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Professional Development
Professional Development
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria provides an extensive range of professional development opportunities for teachers at all levels, all year round.
Our curriculum-based professional learning experiences and resources support teachers in engaging student learning in, and connecting with, the natural environment. Programs are delivered in partnership with Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and leading education organisations.
Upcoming Professional Development opportunities in 2020
ECO Learning Network Training Package (Melbourne Gardens)
17 Feb – 23 March
Melbourne Gardens
Book Here
This training has been designed to assist teachers and educators who are interested in taking children into nature or who are looking for support to strengthen their existing programs. Presented by leaders and pioneers in the field of Australian early childhood nature programs - Doug Fargher, Lisa Coxon and Karen Anderson - the program is held over 3 sessions, including a site visit to a nature kindergarten in action.
Dates/times:
Day One – Monday 17 February Melbourne Botanic Gardens 9:30-3:30
Day two – Site visits, choose one:
- Wednesday 3 March: Westgarth, Darebin Parklands Alphington 9:15-11:45
- Friday 13 March: Balnarring Preschool 9-2pm
- Thursday 19 March: Minimbah School, Frankston South 9:30-2pm
Day three – Monday 23 March, 9:30-3pm
ECO Learning Network Pedagogy & Practice in Nature Education Conference (CANCELLED)
20 - 21 March, 9am - 5pm
Melbourne Gardens
CANCELLED
The annual ECOLN Pedagogy & Practice in Nature Education Conference will run for the fifth time on March 20-21, 2020 and presents the latest in Nature-based education research and practice. It is a must for any educators wanting to maximise the benefits of outdoor learning. For more information, click here or contact ECOLN directly here.
2020 Bush Kinder Orientation
24 March, 10am - 3.30pm
Cranbourne Gardens
Email edserv@rbg.vic.gov.au to reserve your spot or for more information
Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne is a highly valued Bush Kinder venue and has more than 15 organisations using the space on a regular basis. Join the Royal Botanic Gardens Learning team to come to understand the latest developments within the Bush Kinder movement, as well as how to work with parks and landowners, setting up a bush kinder program, the benefits of nature play and incorporating Indigenous perspectives. This professional development program is specially designed to orientate educators in how to best utilise the Botanic Gardens site and it is recommended that organisations complete it annually. Organisations will receive a ‘Royal Botanic Gardens Bush Kinder Ready Certificate’ on completion.
Steps to Sustainability Conference
25 March, 9am - 3pm
Melbourne Gardens
Book Here
The annual Steps to Sustainability conference showcases how Victorian teachers are using sustainability to support the Victorian Curriculum and how schools are embedding the ResourceSmart Schools program and United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals across school curriculum. This year award-winning author John Marsden will lead the keynote presentations reflecting on his experience and current role as founder and principal of Candlebark School, one of the largest schools (1100+ acres) in the world.
Entomologist, author and urban biodiversity expert Dr. Luis Mata will also showcase his work in engaging students, families and communities in all things insects whilst talking about the role we can all play in monitoring and improving biodiversity wherever we live or work. Conference Workshops will include presentations from 20 specially selected school teachers, showcasing their innovative sustainability projects, curriculum and initiatives. For more information on what's in store, click here.
ECO Learning Network Training Package (Cranbourne Gardens)
14 May – 4 June
Cranbourne Gardens
Book Here
This training has been designed to assist teachers and educators who are interested in taking children into nature or who are looking for support to strengthen their existing programs. Presented by leaders and pioneers in the field of Australian early childhood nature programs - Doug Fargher, Lisa Coxon and Karen Anderson - the program is held over 3 sessions, including a site visit to a nature kindergarten in action.
Dates/times:
Day One – 14 May, 9 – 3pm
Day Two – Site visits, choose one:
- Wednesday 20 May: Westgarth, Darebin Parklands Alphington 9:15-11:45
- Thursday 21 May: Minimbah School, Frankston South 9:30-2pm
- Friday 29 May: Balnarring Preschool 9-2pm
Day three – 4 June, 9 – 3pm
Connecting Children to Country (Early Childhood)
19 October, 9.30am - 3.30pm
Cranbourne Gardens
Book Here
Join us for a professional learning day exploring culture in collaboration with Early Life Foundations and the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. Connect to country and discover how to embed culture into early childhood pedagogy through experiential and sensory play-based activities, including investigating aboriginal tools, experiencing weaving techniques, creating art using ochre and more.
Melbourne City Experience Expo 2020
9 November, 8.15am - 3.30pm
Storey Hall, RMIT
Book Here
This one-day expo brings together teachers from all over Victoria who are interested in planning rich city-based experiences for their students. It’s a one stop shop for information about more than 25 different organisations, plus planning and safety tips that will help you identify options, target links to learning outcomes and build a purposeful city-based program for your students. Suitable for all primary and secondary teachers who coordinate city-based programs and camps for their schools. Click here for more information.
Art with Zart in the Botanic Gardens
13 November, 9.30am - 3pm
Melbourne Gardens
Book Here
Ever wondered why nature is so inspiring and uplifting? Pattern, shape, form and texture abound in the natural world. Come and explore how learning can be linked to nature and wellbeing for a day at the Melbourne Botanic Gardens. This workshop inspires teachers to provide opportunities which enable children to be connected their world through art-making. We spend the day with Botanic Gardens Education staff, an artist and an early childhood consultant. You will be invited to explore the gardens with a relaxed creative mindset and view how nature and art are integrally linked.
