quote Vox Bandicoot have made the enjoyment of this conference the best I think I’ve experienced in the world. Thoroughly engaging and with a great depth of understanding about sustainability and society.

John Elkington, London
The Father of Sustainability and inventor of the term “triple bottom line”

 

 

About Vox

Twenty One years ... from Her Majesty's Theatre ... to the Stock Exchange ... so to speak.

Vox Bandicoot was incorporated in August 1988, dedicated to ecological sustainabillity through the judicious mix of education, arts, science and common sense. Our environmental education mission is to foster a "locally self directed" nourishment and development of culture... in workplaces, communities, schools and beyond.

We, all of us, ARE the culture that has put unsustainable pressure on nature ... equally, we can instead become the culture which heals and lives in co-operation with nature. Yes we can!

Twenty one years ago, Vox began by creating community and educational theatre. We chose Theatre because we love it and we love the eventfulness and the excitment it can engender in a room. We also chose theatre because we are dedicated to educational engagement and empowerment. Surely, the deepest purpose of education. We work to be the" guide beside rather than the sage on stage", asking questions and fostering participation rather than "spooning the answers".

We also use theatre, among a suite of numerous high gain educational methods, in the context of our other non-performance and school related programs, for which we are equally well regarded. We are proud that we are able to work with audiences as diverse as children on the one hand, to captains of industry and cabinet ministers on t'other. We are nothing if not versatile and this diversity helps us to create a richer product.   An element of theatricality informs all of our work which is ultimately about achieving engagement and empowerment.

This is not to say we don’t know when to take things seriously! We understand that the focus of our work with you is the most important in human history, but we believe it is vital to approach it with humour, passion and optimism. These things are at the heart of what we do, whether it is through our corporate workplace training program SOSee, or our community sustainability training program ‘Sustainability Street; it’s a village out there!’

Workplace training & development for EMS compliance to ISO 14001, local community education & environmental action capacity building, as well as schools & community theatre in education, since 1988 that's who we are and what we do!

The challenge to build a sustainable relationship between us, the human species and the millions upon millions of other species, ecological communities, landforms and natural systems is, quite simply, the greatest of challenges to ever face us.

Bar none! In all of human history!

And, while on the one hand the journey to ecological sustainability will be "wickedly complex", on the other, it is not rocket surgery! We all know what pollution and waste looks like. The question is, how much are we willing to tolerate, bearing in mind that the only word to describe the opposite of ecological sustainability is unthinkable.

Vox Bandicoot is dedicated to the role of education as the cradle of the new culture which we can all feel growing around us every day. Ultimately a culture of deep resepect for the Earth, the only planet that sustains life ... think about that ... is what we are all working toward. A culture built on achieving ecological sustainability, through education, values clarification and change is the power that each individual, family, community or corporation has.

Apart from ultimately achieving clean air, soil and water there is an even deeper reward for us as humans and our humanity. In this fast, flourescent, material and materialistic modern age, characterised as it can be by fear, conflict and disappointment ... the profound reward for us which is inherent in living for life, the life of millions of other species, habitats and natural systems is deeply fullfilling. In the end we can not eat, drink or breathe money. What we can do is use money to "fund" imagination and maximum participation in the solutions because "no planet - no profit", "no ecology - no economy". It really is that simple.

Lastly, living environmentally is available to all of us! Some think the only way to be an "environmentalist" is to go to sea and dodge harpoons. Each of us is faced with dozens, scores, hundreds of EARTH DECISIONS every day, week and month. Each moment by moment choice feeds into building the ecological sustainability culture and lifestyle.

Enjoy!

According to that fabulous "born again greenie" Eileen Dover, Vox was first in Australia ... and remains unique in the world! Since 1988, Vox Bandicoot has personally, joyfully and meaningfully reached millions of people … and counting.

Vox Bandicoot began working on climate change and greenhouse gas pollution education in 1989. Our remit has since then included water, waste and energy conservation education ... all within the crucial, overarching context of the sublime beauty and preciousness of biological diversity.

