Victorian Schools Garden Program

Every school a garden, every garden a classroom.

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Strong Demand Continues for School Garden Grants

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This year marks another outstanding chapter for the School Garden Grants program, with schools across Victoria continuing to embrace the power of garden-based learning.

In 2026, we received an impressive 815 grant applications from 374 schools, reflecting the ongoing enthusiasm from educators and school communities to create engaging outdoor learning environments for students.

From vegetable patches and native habitat gardens to sensory spaces and outdoor classrooms, schools are increasingly recognising the important role gardens play in enriching student learning experiences and encouraging healthy lifestyles.

The strong response again this year highlights the need for continued investment in school garden initiatives to help more schools bring these valuable projects to life. Every application represents a school community eager to provide students with opportunities to connect with nature, learn practical skills, and develop environmental awareness.

Judging of the applications is now underway, with successful applicants to be notified in early June.

We would like to thank all schools that submitted applications and commend the incredible passion, creativity, and commitment shown by teachers, parents, and volunteers across the state.

Victorian Students Bring ‘Habitat Farmers’ to Life in Sustainable Scarecrow Competition

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The 2026 Sustainable Scarecrow Competition has highlighted the creativity and environmental awareness of Victorian students, with finalists selected by the Minister for Agriculture, Ros Spence MP.

This year, 42 schools and kindergartens took part, embracing the theme ‘Habitat Farmer’, the helpful visitors to the garden protecting the habitats that they live in and teaching others about how to create habitats in and around the garden. Their imaginative, eco-friendly scarecrows were showcased at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, impressing visitors with their innovation and strong sustainability messages.

Winners:

🥇 Grange College – “Native Nat the Bird Friendly Mate” (1st place, $1000 voucher)

Nursery & Garden Industry President, Carl Soderlund and Agriculture Minister Ros Spence.

🥈 Dean Marsh Primary School – “Swampy” (2nd place, $750 voucher)

 

Nursery & Garden Industry President, Carl Soderlund and Agriculture Minister Ros Spence.

🥉 Toorak College Junior School – “Ivy” (3rd place, $500 voucher)

 

Nursery & Garden Industry President, Carl Soderlund and Agriculture Minister Ros Spence.

People’s Choice Winner:   

🥇 Spotswood Primary School – “Lid-ia” 

VSGP Chairman Craig Taberner and Rory Clarke, Landscape Designer – Urban Discovery

2026 Grants Program – APPLY NOW

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The VSGP Grants Program encourages schools to start new gardens or repair existing gardens by providing funding through nursery vouchers or provision of products to use for school garden projects.

This year there is $60,000 worth of vouchers and products to be distributed through 21 grant categories.

Applications are now open and close on Friday 25 April 2026 at 5 pm.

48th Annual VSGP Awards Celebration

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Today, in the Oak Lawns at the Royal Botanic Gardens, more than 451 students, teachers and parents from 35 Victorian schools, gathered to celebrate school gardening achievements and share the joy of learning through gardens.

The top prize, the Kevin Heinze Perpetual Award went to Montmorency South Primary School, where all 615 students help create and care for gardens spanning a productive, orchard-and-chooks – kitchen garden, bush tucker, native and pollinator plantings, and a bush reserve restoring habitat for local sugar gliders. Students lead the full gardening cycle, with produce feeding into their kitchen garden program and learning from all gardens embedded across the curriculum.

Kevin Heinze Perpetual Award receipts - Montmorency South PS 1
From left:  Emma Katsalidis – teacher & garden guru, Nina Taylor – Parliamentary Secretary of Education, Paul Crowe OAM – VSGP Co-founder and Patron, and Montmorency South Primary School students. 

In a very close second, State Award finalist Wendouree Primary School was recognised for outstanding, student-driven biodiversity work on its Ballarat grounds, including the planting of more than 1,200 native trees, shrubs and grasses and the creation of rich habitat spaces such as wetlands, frog bogs, nature trails and bush tucker gardens. Their work also supports other schools through shared resources and expertise. Third place State Award finalist, Collingwood College, was celebrated for its long-running kitchen garden program, now in its 24th year, continuing to build student leadership, wellbeing and strong curriculum links in a diverse inner-city community.

