This online session will take a close look at those buzzing beauties, bees, in a learning context! Whether you're interested in how kids can learn about bees in the classroom to having your very own bee team, listen in and get your questions ready!

We have Holly Hale from Holly's Backyard Bees joining us to chat about her classroom programs as well as Jo Menzies from Whitefriers College who recently got approved with her bee club to keep bees on site.

Session Details

Date: Wednesday 29th July
Time: 6:00pm to 7:00pm
Platform: Zoom - meeting format with microphones and video's off
Cost: Free

REGISTER NOW

Now in its 5th year, we've moved EASL's 'Learning for Sustainability Conference' to term 1 so you can get inspired for all things sustainability in 2020. It's a great opportunity to connect with like-minded people, hear from experts in the field, gain contacts and ideas to take back to your classroom, all while enjoying local food in a beautiful setting. 

We are excited to welcome Damon Gameau, Australian actor and director, as our keynote speaker for the 2020 LfS Conference. Damon’s newest film, 2040, is an innovative, feature length documentary that explores what the future would look like by the year 2040 if we embraced the best solutions already available to us to improve our planet. You can watch the trailer for the film here. We will join the journey with Damon to see what embracing change can achieve.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Tuesday 21st May
Venue: Box Hill Institute, Lilydale Lakeside
Time: 8:30am to 3:00pm
Cost: $40 Early Bird for a local ticket

BOOK NOW

More information about the event is available through the full conference page.

The "Healthy Rivers, Healthy Bay" initiative is a collaboration between PrimeSCI! and EEK! (Environmental Education for Kids). This initiative aims to raise community awareness of the health of two major catchments (Yarra and Dandenong) feeding into Port Phillip Bay. We are funded by DELWP through the Port Phillip Bay Fund, allowing us to work with many schools, teachers, and environmental groups across the Yarra and Dandenong Catchments over the next two years.

Date: Wednesday 16th October
Time: 4:30pm to 6:30pm
Venue: Blackburn Lake Sanctuary Information Centre, 95 Central Road, Blackburn, 3130
Cost: Free for local tickets, $10.00 for external tickets
Bookings: Through eventbrite

Join us, to help gain an understanding of your local environment and waterways. During this session you will:

• Discover how we are all a part of a greater catchment;
• Learn how our activities impact the catchment and ultimately Port Phillip Bay;
• Learn about Water Quality Testing (River Detectives based);
• See how water quality testing can be used in your classroom to gain an understanding of your local creek or river. What do the results mean? Why do we test?
• Look at issues of litter and pollution and learn to record this data on site at school;
• Learn about the many amazing macroninvertebrates that live in our creeks and rivers, sampling methods and recording data - how these results can be used to numerically represent the 'health' of the waterway;
• Understand the different results of creeks and rivers versus wetlands and if there is a difference between urban and rural waterways.

Educational Materials will be provided at and after the session.

What to bring:

• Your wonderful self;
• Healthy Waterway questions that you need answered;
• An apetite for sustainable learning!

To be eligible for this event you must live or work within one of the five EASL partner councils (Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges). This event will count towards your professional development hours, with all attendees receiving a certificate of participation by email after the day.

Afternoon tea will be provided as part of this event from 4pm onwards.

See you there!

Book Now!

Do you have chooks at your school or early learning centre?

Do you want to have chooks at your school or early learning centre?

Come down to this session to see chook keeping in action and hear from our expert at Chooktopia about the best ways to keep chickens in an educational setting.

You will also have the opportunity to hear from Oxley Christian College on their Chooks4Charity program that students set up as part of EASL's pilot Student Leadership Program. 

Date: Tuesday 3rd September
Time: 4:30pm to 6:30pm
Venue: Oxley Christian College, 15-49 Old Melbourne Road, Chirnside Park, VIC 3116
Cost: Free for local tickets, $10.00 for external tickets

What to bring:

• Your wonderful self;
• Questions that you would like answered about chook keeping
• An apetite for sustainable learning

To be eligible for this event you must live or work within one of the five EASL partner councils (Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges). This event will count towards your professional development hours, with all attendees receiving a certificate of participation by email after the day.

Afternoon tea will be provided as part of this event from 4pm onwards.

See you there!

Book Now!

Now in its 4th year, EASL's 'Learning for Sustainability Conference' is a great opportunity to connect with like-minded people, hear from experts in the field, gain contacts and ideas to take back to your classroom, all while enjoying local food in a beautiful setting. 

Date: Tuesday 21st May
Venue: Box Hill Institute, Lilydale Lakeside
Time: 8:30am to 3:00pm
Cost: $50 for a local ticket

Book Now

More information about the event is available through the full conference page: http://easl.com.au/activities/2019-learning-for-sustainability-conference

LEARNING LANDSCAPES - a highly interactive workshop for educators interested in the opportunities for moving student learning outdoors. 

