Training
Permaculture Training
There are many opportunities for Permaculture training – from a short Introduction to Permaculture, to the full-curriculum Permaculture Design Certificate, through to Diploma courses. Some courses offered in Permaculture Victoria’s immediate bio-region are listed below. (For courses elsewhere in Australia, check out Permaculture Australia.)
Permaculture Victoria does not endorse specific courses as the ‘best’; instead we recommend that you make your own enquiries: discuss with the course convenors your learning, schedule and budget needs; ask course graduates; and choose the course that best suits you. The list of courses below does not purport to be exhaustive. If you would like a course to be listed on this page, or your course details to be updated, please email admin@permaculturevictoria.org.au.
The Victorian Educators’ Group is a group of Permaculture teachers involved in the updating of A Syllabus for Permaculture Design in Cool Temperate South Eastern Australia – a resource to help Permaculture educators plan Permaculture Design Courses. It covers the whole PDC curriculum as required by The Permaculture Institute and includes additional material relevant to our bio-region.
PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATE (PDC)
Ararat – Mudlark Permaculture
Duration: 12 Sundays over 3 months
Cost: Please contact organiser
72 hour International curriculum – Based on the foundation text ‘Permaculture: A Designers’ Manual’ – by Bill Mollison. This PDC will be run from the Mudlark Permaculture Urban Demonstration Site – Ararat. You will be able to share in the creation and understanding of our half acre urban site. Learn how to live a low energy, regenerative, abundant life!
Bookings: mudlarkpermaculture@gmail.com or 03 5352 5592 for further information or to sign up!
Ballarat – Permaculture Guild Inc
Duration: 8 weekends over 6 months (Jan-June)
Cost: Please contact organiser
The extended format allows you to integrate your learnings and apply them at home. Timing of the course means that our site visits take place at the best ‘weather’ times of the year – and when gardens and farms are in peak production.
IT IS ESSENTIAL TO BOOK ON THE BPG WEBSITE (after reading the Terms & Conditions) –
https://ballaratpermacultureguild.org/education
Blackburn – Delldint Fleming
100 hours PDC over 6 months for gradual integrative, transformative learning, and greater social connection.
Wednesday evenings 6pm – 9.30pm with some weekend field days. Students receive a copy of the Earth Users Guide to Permaculture by Rowe Morrow
Taught at my home, set amidst a food forest, with heritage breed chickens, giant rabbits, and bees. I hope to see you there!
Cost: Please contact organiser. Class size limited to 14
Please contact me for more information.
Delldint Fleming 0468 418 277 meggeth@hotmail.com
Brunswick – CERES Community Environment Park
Duration: 15 x Wednesday evenings 6.30-9.30pm, with some Saturdays and Sundays 9.30am – 5pm Cost: Please contact organiser.
Cnr Stewart and Roberts St, Brunswick.
The CERES PDC covers the whole design course curriculum with extra time for urban issues and reading the landscapes of cool temperate south-eastern Australia. Our course follows the Permaculture Educators Guild Syllabus. The course is a mix of classroom presentations, workshops, design exercises, practical exercises and visits to properties to see Permaculture in action as well as a catered weekend away. The course content and approaches to teaching and learning is directed by a group of leading PDC teachers and practitioners. This 100 hour course is delivered by a range of professional, practicing permaculturists including David Holmgren, Joel Meadows and Earthcare Permaculture’s Graeme George.
CERES PDC graduates may be able to gain credits towards components of accredited Permaculture qualifications subject to a relevant RTOs’ RPL policies and procedures. You are encouraged to speak directly to RTOs to clarify this. Enrol: https://ceres.org.au/education/courses/permaculture-design-course/ More info: 9389 0100 luisa@ceres.org.au
King Lake with Kushala
80hrs on Tuesdays
Cost: Please contact organiser
More info: https://naturalsystemspermaculture.org
Monbulk & Emerald – Telopea Mountain Permaculture- Pete the Permie
Duration: 18 weeks
Tuesdays 9am – 4.30pm, plus 4 x Saturday or Sunday 9am-4.30pm.
Cost: Please contact organiser
Held at Emerald Community House and onsite at Telopea Mountain in Monbulk. This PDC course is 147 hours with many tutors and site visits covering the PDC basics plus much more; 2 certificates on completion.
Enrol: Emerald Community House 5968 3881
More info: http://www.petethepermie.com/classes/2012-telopea-mtn-permaculture-design-course/
Mornington Peninsula – Santosha Permaculture –
SUNDAYS 9.30am – 4.30pm
14-week PDC offers 98+ hours of permaculture learning through interactive classroom activities and site visits in a supportive small group environment. All learning styles are catered for, with a mix of discussion, videos, readings and hands-on activities.
