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 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 behavior 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.

Tom Lang – Excursions Energy Education Coordinator

Tom grew up on a sheep farm, surrounded by animals, trees, and stars, but spent most of his time reading instead of working. He’s always had a passion for making stuff, learning things, and talking to people, but never quite managed to combine the three until he stumbled on the strange field of Science Communication. In hindsight, it was obvious. He spent 2011 travelling around Australia with Questacon’s Science Circus, and then returned to Melbourne to spend five years exploding things, making robots, and pointing at stars with Scienceworks, Primesci, and briefly, on a geological research ship. He joined CERES as Energy Education Coordinator in 2017, where he is kept busy fiddling with solar panels and buckets of coal. Outside of CERES he can be found designing boardgames and doing comedy shows.

Lauren Kaszubski Excursions Waste Programs Coordinator & Outreach Educator

It all started in Year 9 when Lauren heard the first-hand story of a woman living in the tree top of a Californian Redwood for 464 days in protest against the logging of local Redwood forests. It was the story that would inspire Lauren to start the first ever Environmental Awareness Group at her high school and go on to study Environmental Science & Management at the University of Newcastle. During her time of study Lauren started working casually in outdoor education programs and this soon ignited her passion to work with children and the environment at the same time. Now-a- days Lauren is all about worm poo, recycling & waste management, and local food systems. Lauren started volunteering at CERES in 2013 and soon after became one of the CERES Excursions casual teachers. As of late 2013 Lauren has been the Excursions Waste Programs Co-ordinator. With her passion and knowledge combined Lauren works towards providing students with creative hands-on learning experiences that they can carry with them throughout their day-to-day lives.

Darren Tinker Excursions Biodiversity Programs Coordinator

Darren has a passion for plants and the way people interact with the natural environment. Coming from a horticulture and geography background, he discovered his passion for education and engaging people through environmental education while working as an educator at La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary and also in his time as an Environmental Programs Assistant at a private college. Darren enjoys volunteering with humanitarian and environmental organisations, participates in community projects and has a keen interest in Permaculture. Outside of CERES he also works as a gardener with the Diggers Club.

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 will be issued upon completion of at least 75% of the course