Establishing and sustaining school gardens in secondary education - VCE VM, VPC, and VET pathways. (30 Apr 2026)

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Establishing and sustaining school gardens in secondary education.

(VCE VM, VPC, and VET pathways)

Facilitated by:

Jak Dunstan (Footscray High School),

Brian Daniells (Bundoora Secondary College),

Jodie Calwell and Mark Pullin (Veg Education),

Tania Karamitos and Craig Taberner (Victorian Schools Garden Program and Nursery Garden Industry Victoria).

Catering for this event is sourced from the ASRC, supplemented by paddock to plate pizzas provided by Footscray High School

Workshop outline:

We are delighted to be collaborating with Jak Dunstan, an educator in the Environment and Sustainability department at Footscray High School, Kinnear Campus (Years 10–12).

This workshop will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 'The Farm,' an award-winning garden program on a one-acre space nestled within the school.

The core objective of this PD is to provide schools with the foundational knowledge and practical advice they need to develop, sustain, and integrate a garden into the secondary curriculum, including VCE VM, VPC, and VET pathways. We recognise that many schools have the space and interest but often lack guidance on development, maintenance, and sourcing ongoing support.

The full day PD will be made up of four interactive sessions:

1. Jak Dunstan ‘The Farm’

Urban farming how it works (curriculum and practical application)

2. Brian Daniells - ‘Greenwood Farm’ and Veg Education (RTO)

Applied learning and community partnerships

3. Victorian Schools Garden Program and Nursery Garden Industry Victoria

Grants, Awards, Branch Out Program

4. Reflection and where to from now…

Presenter bios and workshops outline.docx

Who should attend:

This full day interactive workshop is highly recommended for any educator interesting in starting, sustaining and/or expanding a School Garden embedding it within the VPC, VCE VM, or relevant VET Certificates

Please note: There are limited numbers for this workshop, so please get your registrations in early to avoid disappointment.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Registration includes morning tea and lunch.

You will receive a certificate of attendance post event.

The program is subject to change without notice

Cheers to 21 Years - from our classrooms to yours - VALA 2026 Conference (7 Aug 2026)

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Friday August 7 – Ridges Hotel Melbourne

Expression of Interest to Present

Member super early bird open now

Confirmed presenters to date

Welcome to the 2026 Applied Learning Conference, the premier event for educators, stakeholders, and exhibitors passionate about the Victorian Certificate of Education Vocational Major (VCE VM) and the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC). with 35 workshops to choose from, this conference is designed to bring together like-minded professionals, fostering collaboration, innovation, and the sharing of best practices in applied learning.

For over 21 years, VALA has supported educators by translating curriculum into meaningful, integrated classroom applications, advocating for applied learning, and promoting its value at all levels of government. This year’s event continues that legacy, providing an exceptional opportunity to explore new strategies, engage with leading experts, and connect with a vibrant community committed to enhancing learning experiences for students.

Join us as we celebrate the achievements of applied learning, showcase practical innovations, and inspire the next generation of educators and learners. The 2026 Applied Learning Conference promises to be an enriching experience that equips you with the tools, insights, and connections to make a tangible impact in your classrooms and beyond.

WARNING:

Participants may leave the conference experiencing joy, possibly euphoria after connecting with like minded educators, inspired, re-energised and equipped with the knowledge and passion to bring the days learnings into their classrooms.

An invitation to express your interest to present!

Past and present VALA presenters attest that presenting at your professional teacher's association's events and share your experience and passion is an incredible rewarding experience!

(We are here to support you in sharpening your presentation and ease your nerves !)

https://forms.gle/a4AW7jJXAz2ggy5X8

EoI closes Thursday April 9 (end of first week of the term break)

(Confirmed solo/main presenters have free access to the conference.)

Super Early Bird registration for VALA Members

Open now until the 7th May

Super Early Bird registrations need be paid for by Monday May 11 to avoid cancellation/reissue at the standard member rate.

Super Early Bird for VALA Members only: $310

Member standard: $350

Non - member: $430

The full conference program will be released on Monday May 11 when standard member and non-member registration will open.

Presenting our confirmed presenters to date:

Doug Bailey - Berry Street Education

Helen Campbell & Kristina Delaney - Sacred Heart College Kyneton

Mark Collard - playmeo

Jeremy Collings - CIRE

Jane Davies - Positive Intent Consultancy

Natasha Dickinson - Gleneagles SC

Bobbie Evans - St Josephs College - Geelong

Annemarie Holmyard - Hume Valley School

Ushpal Kullar - ECG College

Cherie Osta & Geoff Bird - Lorne P-12 College

Natalie Purves - VALA

Will we see your name here as well?

Helene & Natalie

VALA upcoming events

Establishing and sustaining school gardens in secondary education - VCE VM, VPC, and VET pathways. (30 Apr 2026)

Cheers to 21 Years - from our classrooms to yours - VALA 2026 Conference (7 Aug 2026)