Nina Taylor – Parliamentary Secretary of Education with State Finalist, Wendouree Primary School students. 
Nina Taylor – Parliamentary Secretary of Education with State Finalist, Collingwood College.

The VSGP is proud of every school that entered this year’s Awards and encouraged by the growing recognition of gardens as powerful spaces for learning, health and wellbeing. We invite all schools in 2026 to consider starting or expanding a garden project: even the smallest patch can make a big difference.

Finally, the VSGP sincerely thanks our 2025 sponsors for their generous support, helping inspire the next generation of gardeners and enabling schools to grow, learn and thrive through their garden programs.

Click here to see 2025 VSGP Award Results

Karingal’s Marilyn Battour Named 2025 Garden Champion

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The Victorian Schools Garden Program is proud to recognise Marilyn Battour of Karingal Primary School as the 2025 School Garden Champion!

Through her boundless energy and generosity, Marilyn has transformed a simple patch of ground into a flourishing community garden and living classroom. Families and community partners have been drawn in, making the garden a truly shared space of learning, sustainability, and connection.

As a grandmother and devoted volunteer, Marilyn has created a legacy that will inspire for years to come, a thriving centre where curiosity, learning, and community grow side by side.

From left to right – Eliana Williams (Karingal Primary School student), Samantha Cooke (Karingal Primary School principal), Marilyn Battour (2025 School Garden Champion), Costa Georgiadis, Craig Taberner (VSGP Chairman) and Ben Clark (Kuranga Native Nursery owner).

This year, a whooping 43 heartfelt nominations from schools across Victoria we received. Each nominee demonstrated passion, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to nurturing both gardens and young minds, making the judging process inspiring yet extremely challenging. All school garden specialist share devotion and commitment to the cause, which goes above and beyond the role.

We are delighted to recognise all nominees for their remarkable contributions:
 
Michael CoatesAlvie Primary School
Clare DaviesArmadale Primary School
Megan De kookArmstrong Creek School, Geelong
Jamie Briones (Mr)Aspendale Gardens Primary School
David GortonBacchus Marsh Grammar (Maddingley Campus)
Adam HerftBentleigh Secondary College
Mark ChludzinskiBotanic Ridge Primary School
Noel and Jenni BlencoweBrunswick South Primary School 
Courtney JewelBundoora Primary School 
Mark JonesBuninyong Primary School
Steven TaylorCardross Primary School
Desley InsallCollingwood College
Susie ParkesDoncaster Gardens Primary School
Justine GoodingDrouin West Primary School
Marina StahlEastwood Primary School
Zoe BeckettElliminyt Primary School
Sharyn BrownGilson College, Taylors Hill
Michelle CluadioGoodstart Frankston South
Elisha PearceHeany Park Primary School, Rowville
Wilma HoneysettHoly Trinity Primary School, Wantirna South
Marilyn Battour – WINNERKaringal Primary School  
Katelyn SmithKaroo Primary School, Rowville
Colin CameronMerrivale Primary, Warrnambool
Leanne HodgeNilma Primary School
Candice EppPoowong Consolidated School
Cathryn TempletonRed Rock Christian College, Sunbury
Jayalakshmi ParasuramanSirius College, Keysborough
Belinda Cooper and Anna HarmesSt Aloysius Primary School, Redan
Will MaddenSt Brendan’s Primary School, Flemington
Russell DykesSt Georges Road Primary School, Shepparton
Christian der KinderenSt John the Baptist School, Ferntree Gully
Frank OverbergSt Louis de Montfort’s School, Aspendale
Corey DonnellonSt Mary’s Primary School, Donald
Russell SturtevantSt Peter’s Primary School, Epping
Isobel HarperSt Pius X Primary School, Heidelberg West
Shelley WilloughbySydney Road Community School, Brunswick
Trevor Roelofs (Mr Trev)The Lake Primary School, Cabarita  
Tresa MintramTorquay P-6 College
Kim AitkenTucker Road Bentleigh Primary School
Kat StamelosWallington Primary School, Wallington
Jill DowlingWandin Yallock Primary School, Wandin North
Rebecca Tyler-BrennanYarram Secondary College

Contact us

Tania Karamitos
Program Co-ordinator
Victorian Schools Garden Awards
Phone: 03 9576 0599
Fax: 03 9576 0431
Email: vsgp@ngiv.com.au