CERES is celebrating its 40th year of educating students and the community about the environment and cultural perspectives.

This course has been designed for people interested in creating change for sustainability through education and communication using hope and not fear. Our experienced educators and industry mentors will take you through experiential approaches to environmental education and effective ways to take action for the earth. The learner will gain knowledge and practical techniques on how to connect to learner's hearts and create their own inspiring learning experiences. Be inspired by our new learning innovation strategy, diverse programs, approach to measuring our impact, and demonstration landscape.

This eight-week course explores different approaches to environmental education through different topic areas such as:

Connecting, Sharing Knowledge and Building Skills
Learning from Traditional Knowledge and Indigenous Perspectives
Energy, Climate Change, Renewables and Advocacy
Circular Economy and ZERO Waste
Nature Connection, Biodiversity, and Regenerative Food Systems
Water Use and Quality, and Urban Design
System Change, Behaviour Change, and Community Engagement
Industry Practice, Pathways, and Stories

Each session has been crafted to involve the learner in the topic. Participants will have the opportunity to invent, practice, and play with the topics they have learned.

This course runs from Friday 26th August to Friday 21st October 2022 10am to 4pm

*Subject to Government restrictions, this course may be delivered either in person or online.

Course length and content

8 sessions > 10am – 4pm

Sessions 1 – 6 have been designed for special interest, individual PD days for teachers who can’t commit to the full short course. Cost is $120 per person, per session. Refer to the Course content below for session links to more information and booking options.

Session 1 – Heart Connections and Traditional Wisdom

Part A – Connecting, Sharing Knowledge and Building Skills

Part B – Learning from Traditional Knowledge

Session 2 – ZERO Waste and Circular Systems

Session 3 – Energy, Climate Change, Renewables and Advocacy

Session 4 – Nature Connection, Biodiversity & Sustainable Food Systems

Session 5 – Water Use and Quality, and Urban Design

Session 6 – System Change, Behaviour Change and Community Engagement

Session 7 – Industry Practice, Pathways, and Stories

Session 8 – Graduation and Presentation Day

** A certificate of participation will be issued upon completion of at least 75% of the course

* This is an ACFE Approved Pre-accredited Course where the cost is subsidised for eligible participants.

ACFE Eligible participants are deemed eligible through an interview process with our career pathways officer. The costs for these participants is TBC

Contact Karen Mengell on 9389 0127 or karen.mengell@ceres.org.au for more information and to book an interview.

Trainer Bio's

Lorna Pettifer CERES Learning Innovation Director

Lorna has been working in environmental education and presenting to community groups on sustainability for many years. At CERES Lorna passionately directs CERES education and training programs. She also has a strategic focus on environmental management and innovation projects at CERES. She is passionate about deepening our response to the ecological and climate crisis through CERES learning experiences. Her background in sustainability stems from ecology and zoology and has broadened to community engagement, environmental management, behaviour change and farm and food programs. Lorna has worked with community groups, schools and individuals. Her work has supported teachers, students, households and organisations in sustainability management and behaviour change. As an environmental advocate, she has worked in National Parks, Environmental Consultancies, Universities, NGOs and Wildlife reserves as a conservationist, educator, tour guide, bush regenerator, GIS Consultant, environmental modeller and researcher. Lorna proudly received the Environmental & Sustainability Educator of the Year for Victoria in 2018 from EEV and Australian Environmental Educator of the Year 2019 from AAEE.

Adrian Black Program Coordinator and Educator

Growing up in the Macedon Ranges, Adrian has always had a deep love of nature and the outdoors. Long walks in the bush and grassland on his family 6.5 acres property gave Adrian the opportunity to explore all of the mysteries and marvels that nature has to offer, particularly the local wildlife and fauna.

After completing a Bachelor of Performing Arts and Monash University, and designing for a number of theatre productions across Melbourne, Adrian was yearning to have his connection to nature as part of his career. Along with his childhood friend, Adrian started his own mobile education business – Wildlife Gone Walkabout; an interactive travelling zoo, educating students and adults about Australian wildlife conservation. For 6 years, Adrian traveled across Victorian fostering a deep connection to Australia’s fauna as a wildlife presenter and educator.

Due to COVID, Adrian was forced to close his business and continue his love of sustainable and environmental education elsewhere. Finding the inner city paradise of CERES, Adrian now coordinates the Caring for Climate and Change program as part of the School of Nature and Climate, sharing his values and love of the environment with the students who visit. As a passionate climate activist, Adrian knows that educating young people is one of the best solutions to solve the climate crisis, and create a sustainable and equitable future.

Chloe Horner CERES Excursions and Incursions School Programs Manager.

Chloe grew up in the Otways, riding horses, climbing trees and racing her brother on billy carts. She has been working in the environmental education industry for over 9 years. She has passionately managed, designed and delivered a range of environmental education programs, for local government, in partnership with industry leaders and community groups. Her work has supported sustainability initiatives and outcomes within Council, schools, early learning centres, apartments and community groups. Chloe loves to work collaboratively, which is recognised in winning the 2018 Keep Victoria Beautiful, Sustainable Cities Award in Community Government Partnership. She has tertiary qualifications in environmental sustainability, horticulture and education. Chloe loves to work on community projects and is on Committee of Management for Collingwood Children’s Farm. She’s excited to be a part of the CERES network and continue to do what she loves – connecting people to community and the natural environment.

Subik Baso Cultural Program Coordinator and Educator

Subik graduated from Bachelor of Agriculture where he learned about the application of Green Revolution methods on farming practices in Indonesia. Soon after graduation, Subik was asked to be involved in a Composting Project funded by the Canadian Government. It was a program that looked into a potential natural fertilizer in the farming industry as well as the production and the trial of the product in several areas in Makassar South Sulawesi. This involvement lead Subik to a very different path from what he learned in University. Subik then worked for a research company Operation Wallacea (Opwall) based in the UK before moving to Australia. Living in Australia enhanced Subik’s passion for the environment by working in a native nursery, as well as helping several friends to re-vegetate
a depleted property into a beautiful native garden. Working at CERES gives Subik a great chance to learn in the broader context of the environment and social justice whilst continuing his passion… gardening.

Photos/Recordings of the event and attendees

During events, photographs or recordings may be taken and by attending, you consent to be photographed or recorded and having your photos or recordings used for CERES promotional purposes only. Please speak to the event presenter should you wish to be excluded.

Contact the host of Environmental Education - INSPIRE CHANGE (8 sessions)