plenty of opportunities to get involved, from sharing resources to advocating for vegan education in your local schools.
If you are a teacher and would like to share your thoughts or learn more, we welcome you to get in touch with Ric Allport at [email protected].
We are in the initial phases of developing this program, with plans to trial lessons and materials in a few schools in early 2025, followed by a broader rollout later in the year. We will be creating engaging lesson plans, teacher resources and student activities that address topics like animal ethics, environmental sustainability and critical thinking about the messages students receive. The educational material will initially be developed for use in high schools.
Together, we can empower the next generation to make informed, ethical decisions that not only benefit themselves and the planet but also all its inhabitants.
Thank you for standing with us as we work to create a fairer and more sustainable future for all.
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