about us
CERES School of Nature & Climate
In 1982 a group of people created CERES as a place for the community to connect and learn about sustainable living, growing food and connecting with different cultures. In the four decades since, over 1 million students have learnt how to care for the earth at CERES School of Nature & Climate.
![A group of students are learning about sustainability in a permaculture course at CERES urban farm](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CERES-Image-Collage-Templates-e1715130062508.png)
our approach
Our award winning learning programs cater to all ages and skill levels: from Early Learning, through primary and secondary school to adult workshops & courses. What all of our programs share is an approach which seeks to engage the whole person – head, heart and hands.
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/user-head-side-hand-drawn-outline-1.png)
sharing knowledge
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/heart-2-1.png)
inspiring passion
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/solidarity-1.png)
teaching applied skills
key learning areas
CERES School of Nature & Climate offers diverse educational experiences for all ages – from school excursions to weekend workshops, long term courses and more. All our programs connect back to our six key learning areas.
![Student engages with solar panel to explore renewable energy](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CERES-Climate-Change.jpg)
climate change
Creating awareness, advocacy and avenues to reduce climate change impacts.
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CERES-Nature-Connection.png)
nature connection
Interact and fall in love with nature. You protect what you love.
![Girl learns about Indonesian culture at a CERES School of Nature and Climate event](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CERES-Culture-and-community.jpg)
culture & community
Exploring Indigenous perspectives and cultural connections to land and people.
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/regen_living.png)
regenerative living
A step beyond sustainable living to not only mitigate our impact, but to give back to nature.
![Soil covered hand holds ripening cherry tomatoes on a vine in the CERES urban farms, part of a local organic food system](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CERES-Food-Systems.jpg)
Food Systems
Creating regenerative and socially supportive food systems.
![A sign is held up at a climate protest which reads "System Change, not Climate Change"](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CERES-System-Change.jpg)
systems change
Individual change is fantastic but to achieve real impact broader governing systems need to change too.
our people
Our School is made up of passionate educators from across Victoria, united in helping learners of all ages fall back in love with the earth .
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/School-Team-Headshot-Icon.png)
Abigail Jabines
Facilitator
Adult Learning
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Adrian-Black-CERES.webp)
Adrian Black
Coordinator
Adult Learning / Student Programs
![Beck Lower permaculture designer and educator at CERES permaculture design course](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Beck-Lowe-CERES.webp)
Beck Lowe
Facilitator
Adult Learning
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/7-3.png)
Chris Pendleton
Administrator
Adult Learning
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Claire-Cummings-CERES.webp)
Claire Cummings
Systems Coordinator
Student Programs / Teacher Programs
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Claire-OSullivan-CERES.webp)
Claire O'Sullivan
Educator
Teacher Programs
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Darren-Tinker-CERES.webp)
Darren Tinker
Facilitator
Adult Learning
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Donna-Livermore-CERES.webp)
Donna Livermore
Facilitator
Adult Learning
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Ellie-Ware-CERES.webp)
Ellie Ware
Coordinator
Student Programs
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Emma-Grace-CERES.webp)
Emma Grace
Educator
Teacher Programs
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Isabella-Shaw-CERES.webp)
Isabella Shaw
Coordinator
Student Programs
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Jason-Sheehan-CERES.webp)
Jason Sheehan
Regional Coordinator / Facilitator
Teacher Programs
![Joel Meadows permaculture designer and lead educator at CERES permaculture design course](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Joel-Meadows-CERES.webp)
Joel Meadows
Facilitator
Adult Learning
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Jonathan-Noble-CERES.webp)
Jonathan Noble
Manager
Student Programs / Teacher Programs
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Justin-Calverley-CERES.webp)
Justin Calverly
Facilitator
Adult Learning
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/6.png)
Karen Mengell
Manager
Adult Learning
![Kat Lavers permaculture designer and educator at CERES permaculture design course PDC](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Kat-Lavers-CERES.webp)
Kat Lavers
Facilitator
Adult Learning
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Kat-Young-CERES.webp)
Kat Young
Programs Lead
Student Programs
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Kate-Charchalis-CERES.webp)
Kate Charchalis
Coordinator
Student Programs
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Kate-Kantor-CERES.webp)
Kate Kantor
Coordinator
Student Programs
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Kerry-Archer-CERES.webp)
Kerry Archer
Facilitator
Teacher Programs
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/School-Headshots-4.png)
Luisa Cardamone
Manager
Adult Learning
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pia-Water-CERES.webp)
Pia Wrafter
Programs Lead
Teacher Programs
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Sarah-Murfitt-CERES.webp)
Sarah Murfitt
Coordinator
Student Programs
![CERES Acting Director of the CERES School of Nature and Climate](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/School-Headshots.png)
Sieta Beckwith
Director (Acting)
Adult Learning / Student Programs / Teacher Programs
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/School-Headshots-1.png)
Subik Baso
Coordinator
Student Programs
![Taj Scicluna permaculture designer and educator at CERES permaculture design course PDC](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Taj-Scicluna-CERES.webp)
Taj Scicluna
Facilitator
Adult Learning
our partners
Made possible through the support of our funding partners:
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Partner-Logos-CERES-Sustainability-Victoria-1.png)
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Partner-Logos-CERES-March-Schools-1.png)
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Partner-Logos-CERES-Dept-Ed-1.png)
![](https://school.ceres.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Partner-Logos-CERES-Merribek-1.png)