Y'know, we can actually remove the excess carbon from the atmosphere. It is scientifically possible to revese climate change and thankfully we are on to it at last! However, what can never be done, despite the gushings of DNA cloning freaks, is return an extinct species, let alone a ravaged ecosystem or lost habitat. Only deep values clarification and culture change will provide a bulwark against biodiversity loss.

To shape values and culture, we strive to create maximum educational engagement, therefore self actualisation and personal/group transformation ... using cleverly written, funny theatre, captivating human scale yet serious workplace training, innovative web creation, community development, etc, etc, ...

Why etc? Over 21 years, having worked to tailor education, communication and training, etc, to meet the unique needs of so many clients has meant much originality. The result has been the creation of numerous approaches, styles, emphases, etc, etc, etc ... hense the etc thing. These days of course, every client benefits from the experience of having created for so many, many clients.

Eileen's husband, Stan Dover writes ... "Vox Bandicoot Pty Ltd is one of Australia’s leading environmental education companies, working with global corporations such as Ford, IBM, Bosch, all levels of government schools and communities. Vox Bandicoot environmental programs have touched hundreds of thousands of people throughout Australia and internationally.
Vox is unique in Australia and unique in the world. Both pedagogically and practically. Methods are exciting engaging and participatory. The thinking behind the programs has nourished literally hundreds of thousands of people!"

Vox Awards

Vox Bandicoot currently provides a range of environmental education services including:

SeeOS™ • Sustaining environmental/economic Opportunities & Solutions

The SeeOS™ Approach is, in essence, a sustainability focused organisational development program, which has delivered fantastic economic, social and environmental outcomes for a wide range of organisations, companies (Ford, Bosch, Australian Arrow, etc, etc, etc.), water authorities and many, many local government councils.

The SeeOS™ Approach uses a wide range of tried and proven culture change tools to positively engage workplace culture into the challenges of sustainability. The program is designed to foster a more holistic approach to environmental sustainability, rather than hearing the comment “that’s one for the environmental department” time after time. The SeeOS™ program is also a great way of re-energising your environmental programs, or launching a new plan, EMS (environment management system) or project.

Sustainability Street

The Sustainability Street® Approach is an innovative community development program, developed by Vox Bandicoot, which educates and engages community members in sustainable living practices and initiatives. Founding Sustainability Street® communities are now into their 3rd year and are about to mentor new groups in their neighbourhoods. In Victoria and NSW there are now than 30 Sustainability Street communities and the program is soon to be piloted in the United Kingdom. The majority of Sustainability Street® graduates report three things.

  1. The richness of new friendships and local connections.
  2. Up to 30% reductions in waste, water and energy/greenhouse.
  3. Participation in the creation extraordinary local projects such as community gardens,

Sustainability Street® Parties, local welcome packs, community sustainability festivals.
This program will be supervised by the Sustainability Street Institute Inc. in the near future. Please check out further info from www.sustainabilitystreet.org.au

Environmental Theatre

Vox Bandicoot create relevant, poignant, cutting edge, humorous eco-sustainability theatre presentation full of laughs, facts, interactive bits, tips and classic acting skills. What we are doing to our planet is chilling. Vox Bandicoot has developed a means of allowing people to both recognise this and move on to an appropriate response. We need to be inspired to improve, we need to laugh and relax and we need to know how to improve. Vox Bandicoot provides MC services, roving characters and theatre productions suitable for all events and situations, from festivals, to schools, to corporate functions. Vox Bandicoot have performed theatre pieces to at least 200 thousand people and performed to at least 200 thousand more as roving characters during festivals. Vox Bandicoot have developed 12 primary pieces of work including pieces such as The Last Shower, Circus Sustainable and Sideshow Sustainable. Over the years we have provided employment to over 100 artists.

Other Vox Bandicoot Services

Vox Bandicoot also develop and produce engaging environmental education kits (with X factor!), interpretation for visitor centres & museums and strategic environmental consulting.

If you would like further information on any of Vox Bandicoot services or programs contact us on 03 9416 1066, email info@voxbandicoot.com.au or take a look at our site.