Listed below are SHORT COURSES and seminars offered by environmental organisations and independent institutions, providing knowledge and practical skills in sustainable fields, environmental protection and conservation.

Click here to navigate your way through the environment departments of Melbourne's UNIVERSITIES where you can read course descriptions for different environmental subjects.

For information and workshops that develop advocacy, campaigning and activist skills, take a look at:
> The Change Agency
> Humanitarian Crisis Hub

 

Short Courses & Seminars

Conservation and Land Management Peppermint Ridge Farm
Environmental Consultancy and Training Green Steps Program
Food Gardens and Urban Permaculture Very Edible Gardens
Permaculture (PDC) Southern Cross Permaculture Institute
Pitjantjatjara Language Course Ngapartji Ngapartji
Wildlife Husbandry and Rehabilitation Wildlife Vic & VU
Wildlife Rescue Training Wildlife Victoria
Wildlife Seminar Series ARI Institute


Peppermint Ridge Farm
Conservation and Land Management

Nestled in foothills overlooking Bunyip State Park, Peppermint Ridge Farm is a living classroom that combines a polyculture of land use, nature conservation and learning about Landcare, sustainability, and self-sufficiency - all on 8 hectares! Peppermint Peppermint Ridge Farm is a business focused on the development of sustainable landscapes and communities. Since 1996, the business has sought to achieve this vision through the provision of educational and consultancy services in the fields of sustainable land management, community development and evaluation. Peppermint Ridge Farm is a recognised provider of quality training in sustainable land management, Landcare and community engagement in environmental issues." In 2007 we continue the nationally recognised and Austudy approved Diploma of Conservation and Land Management. Day courses include:

*Organic Vegetable Growing
*Planning for Sustainability & Stewardship
*Bushfoods
*Carbon Neutral Living
*Weed and Pest Animal Management
*Sustainable Gardening and Landscaping
*Small Property managment Skills
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Green Steps Program (Student Training and Placement Program)
Environmental Consultancy and Training

when: varies each year
duration: 3 days training, 6 week placement
where: Canberra / Melbourne
cost: free for eligible tertiary students

The Monash Environment Institute's Green Steps Program offers a unique combination of training, work experience and business engagement. The program is run in two distinct phases, namely training and project work, and industry placements. The initial training phase of the program provides university students with the knowledge and skills required of environmental change agents. The industry placement phase provides an opportunity for program participants to further hone their environmental change management skills, whilst developing innovative new approaches to a range of workplace environmental issues. Program participants are typically paid a small stipend during the placement period. In recognition of the significant support for the program provided by the Australian Greenhouse Office, in selecting placement host organisations, preference is given to members of the Greenhouse Challenge Program . Students are supported during the Industry Placement phase with one-on-one mentoring sessions, conducted by experienced MEI trainers. Additionally, a series of workshops focused on increasing participants personal effectiveness and providing basic professional support are run during the placement period.
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Ngapartji Ngapartji
Pitjantjatjara Language Course

when: any time
duration: at your own pace
where: online or in Alice Springs
cost: regular fee $200/$170 concession

Pitjantjatjara is a central desert language spoken by around 2,500 people across the north-western parts of South Australia and adjacent areas of W.A and N.T. Before colonisation of Australia it is estimated that there were more than 500 dialects spoken by the Indigenous population. These dialects made up around 250 distinct languages. Since colonisation at least 55 of these languages have been lost. The maintenance of languages in everyday use depends on their being passed on to new generations of speakers. The 2001 State of the Environment Report concluded that if indigenous languages continue to decline in speakers at the current rate that by 2050 there will no longer be any indigenous languages spoken in Australia.

BighART welcomes Melbourne audiences to enrol in the course and to take up the opportunity to participate in the development of the course as we build it. Enrolments never close, and as its online you can take it whenever and wherever you like totally at your own pace. We'll keep track of which lessons you have seen and completed and let you know when new content goes up since your last visit to the site. If you want to take the course, but can't make it to one of the shows in Melbourne (Oct 06), that's an option too.