The only PDC offered on the Mornington Peninsula, on a picturesque working alpaca farm!
Cost: Please contact organiser.
Explore the world of Permaculture, developing insight and skills to live an abundant life and look after the planet. Learn to apply permaculture ethics and principles to individuals, community groups or business settings. Suitable for people wishing to develop their own productive garden, planning a larger scale rural enterprise, involved in community groups or wanting to live a resilient and more sustainable life.
By the end of this course you will have the skills to prepare permaculture designs, which can be applied to individuals, households, communities or business to build a sustainable future.
Bookings: A $250 deposit is required to confirm your booking; places are limited. Book here: https://www.trybooking.com/351604
(Please contact me to set up a payment plan or to discuss concession pricing or alternative arrangements)
Contact: email santosha.permaculture@gmail.com with any questions, or phone Fleur on 0425 785 233.
www.facebook.com/SantoshaPermaculture
North East Victoria and Melbourne
Warwick Bone (Woz) – Permaculture and Holistic Management courses from topical workshops through to the 120 hour Holistic Permaculture Design Course, integrating Permaculture and Holstic Management into a greater whole.
Located mainly in North East Victoria and Melbourne. http://www.designingPermaculture.com https://www.facebook.com/designingPermaculture
Ringwood with Pete the Permie
80hrs on Thursdays 9-4.30 with 9x Thurs & 3x Saturdays
Cost: Please contact organiser.
Book via Ringwood Central Community Centre Ph 9870 2602 or www.crccinc.org.au
This course is near Ringwood train station for easy access. This PDC has a larger focus on urban with 5 site visits and looking at Retrosuburbia, Compost making and other soils skills will be done on the Community Garden next to the community house, this garden was started and designed by a past student
Zones, trees and animals will be done at Telopea Mtn a 125 year old Permaculture demonstration site
We not only deliver the core subjects of 72 hours that all PDC’s are obliged to, we take more time to expand on these – Hot compost, No-dig & wicking beds, how to graft a fruit tree, we demonstrate how you can make a yield (real cash income or meet your families needs).
Our tutors are selected because they have worked hard in their field of expertise and we believe you need multiple ideas and viewpoints so we also take you to many properties big & small to show you what is real & possible. Swales are discussed in PDC’s but we look at the many we have built in different location/situations plus you can get involved in making them as well.
Our aim is to send new Permies on their way who are not just empowered but also skilled, some become teachers , consultant designers or just damn good food providers, whatever they wish for.
Rocklyn Ashram – Learn permaculture with David Holmgren
A PDC can be a life changing experience. Join us in the unique environment of the Rocklyn Ashram and be taught by a mix of experienced and enthusiastic permaculture tutors including David Holmgren and Beck Lowe. This is a fully residential, fully immersive, fully catered course running over 15 days with a short break in the middle.
Venue: Rocklyn Ashram, near Daylesford, Victoria
Cost: Please contact organiser.
https://holmgren.com.au/2020-permaculture-design-course-rocklyn-ashram-melbourne/
South Gippsland
2 day Intro to Permaculture
Course fee: Please contact organiser.
Course fee includes a workshop on pruning and restoring fruit trees with Strzelecki Heritage Apples, a hands-on no-dig gardening workshop and a garden design component. The location will be a beautiful property on the outskirts of Korumburrra with sweeping views and an established orchard. Bring food to share. Camping and limited billets available upon request.
Your teachers:
Penelope Swales trained with Permaculture stalwarts John Champagne and Rosemary Morrow. She has 30 years gardening experience and is the founder of Piggery Road Permaculture.
Naomi Coleman is the co-founder of Southern Cross Permaculture Institute and a respected teacher of many years standing both locally and internationally who is providing teacher mentoring for this course.
Mark Brammer is co-proprietor of Strzelecki Heritage Apples and has been growing apples sustainably using Permaculture techniques for 17 years.
To book email infopigrp@gmail.com or find us on Facebook Piggery Road Permaculture. Ph: 0411 555 348
Help us create a community of like-minded people in South Gippsland!
Very Edible Gardens
Duration: Varied
Cost: Please contact organiser. Fee includes all tuition, camping accommodation, discounts on other VEG courses, & a 250-page book of comprehensive notes. Delicious locavore food is provided for free for every meal! To secure your space you can register with a $100 deposit ( payment plan available).
VEG’s Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) Courses include over 100 hours of class time. Offered either as an intensive two-week event over fourteen days or part time over three months. Tutors include VEG team members Adam Grubb and Dan Palmer, permaculture co-originator David Holmgren, David’s partner Su Dennett and some handpicked local legends.
Enrol: https://pdc.veryediblegardens.com.au/
More info: veg@veryediblegardens.com