Environmental Education (8 session course)

This course will take place online. Participants will be sent Zoom details prior to course start.

This course has been designed for people interested in creating change for sustainability through education and communication. CERES has been in the business of educating students and the community in sustainability for over 30 years. Our experienced educators will take you through experiential approaches to environmental education and effective ways to change behaviours and take action for sustainability. The learner will gain theoretical knowledge and practical techniques to create immersive learning experiences. The course will cover resource use, environmental management, behaviour change and community engagement. Be inspired by our existing programs and demonstration landscape. CERES educators and industry mentors will share their experiences educating and communicating to students, teachers, organisations and community members how to reduce their impact on the earth.

This eight week course explores different approaches to environmental education through 5 key areas of sustainability:

• Water Use and Quality
• Energy Use, Climate Change and Renewables
• Waste Reduction and Organic Recycling
• Biodiversity and Sustainable Food Systems
• People, Behaviour Change and Community Engagement

Each session has been crafted to involve the learner in the topic. Participants will have the opportunity to workshop and practice what they have learnt.

Sessions 2 – 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 outline for more information and links.

* 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 are $65 – ACFE Information and Eligibility

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 – Learning Innovation Director

Lorna Pettifer has been working in environmental education and presenting to community groups on sustainability for many years. At CERES Lorna is the Learning Innovation Director. She is passionate about deepening our response to the ecological and climate crisis through the CERES School of Nature and Climate. 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. 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 modeler and researcher. Lorna proudly received the Environmental & Sustainability Educator of the Year for Victoria in 2018 from EEV and the 2019 Australian Environmental Educator of the Year awarded by AAEE. 

Lauren Kaszubski Excursions Waste Programs Coordinator & Outreach Educator

Growing up in New York State, Lauren formed a deep connection with her natural world playing in the snow and truly connecting with the phrase, “there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices”. Later, as a young adult, Lauren heard the first-hand story of a woman living in a Californian Redwood, protesting against the logging of local forests. It was these experiences that inspired Lauren to study Environmental Science & Management at the University of Newcastle some years later. During her time of study, Lauren started working with students in outdoor education programs, further igniting her passion to work with and for our environment alongside her new community in Australia. Since 2013, Lauren can be found at CERES as the Waste & Early Years Schools Program Coordinator – helping students learn about compost, recycling and waste management, local food systems, and fostering a deep connection with our natural world. As of 2018, Lauren is the organizer and facilitator of the CERES Nature Playgroup, helping children connect with and for their local environment and community. Lauren is also a presenter and facilitator for Adult Training courses; Environmental Education and Circular Economy & Zero Waste. With her knowledge and experience combined Lauren passionately works towards providing learners of all ages with creative and meaningful learning experiences that they can carry with them throughout their day-to-day lives, cultivating a deeper connection with Earth and each other.

Darren Tinker Excursions Biodiversity Programs Coordinator

Darren originally comes from country Victoria, where he grew up on a small farm and spent he’s spare time exploring local bushlands. Fulfilling the role as CERES Biodiversity Programs Coordinator, Darren is passionate educator with a sincere interest in all things CERES and the wonderful people that make up our community. Darren has a keen interest in plants and the way people interact with the natural environment, he has a background in geography, land management and horticulture, and applied his skills to environmental projects locally and abroad, gaining a deep understanding of the local and global climate challenges we’re facing. Darren loves being a part of CERES and contributing to the role we play in helping us all to fall in love with the earth again. Outside of CERES, Darren enjoys many activities that get him outdoors, particularly gardening, bike rides and hiking.

Tom Kelly - Student Enviro. Leadership  (SELP) Coordinator
Tom grew up in Bendigo and studied Outdoor and Environmental Education at Federation University in Ballarat and fell in love with everything the natural world has to offer. Through spending time with young people in the Australian bush hiking, mountain bike riding, paddling and rock climbing, Tom explored and shared his deep connection. Through this he recognised the importance for local connection, care and activism and what better place to do that than with CERES. Now as the Coordinator of SELP he has the opportunity to share all of this with the amazing young people and the people who support them as he travels around regional Victoria!

Course length

8 sessions > 10am – 4pm

Sessions:

This eight week course explores different approaches to environmental education:

Session 1 – Introduction to Education for Sustainability

Session 2 – Waste, Organic Recycling and Life Cycle Analysis

Session 3 – Energy Use, Climate Change and Renewable Energy

Session 4  – Biodiversity & Sustainable Food Systems

Session 5 – Water Use, Quality and Sensitive Urban Design

Session 6 – People, Behaviour Change and Community Engagement

Session 7 – Meet your Mentor Day

Session 8 – Graduation and Presentation Day

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