Young Pitjantjatjara speakers from Alice Springs and region become YOUR Pitjantjatjara language tutors through the content that they are making for this site. As well as the films, radio, flash animation and photography based language lessons that they are involved in making we are exploring mobile phone and podcasting delivery of content (stay tuned!) Each lesson will be accompanied by a vocabulary sheet and the lesson content will be supplemented by a range of other Pitjantjatjara archival material; songs from the Pitjantjatjara choir, films from the early days of Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Media (PY Media) and loads more. After completing the 26 part course you ll have had a basic introduction to the language and a selection of terms, vocabulary and key concepts. Which, when you attend the show in Melbourne International Arts Festival season in October this year, will allow you to engage with Trevor Jamieson s family story in a much deeper and richer way.
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Very Edible Gardens
Food Gardening and Urban Permaculture

when: see web for course dates
where: various suburbs in Melbourne
duration: various, mostly day courses
cost: $25 to $180

VEG - Very Edible Gardens offer a number of weekend and evening courses aimed mostly at food gardening beginners. We have developed teaching styles and strategies to help fast-track people on to the road of good health and sustainability through fun workshops which mix theory with hands-on practice delivered with good humour and genuine passion. See the calendar for when these courses are running.

Course include:

• An Introduction to Urban Permaculture
• VEG Intro to Organic Gardening
• Beginners Guide to Compost and Worms
• Drought Proofing Your Garden
• Beginners Guide to Chickens
• Wild Fermentation and Raw Foods for Your Health
• Organic Pest Control and Adventures in the Microcosmos

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Southern Cross Permaculture Institute
Permaculture Design Certificate

when: see web for course dates
where: SCPI Institute Leongatha South
duration: 2 weeks with 1 free weekend
cost: $850 (concession and part time work exchange available)

On completion of this course you will be able to design your property and others, act as a permaculture consultant and teacher, and use the name permaculture in your business. You will receive a certificate issued by the Permaculture Institute and be able to work towards their Diploma of Permaculture. Nationally accredited Certificates I - IV and the Diploma of Permaculture have recently been approved and a program of implementation will occur over the next two years to deliver the training. The PDC will provide credit towards completion of these certificate courses. We are registered teachers under both the PDC & APT systems.

Topics: principles and ethics; rural and suburban design methods; earthworks; soil improvement strategies; aquaculture systems; weed and pest management; organic gardening techniques; orchard systems, trees & woodlots; energy efficient housing design; ecofriendly building; appropriate alternative technology; poultry systems; bush foods; microclimates; integrating animals into design; seed saving; establishing community gardens; design tasks and more . . .

Introduction to Permaculture

when: see web for course dates
where: SPCI Institute Leongatha South
duration: one weekend
cost: around $200 (cncesion avaialable)

This course is a basic introduction to the principles and practices of permaculture design. It will give an overview of how to start designing a permaculture system. It will also give you a 10% discount towards future design courses. Price includes lunches, morning tea and caravan accommodation.
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Wildlife Victoria & VU
The Husbandry and Rehabilitation of Wildlife

Victoria University and Wildlife Victoria are proud to introduce this course for any person who is interested in becoming a wildlife carer or would like to expand their knowledge in the care and rehabilitation of native Australian wildlife.The course is both broad and detailed to meet the needs of any person who is new to wildlife caring or those who just wish to expand their knowledge.

Topics: Law and animal welfare; Basic animal biology; Wildlife husbandry; Wildlife rehabilitation ; Animal first aid; Animal rescue and release
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Wildlife Victoria
Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation

when: see web for course dates
where: various locations in Victoria
duration: 1-several days
cost: various, discounts for members

Widllife Victoria supports its members by offering training at a reduced rate. We usually try to offer free training for members and in most cases membership can be taken out at the beginning of the training day. Sometimes training cannot be offered free, however Wildlife Victoria tries to keep the costs to a minimum. Wildlife Victoria also informs members of quality training days being run by professional trainers. Wildlife Victoria recommends these trainers as excellent and can include snake handling to bird rehabilitation. See calendar for training days scheduled this year. Proposed Training Events for 2006 include:

*seals
*kangaroos
*bats
*echidnas
* koalas
* Frogs
* Birds: When to release and how to know when they are ready to release
* Sea Bird Rescue
* Rescue and Transport: Manfred and Donna Zabinskas
* Possums
* Animal First Aid: Deahnn Johnson
* Equipment Workshop: Rescue, housing, rehabilitation