Designed with an emphasis on teamwork and staff participation - this session will provide inspiration, information, and resources to support you as educators - certainly one not to be missed!

Facilitator Ellen Regos is the Team Leader for the School Food Gardens Program at Cultivating Community and has worked for 25 years as a teacher and educator in sustainability.

This workshop will provide educators with concrete ways to utilise green space as a place for learning, a place to grow plants, collect loose parts and help children and students develop a relationship with the outdoors. This workshop will cover a broad range of subject matter that can be tailored to your unique needs including ways to embed this learning style and enhance links to the curriculum.

Session Outcomes:

• identify pros and cons of teaching outdoors
• understanding the benefits for students
• practical ways in which an outdoor classroom can be utilised by all teachers at any year level
• Resources to assist staff in transitioning to teaching outdoors

 Details:

• Wednesday March 6th 2019
• 4:30pm - 6.30pm (arrival from 4pm)
• Currawong Bush Park - Reynolds Rd Doncaster East
• Don't forget to register and lock in your place at this session! 

Afternoon tea will be provided from 4pm.

This session will mostly be held outside of the conference centre so please dress appropriately. In the event of harsh weather conditions the session will be moved inside.

Each participant will receive a certificate of completion to count towards your professional development hours.

This event is subsidised by the Eastern Alliance for Sustainable Learning (EASL) member councils to ensure the EASL program remains an accessible professional development opportunity for all. As such, participants must either work or live in one of the following:

• Knox City Council
• Maroondah City Council
• City of Whitehorse
• Manningham Council
• Yarra Ranges Council

Should you not work or live in one of these councils and still wish to attend please contact the EASL coordinator on info@easl.com.au for more options. 

EASL - Backyard Birds, Aboriginal Seasons & Networking Event

Have you wondered why some things are recyclable and others are not?
Are you curious about how recycling is sorted?
Do you want to know how to recycle items that can't go into the recycling bin?

Join us for this full day professional development session which will take you through different waste facilities within Melbourne's east. We will be visiting different types of recycling and waste centres as well as detailing the recycling programs in place within each EASL municipality.

This will be a jam-packed day looking at what happens with our waste when it goes in the bin.

A bus will be organised to take attendees to all locations on the day. This will leave from a central location with accessible transport and parking for attendees. More details about the centres we will be visiting and pick-up will be announced in 2018.

Morning tea and lunch is provided as part of this event. 
All attendees will receive a certificate of participation by email after the event.

Bookings close 6pm, Wednesday 25th July

Attendees must live or work within the EASL region to attend this event. 

Date: Tuesday 31st July
Time: 8:45am to 4:30pm
Venue: Leaving from Walker Park, corner Maroondah Hwy and Dunlavin Rd
Cost: $38.00
Bookings: Through Eventbrite

Places are limited, click here to book now!

Join us for a PD session exploring strategies to use when incorporating sustainability into the curriculum. The session will be broken up into different age groups with separate speakers presenting on processes and approaches specific for schools and early learning services.

This Professional Development session will open with afternoon tea and a short networking activity, giving educators the opportunity to meet likeminded people from the EASL region.

Afternoon tea is provided at this event. Attendees will receive a certificate of participation by email after the event.

Date: Wednesday 23rd May 
Time: 4:15pm to 6:00pm
Venue: MC2, 687 Doncaster Rd | Doncaster, VIC 3108 | Australia
Cost: Free!
Bookings: Through Eventbrite

Places are limited, click here to book now!

It can be challenging to plan a native garden within an educational environment. There are many elements that go into a successful garden, including:

• Choosing the right plants to get the garden established
• Selecting plants that can be used as bush foods
• Deciding how the garden fits into the future maintenance of the surrounding buildings
• Working out how many plants are needed and where these can be sourced

Join us for a PD session exploring how to best plan and manage a native garden within an educational setting. There will be information on local nurseries that educators can access and specific council resources that can be useful when developing a native garden. Experiences and ideas will be shared on how to include students in this process and improve the overall success of the garden.

This Professional Development session will open with afternoon tea and a short networking activity, giving educators the opportunity to meet likeminded people from the EASL region.

Afternoon tea is provided at this event. Attendees will receive a certificate of participation by email after the event.

Date: Wednesday 7th March 
Time: 4:15pm to 6:00pm
Venue: Knox Park Primary School, Crn Watersedge Cl and Kathryn Rd, Knoxfield
Cost: Free!
Bookings: Through Eventbrite

Places are limited, click here to book now!

This information session is being held to share details of the pilot student program that EASL is organising for 2018. It is hoped that schools interested in participating in the Learning for a Sustainable Future program will attend to find out more about the program and what is involved if they decide to participate. 

