By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
EMERALD Community House’s Permaculture Design Course has been announced as a finalist in the Learn Local Awards.
The awards are given to organisations that demonstrate high-calibre of training, and celebrate the achievements of students, teachers and providers of education across the state.
The permaculture design course run through Emerald Community House is a finalist in the ‘outstanding pathways program’ category of the awards.
House co-ordinator Mary Farrow said the immensely popular program offered amazing outcomes for adult education in the local area, across the state and internationally.
“The important thing with this course is it’s more than just gardening, it’s a change of philosophy for our world going forward,” she said.
The program has been aligned with the Indonesian Development of Education and Permaculture (IDEP) which participates in the course to increase the well-being, sustainability and food security of their communities.
IDEP is an Indonesian NGO-based in Bali that develops and delivers training and community programs to deliver sustainable development through permaculture and community-based disaster management.
“We look at how they deploy permaculture for employment, food security and quality of life. It’s a really important relationship,” Ms Farrow said.
The permaculture course is often booked out six months in advance, and students from the course receive credited units towards a horticulture degree.
Ms Farrow said the course offered many great pathways for people who took part and taught them valuable skills for future sustainability.
“The thing that makes this course so attractive is people who have completed it have gone on to TAFE or started their own businesses.”
“Permaculture brings people together and teaches them how to be self-reliant and makes them stronger,” she said.
The course has a widespread interest with students coming from all over the state as well as some from interstate.
Ms Farrow said if Emerald Community House won the Learn Local Award for their category their share in the $50,000 prize would go towards continuing to promote public education in the area.
“It’ll go to continue adult education and covering expenses of running the programs,” she said.
“Staff often volunteer beyond their working hours.”
The Learn Local Award winners will be announced at the Collingwood Town Hall on 10 September.