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Arthur Rylah Institute
Wildlife Seminar Series

when: every fortnight or so between 1-2pm (check schedule on website)
duration: one hour
where: Heidelberg
cost: free

ARI seminars are held at ARI every fortnight or so between 1 pm and 2 pm in our conference room. It is hoped that the series will promote discussion between staff and others working and studying in a wide range of areas. All interested people are welcome to attend and visitors are asked to fill in the book at the reception desk on arrival. Larger groups should notify reception in advance on 9450 8600. Light refreshments are available after each session.
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Tertiary Courses

Deakin | LaTrobe | Monash | RMIT | Swinburne| Melbourne | Ballarat | VU

Eco-shout does not endorse or recommend any particular course offered by Melbourne's universities. From experience, several of us here have been highly disappointed with the content of subjects taught under the title "environmental". On the other hand, there are many university subjects that provide valuable and practical information for those who wish to work in the environment.

Science based courses (biology, zoology, geography, earth sciences) provide the detailed knowledge and investigative skills required for work in research fields. Environmental Studies provides a broad base of knowledge covering science, management and politics. Technical courses (land management, horticulture, tree surgery) provide practical skills that can be applied in the field. Sociological courses provide social analysis and a pragmatic approach to managing environmental problems. Advocacy and Community Development courses provide strategic planning and problem solving skills to assist in environmental advocacy and community liaison.

Look for what subjects are offered in each course and read their descriptions. For courses that place an emphasis on protection and conservation, look for words like "ecology" "conservation biology" and "sustainable" rather than "resource" and "management".

You will hear very little about Indigenous issues or the Indigenous approach to relating to land in most environment courses at Melbourne's universities. For this reason, Indigenous programs are listed separately below, although they do not necessarily address the relationship of people with the land either.

Deakin University
School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Biological Science
Environmental Management
Freshwater Biology and Management
Marine Biology
Wildlife and Conservation Biology
Science

 

LaTrobe University
School of Arts & Environment
Nature Tourism
Outdoor Education

 

Monash University
Centre for Indigenous Studies
School of Geography & Environmental Science
Environmental Science
Environment and Sustainability
Corporate Environmental Sustainability and Management (MCESM)
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
International Development and Environmental Analysis (MIDEA)

 

RMIT University
School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning
Social Science(Environment)

School of Applied Science
Environmental Science
Scientific Photography

School of Civil and Chemical Engineering
Environmental Engineering

 

Swinburne University of Technology
School of Engineering
Renewable energy studies

School of Arts, Hospitality and Sciences
Environmental Management
Science and Sustainability
Horticulture
Viticulture

 

University of Melbourne, The
Indigenous Studies Program
School of Anthropology, Geography & Environmental Studies
Geography
Anthropology
Environmental Studies
Australian Indigenous Studies
Development Studies

Office for Environmental Programs
(lists courses available in other faculties with subjects that can be applied to the environment and sustainable development (there is also many subjects below that approach the environment from a "resource" perspective rather than a "biocentric" perspective (ie that the earth has value beyond human use)

ARCHITECTURE
Architecture
Landscape Architecture
Planning and Design
Urban Planning

ARTS
Biology & Botany
Chemistry
Development Studies
Earth Sciences
Environmental Studies
Geography
Planning & Design
Specialist Programs in Environmental Studies

COMMERCE
Economics & Environmental Studies

EDUCATION
Studies of Society & Environment

ENGINEERING
Engineering (Environmental)
Geomatic Engineering

HEALTH SCIENCE
Environmental Psychology

LAND AND FOOD
Forest Management (highly unendorsed by Eco-shout)
Horticulture
Forest Science
Resource Management

LAW
Environmental Law (one subject)

SCIENCE
Chemistry
Conservation and Australian Wildlife
Earth Sciences
Ecology
Environmental Science
Geography & Environmental Studies
Marine Biology
Microbiology
Plant Sciences

VETERINARY
Animal Science
Veterinary Science

 

University of Ballarat
School of Science & Engineering
Environmental Management

 

Victoria University
Science
Applied Science
Postgraduate Programs
Public Advocacy and Action