News

‘Seeds of Change’ – A morning of celebrating school gardens and their champions

14/09/2026 By Tania Karamitos

The Victorian Schools Garden Program recently welcomed 55 guests to the Seeds of Change Breakfast at CERES in Brunswick East.

The breakfast brought together educators, volunteers and horticultural experts to explore and celebrate the ways in which school garden programs can transform learning, wellbeing, and community connection.

Karingal Primary School Principal Samantha Cooke delivered a presentation highlighting the importance of principal support, sharing how the school transformed numerous spaces for just $1,800 through reused materials, grants, awards and donations.

Special guest Millie Ross challenged educators to connect any subject to the garden and discover the answers alongside their students. She also highlighted how gardening supports wellbeing, confidence, resilience and physical strength.

The highlight of the Seeds of Change event was the announcement of the 2026 School Garden Champion Award by Millie Ross. This year, the Award received an incredible 68 nominations from schools with gardens, and for the first time the Victorian Schools Garden Program (VSGP) introduced two finalists alongside the overall winner.

Darren Wood from Bright P–12 College, Finalist (could not attend)

Recognised for creating inclusive, hands-on garden learning opportunities for students from Prep to Year 12.

Helena McAloon from Jackson School, Finalist

Recognised for transforming the school’s farm into an inclusive and therapeutic environment for students with diverse learning needs.

The 2026 School Garden Champion Award was presented to Karen Murray from Sunshine North Primary School.

Karen brings together sustainability, biodiversity and First Nations perspectives through the school’s kitchen garden, bush tucker and habitat gardens, and Koorie Seed Gathering and Planting Initiative.

Nominees attending the breakfast were recognised with a pot plant generously donated by Ball Australia. The morning concluded with a guided tour of CERES’ gardens, leaving guests inspired to create thriving green spaces in their own school communities.

2026 School Garden Champion Nominees

Ainslie Parklands Primary School, Croydon	Jane Humphrys
Avenel Primary School – Avenel	Nina Stocker
Avenel Primary School, Avenel	Nina Day
Bacchus Marsh Grammar, Maddingley	David Gorton
Beaconhills College, Pakenham VIC 3810	David Cain
Billanook Primary School	Jennifer Meaby
Birralee Primary School	Renee Papoulis
Birralee Primary School	Renee Papoulis
Birralee Primary School – Doncaster	Renee Papoulis
Birralee Primary School in Doncaster	Renee Papoulis
Birralee Primary School, Doncaster 3108	Renee Papoulis
Bolinda Primary School Bolinda Victoria	Donna Sparks
Boronia K-12 Colleg	Julie Nelmes
Braybrook	Kim Chen
Bright P12 College	Darren Wood
Bright College	Dareen Wood
Bundoora Secondary College	Caitlin McKimm
Cardross Primary School, Cardross VIC	Steven Taylor
Caulfield Grammar School, Wheelers Hill	Sarah Coffey
Cire Community School – Yarra Junction	Ashleigh Herbert & Marisa Carn
Clyde Creek Primary School	Brad Swinburne
Dinjerra PS Braybrook	Kylie Kirk
Discovery Childcare and Education Boronia	Sharlene Dedhia
Donald Primary School	Daelene Green
Donald Primary School	Paul Matters
Drouin West Primary School	Justine Gooding
Galilee Primary School, South Melbourne	Paul Mapley
Good Samaritan Primary School, Roxburgh Park	Doug Humbert
Holy Trinity, Wantirna South	Wilma Honeysett
Jackson School, St Albans , 3021	Helena McAloon
Kyneton High School	Jonathon Swan
Little Saints ELC Moe	Tegan St Paul
Merri River School Warrnambool	Cheree Sully
Mount Eliza Secondary College	Marcia Claringbold
Mount Eliza Secondary College	Marcia Claringbold
Nilma Primary School	Leanne Hodge
Our Lady’s, Surrey Hills	Katie Lynch
Parkhill Primary School	Katherine Starbuck
Penola Catholic College Broadmeadows	Gareth Henderson
Roberts McCubbin Primary School	Marcelle Abrahams
Sirius College, Keysborough	Jayalakshmi Parasuraman
St Augustine’s PS Keilor	Anne Durham
St Brigid’s Primary School Officer	Mark Sweeney
St Cecilia’s Primary School, Glen Iris	David Francis
St Gabriel’s Primary School, Reservoir	Robyn Di Salle
St Gregory The Great Catholic Primary School	Brian Cork
St James’ Parish School, Sebastopol	Claire Lay
St Joseph’s Primary School, Korumburra	Carole Livesey
St Kilda Park Primary School, St Kilda	Allison Shanahan
St Peter’s School, Epping	Russell Sturtevant
Starfish ELC/Kindergarten Blackburn South	Judy Augustine
Strathaird Primary School	Brodie Hearnden
Sunbury Primary School – Sunbury	De’arne Housten
Sunshine College, Sunshine West.	David Raff
Sunshine North Primary School	Karen Murray
Surfside Primary School Ocean Grove	Clancey Mckenzie
Templestowe College, Templestowe Lower	Petra Leaford
The Lake Primary School – Cabarita VIC 3505	Trevor Roelofs
The Lake Primary School, Cabarita	Margot Fowler
Tyabb Primary School	Belinda Thickens
Village School, Croydon North	Amanda Smith
Warrenheip Primary School Warrenheip	Angela Beattie
Warrnambool East Primary School, Warrnambool	Allesha Gardner
Watsonia Heights Primary School	Leah Opray
Woodend Primary School Woodend	Nicole Middleton
Wooragee Primary School	Sophie Douglas
Yarram Secondary College	Rebecca Tyler-Brennan
Yarrunga Primary School, Wangaratta	Simone Brown

