Banyule Loves...Connection!

Reconnect with yourself, others, and the natural world in this in-person workshop designed to inspire and support young people

This no-cost workshop is part of the new Banyule Loves...Workshop Series.

This workshop will be a reflective and interactive session for young people (ages 13-18) to utilise their imagination and to creatively connect with nature and other like-minded young people. Each participant will receive their own nature journal to take home.

The workshop will be a place young people can share feelings about the climate crisis to whatever degree is comfortable, but please note it is not a clinical or therapy space.

In this workshop, young people will:

create a handicraft collage with natural materials
reflect and deepen their personal connection with nature
connect with each other
find inspiration for taking personal action

This workshop is hosted by the Banyule City Council Environment Team and Youth Team. It will be facilitated by Psychology for a Safe Climate, a not-for-profit organisation founded in 2010 in Melbourne, Australia, to foster emotional engagement with climate change. They aim to build people’s capacity to respond constructively to climate change by promoting and strengthening mental health and wellbeing.

This event is for young people aged 13-18, and no prior experience is needed. Young people will be grouped into age-appropriate groups during shared activities and will be supervised by Council staff who have Working With Children Checks.

Afternoon tea will be provided, so please note dietary needs during registration.

What to expect:

Set the vibe - Establish group agreements and check in with a moment of connection.
Dive into Climate Emotions – Explore eco-anxiety and climate grief in a supportive space.
Reflective Wander & Object Collection - Take a mindful stroll, find a natural object that speaks to you, and bring it back for an art piece.
Collage & Drawing - Channel your climate emotions into a shared creative practice.
The Web of Life – Engage in an interactive outdoor game that reveals our deep connections to each other and the planet.
Reflections & Next Steps – What insight or action will you carry forward from today?

Leave feeling inspired, connected, and empowered!

General notes:

We will be outdoors and under a shelter at times so please dress for the weather and bring sun protection.
Please bring your own drink bottle and/or coffee or tea cup. We have limited dishware at our venues.
If you're unwell on the day, please stay home to protect others.
Banyule is hosting this event upon request from community feedback about young people and climate anxiety and by request from young people at the 2023 and 2025 Youth Summits.

Location and Accessibility notes:

Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary is located on La Trobe University's Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus. Access for all visitors and nursery customers is via La Trobe Avenue (near the roundabout on Main Drive, opposite Car Park 8). This is an outdoor space with a woodchip path. For specific accessibility considerations, please contact the sanctuary at (03) 9479 1206.

Some accessibility considerations include:

Animals, with the exception of assistance dogs, are prohibited from the the Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary.
You do not need to notify anyone of your visit however, while in the Sanctuary, handlers are required to carry evidence that the dog is an assistance dog. Please visit Nagak Tamboree's website for more information on service animals.

The Banyule Loves...Workshop Series explores the lost art of sustainable, climate-resilient living. The series celebrates the things about Banyule which our community loves- from gardening to connecting to Country to saving money on our energy bills. These workshops will upskill community members while connecting participants to like-minded neighbours. Attendees are entered in a drawing for a prize for participating in each workshop, with the drawing held at the annual wrap-up celebration and showcase event in November. Each attendee will receive a certification of completion for the workshops they attend.

This workshop takes place during the Kulin season of Poorneet Tadpole. Days are longer and nights are shorter, there are rising temperatures and continued rainfall. Poorneet lasts from late August through to October though it could start earlier or later depending on certain signs. In the air you’ll hear Currawongs warbling loudly, sometimes joining the afternoon choruses of Magpies. In rivers and shallow lagoons Growling Grass Ngarrert (Frogs) are busy laying their eggs in foamy rafts among the Reeds and Water ribbons, soon to hatch into tiny Poornett (tadpoles).

Banyule City Council is proud to acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as traditional custodians of the land and we pay respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, past, present and emerging, who have resided in the area and have been an integral part of the region's history.

Our community is made up of diverse cultures, beliefs, abilities, bodies, sexualities, ages and genders. We are committed to access, equity, participation and rights for everyone: principles which empower, foster harmony and increase the wellbeing of an inclusive community.

Banyule Loves...Connection!Reconnect with yourself, others, and the natural world in this in-person workshop designed to inspire and support young people

Banyule Loves...Connection!

Reconnect with yourself, others, and the natural world in this in-person workshop designed to inspire and support young people