This session will outline the purpose and intended outcomes of the program, how schools can get involved as well as what their involvement means.  

To find out more about this exciting program, book here. 

PLEASE NOTE: BOOKINGS CLOSE 6pm, Friday 9th February 

Throughout  2016 it became clear that food waste processing is a challenging project for many within the educational space. In Term 3, EASL is coordinating a Professional Development session on food waste and composting / worm farming in a school setting to provide some guidance and hopefully assistance to those with systems in place or those looking to set systems up.

DOOR PRIZE
ALL ATTENDEES WILL GO IN THE DRAW TO WIN A WORM FARM!

With Kate Caldecott
Wednesday 8 March 2017, 4.30 – 6.30pm
Vermont Primary School
Afternoon tea provided

Free Event. Bookings required

Are you looking to raise money for your school, early years centre or other education provider?

Exploring opportunities to apply for grant funding?

Wondering how to write a grant application with the best chance of success?

Join us for this Professional Development session with grants guru Kate Caldecott where she will share with us her top tips for producing a successful grant application.

A founding member of Our Community, Kate Caldecott is the former Executive Director of the Australia Institute of Grants Management and was one of the driving forces behind the development of SmartyGrants, Australia’s most widely used, electronic grants management system. In 2014 she founded Kate Caldecott & Associates, offering training and technical assistance to grantmaking organisations. She continues to work with Our Community as a Strategic Partnership Advisor.

Not only is Kate a grants guru, she is also a parent of school age children who has had enormous success raising funds for her children’s school.

For further information on Kate Caldecott visit: http://katecaldecott.com.au/

This PD session is for education community members (staff, parents, volunteers) within the EASL Region (Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges Councils).

To register to attend, CLICK HERE

With Maria Ciavarella from My Green Garden
Wednesday 17 August 2016, 4.30 – 6.30pm
Croydon area TBC
Afternoon tea provided

Free Event. Bookings required

Nothing motivates more than success and for continued success in a productive garden, there are some essential steps you need to take throughout the growing year.

As educators, keeping on top of everything in and out of the classroom can be overwhelming, so in this workshop we look at simple steps to take better control of what happens outside in the garden, some fun activities to get your students actively involved; and help you understand the seasonal nature of a great garden.

This PD session is for education community members (staff, parents, volunteers) within the EASL Region (Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges Councils).

To register to attend, CLICK HERE

With GP Doctor Dimity Williams and Lucy Menzies
Wednesday 1 June 2016, 4.30 – 6.30pm
Federation Estate, Ringwood
Afternoon tea provided

Free Event. Bookings required

This PD session is for Education community members (staff, parents, volunteers  within the EASL Region (Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges Councils). The session aims to increase your understanding and awareness of the impact of Green Time (time in nature and natural environments) versus Screen Time for children and teenagers, along with providing you with some practical examples that you can take away and use.

Thursday, 13 August 2015, 4:15 PM to 6:00 PM
Blackburn Lake Sanctuary Visitor Centre 80 Central Road, Blackburn

Free Event. Bookings required

This PD session was for Primary and Secondary School community members (teachers, parents, volunteers and support staff) within the EASL Region (Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges Councils). The session aimed to increase your understanding and awareness of local Climate Change impacts and how you can integrate action on Climate Change into your school community. We hear from David Karoly, Professor of Atmospheric Science in the School of Earth Sciences and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science at the University of Melbourne and April Seymore, Chief Executive Officer from Port Phillip Eco-Centre.

A session looking at the big picture of travelling actively, what it could mean for your school community and the support available locally.

A range of resources will be made available after the session, including an active travel calendar and connections to further programs such as those run by VicHealth and the RACV. 

Teachers will receive a certificate towards their VIT professional development requirements.

Details:

Wednesday 9th September
4:00pm to 5:00pm
Online

REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN

The Learning for Sustainability Conference is an annual event that offers professional development and networking opportunities for early years, school and community members interested in learning about sustainability.

Featuring a keynote address from Dr Karl, the 2021 the day will motivate and inspire all who attend. Join us for a workshop, hear from education for sustainability providers and listen to a panel discuss local and global sustainability issues. It's a great opportunity for attendees to connect with like-minded people, hear from experts in the field and gain ideas to take back the classroom.

Due to COVID-19, organisers have committed to delivering the 2021 event online. The day has been structured to best enable attendees to connect and engage with presenters and activities through the virtual environment.

You can purchase a ticket to attend specific elements of the day, such as the keynote or a workshop session or if you want to attend the full event, buy a full day pass at a discounted rate. 