Science
Horticulture
Support
Learn
Science
Conservation
Victoria's flora and fungi are under increasing threat from climate change, environmental weeds, agriculture, forest clearance and urbanisation. Climate change will especially impact on plants restricted to the coldest environments on mountain summits, which are likely to lose their only suitable habitat. At Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, studies of taxonomy, distribution, population genetics, propagation, translocation and seed banking all contribute to the conservation of Victoria’s and Australia's plants and fungi.
Seedbank
We collect millions of high-quality seeds from native plant species within Victoria for long-term storage, research and restoration programs.
Conservation
Our scientists work to maintain biological diversity, including genetic variation, essential for functional ecosystems and the long-term viability of species.
Weeds and biosecurity
Our research helps to identify, document and combat environmental weeds that pose a threat to native ecosystems and biodiversity.
Protecting our rare and threatened species
In Victoria, there are nearly 700 native species of threatened plants (among the approximately 3,200 species recorded from the state) along with many others that are rare. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria plays a leading role in programs to conserve these endangered species in order to stabilise or increase populations in their natural habitat. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is particularly involved in the conservation of native terrestrial orchids. Victoria is a 'hotspot' for orchid diversity, with 23 per cent of Australia's orchid species occurring in just 3 per cent of the land area. Most of the native orchid species found in Victoria are terrestrial, and at least a third occur nowhere else.
Horticulture
Plant Collections
Botanic gardens throughout the world play a significant role in helping scientists and the public understand the evolution and history of plants, their present day uses as well as what the future may hold for plants in natural environments. Across our two locations at Melbourne and Cranbourne, our experienced horticulture teams manage 45 plant collections as well as a significant area of precious bushland at Cranbourne Gardens. All of our collections feature plant labels which show each plant's scientific name comprised of a genus and species.
Sustainable Management
Our horticultural and environmental research is focused on responding to future challenges such as water availability and changing climatic conditions and looking at how these may impact on plant and landscape conservation within the gardens.
Environmental Management
At both Cranbourne and Melbourne our land management teams focus on irrigation management, finding alternate water sources, water quality and biodiversity of the lakes system; reducing weeds, protecting plants against pests and diseases and managing soils.
Water conservation
We are constantly striving to improve irrigation efficiency, stormwater treatment, lake ecosystems and water quality in the lake system. Recently the Working Wetlands project was completed at Melbourne Gardens, reducing reliance on potable water by 40%.
Home gardening
How we garden in botanic gardens, how you garden at home and how we all garden as a community has big impacts on the biodiversity and sustainability of urban Australia. The Australian Garden at Cranbourne is designed to showcase how native plants can make a spectacular and waterwise home garden. There is an Australian plant suitable for virtually any situation in your garden, from tall trees to ground covers, aquatic plants to those growing in low light or in full sun. Australian plants attract native birds and butterflies, and brighten up your garden with wonderful seasonal colour. Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria to find inspiration and great tips for using Australian native plants at home.
Support
Help the Gardens grow
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria has a special place in the hearts and minds of all Victorians. The Gardens has played an important role in the cultural development of Melbourne and can continue to flourish with the help of passionate individuals. There are many ways to get involved with the Gardens and we value any level of support, whether you are a friend or a donor, a member of our Director’s Circle or one of our volunteers. There are also ways to honour those you love by dedicating a tree or a bench within the Garden of your choice.
Become a friend
The Friends of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria at Melbourne and Cranbourne Gardens play an active role in raising funds for the gardens through plant sales and programs.
Donate
It’s easy to help the Gardens. Any donation over $2 is tax deductible and every dollar helps contributes to the work of the Gardens.
Honour someone you love
Many people share the Gardens with those they love and some visitors choose to mark a significant occasion by dedicating a tree or a bench to someone special. In the Gardens you’ll notice each bench has a dedication plaque featuring a favourite quote or the recognition of an anniversary, achievement or occasion.
Learn
Hands-on education
The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria at Melbourne and Cranbourne offers a rich learning environment for students of all ages and abilities. Our Education Services team develops adaptive, strategic curriculum based programs to assist teachers and provide an enjoyable and valuable learning experience for students from kindergarten to university. Each education program is designed to support teachers in achieving the Victorian Essential Learning Standards and is delivered by a qualified teacher.
Our programs
We have just released an exciting new range of programs that encourages students from kindergarten to tertiary to explore the wonders of plants in a highly interactive environment.
Book an excursion
Contact our education office to book an immersive experience for your students that will lead to the development of life-long, life-wide skills.
Professional development
Each year we host an engaging Professional Development program for educators, featuring some of the world’s leading experts in nature-based education.
What people say…
'It is important that the children become aware of such a beautiful garden that provides a diverse range of opportunities to learn, relax, explore, etc.'
Grade 1
Yes - there was something for everyone ...ponding, feeling/smelling plants, creating pot pourri bags, listening to trees!'
Grade 2
'At the Botanic Gardens the children were able to see/touch and smell on a grand scale - GREAT!!'
Kindergarten
'The program has made a huge shift in the way my students view Indigenous Australians and it has changed some previous incorrect misconceptions'
Grade 5 and 6