Tickets*

Full Day Pass (Keynote, Workshop, Panel & Expo)
Full $28 | Tertiary Student $10
BOOK HERE

Keynote Address, Expo & Panel - 9:00AM Start
Full $17 | Tertiary Student $7
BOOK HERE

Workshop Session - 11:00AM-12:00PM
Full $17 | Tertiary Student $7
BOOK HERE

Each ticket will receive a unique link tied to your ticket information. The link will only work for a single user, so sharing it might mean you miss out! Attendees will only be able to attend one workshop on the day but all session materials will be accessible to workshop and day pass ticket holders after the event.

*When you book your ticket you should receive a confirmation email. If you have booked and not received this, please get in contact as some emails have blocked the ticketing service. You will receive a link to each component 24hours ahead of the conference.

View Conference Program

For ticket enquiries call 1300 368 333.

There will be a limited number of hardship tickets available which will be issued on a case by case basis. If you want to discuss accessing this service, please send an email to info@easl.com.au or call 9294 6841. 

Keynote Address

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki just loves Science to Pieces. His media career spans more than 30 years, talking about Science in radio, TV, podcasts, newspapers, and books – 45 to date with more on the way.

In 2019 the United Nations awarded Dr Karl the UNESCO Kalinga Prize for the Popularisation of Science. The prize is global recognition of Dr Karl’s gift for communication. He is the first Australian to win the prize.

A lifetime student, Dr Karl has degrees in Physics and Mathematics, Biomedical Engineering, Medicine and Surgery. He has worked as a physicist, labourer, roadie for bands, car mechanic, filmmaker, biomedical engineer, TV weatherman, and medical doctor at The Children’s Hospital in Sydney. Since 1995, he has been the Julius Sumner Miller Fellow at the University of Sydney, where his ‘mission’ is to spread the good word about science and its benefits.

We will look forward to hearing Dr Karl speak about sustainability, community, climate change and most importantly, hope. 

Workshop Sessions

Workshops at the 2021 Conference will include (more on the way!):

• Jess Brien from the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation presenting on “Kitchen garden programs for early childhood services” (Audience: Early Years)
• Nicole Talarico from Talarico Consulting presenting on “Creating sustainable culture within early learning facilities” (Audience: Early Years)
• Lisa Moloney from Reconciliation Victoria presenting on “Heal Country, Heal the Nation - Exploring the 2021 NAIDOC Theme” (Audience: Early Years through to Secondary Years)
• Peter Preuss from Woori Yallock Farm School presenting on "Teaching about Biodiversity and local Aboriginal history" (Audience: Schools)
• Ben Howes and Dr Duncan Symons from Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots and The University of Melbourne presenting on “Integrated STEM: Exploring Gardens as Living Classrooms” (Audience: Primary Years)
• Bronwyn Sutton from Deakin University presenting on “How we stay engaged and inspired to keep doing our work as sustainability leaders/educators” (All Audiences)

There will be dedicated sessions for Early Years, Primary-Age and Secondary-Age Educators on integrating sustainability into classroom, curriculum, culture and community.

Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances the '7 Ways to Be the Change' Workshop has been cancelled. We apologise for any disapointment this may cause. 

A separate selection process will be set-up to register workshop preferences ahead of the conference day. 

Stay tuned for further conference details as they are announced. 

The event is subsidised by member council's to ensure the event remains accessible to all educators within the region. Attendees will receive a certificate meeting professional development requirements set by VIT registration.

2021 Learning for Sustainability Conference

The Learning for Sustainability Conference is an annual event that offers professional development and networking opportunities for early years, school and community members interested in living and acting more sustainability.

Featuring a keynote address from Dr Karl, the 2021 the day will motivate and inspire all who attend. Join us for a workshop, hear from education for sustainability providers and listen to a panel discuss local and global sustainability issues. It's a great opportunity for attendees to connect with like-minded people, hear from experts in the field and gain ideas to take back the classroom.

The live streamed and interactive event is structured to enable attendees to connect and engage with presenters and activities over the course of the entire conference. 

The event is subsidised by member council's to ensure the event remains accessible to all educators within the region. 

 2020 Conference

We welcomed Damon Gameau, Australian actor and director, as our keynote speaker for the 2020 LfS Conference. He took attendees on an inspirational journey of discovery and detailed opportunities for change locally and more broadly. Damon’s newest film, 2040, is an innovative, feature length documentary that explores what the future would look like by the year 2040 if we embraced the best solutions already available to us to improve our planet. You can watch the trailer for the film here. 

Our afternoon Master Class focused on the challenges of behaviour change and food waste in schools and early years facilities. Mark Boulet, from BehaviourWorks Australia at the Monash Sustainable Development Institute, talked through their applied behaviour change approach and how it could help attendees understand what makes humans tick and how this can help them create positive change (especially for food waste in schools and early years services).

If you attended the 2020 Conference but did not receive access to the session summarise from the day, please contact the EASL Coordinator at info@easl.com.au. 

2019 Conference Highlights

 Testimonials