2026 Awards Entries Now Open!

23/08/2026 By Tania Karamitos

The VSGP Awards celebrate the gardening achievements of students and their school communities in both existing and newly established gardens.

Award entries open on Monday 10 August and close at 5.00 pm on Friday 11 September.

With over $47,000 in prizes across 11 award categories, schools and kindergartens can submit one or multiple entries and our new streamlined entry template makes the process easier than ever.

It’s not the size or appearance of your garden that matters. The Awards recognise schools and kindergartens that use outdoor spaces to inspire learning, improve wellbeing, encourage sustainable practices, and bring their community together.

Click here to view the 2026 Award Categories or to find out more.

2026 VSGP Grant Recipients Announced

09/06/2026 By Tania Karamitos

The VSGP is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 VSGP Grants.

Demand for this year’s grants remained exceptionally strong, with 815 applications received from 375 schools and kindergartens across Victoria. The high level of interest reflects the growing commitment of educational communities to creating gardens that support learning, wellbeing, sustainability and connection with nature.

The quality of applications was outstanding, making the assessment process highly competitive. We congratulate all successful recipients and look forward to seeing their projects come to life.

The VSGP extends its sincere thanks to the many schools and kindergartens whose applications were unsuccessful this year, for the time and effort invested in developing and submitting their projects. All submissions are a testament to the value placed on garden-based learning throughout Victoria.

We also thank our generous sponsors whose ongoing commitment makes these grants possible and helps schools and kindergartens create inspiring outdoor learning spaces for students.

2026 VSGP Grant Recipients

Strong Demand Continues for School Garden Grants

20/05/2026 By Tania Karamitos

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.

VSGP Brings Nature Play & Gardening Experiences to Life at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show

31/03/2026 By Tania Karamitos

The Victorian Schools Garden Program was proud to be part of the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show, delivering five days of hands-on, nature-based experiences for families.

The Wildplace Garden (designed by Urban Discovery for the VSGP) where children and adults alike were fully immersed in play. Visitors could be seen exploring, building, and engaging with natural materials, embracing the joy and creativity that outdoor environments inspire. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of unstructured play and connection to nature for all ages.

Over 3,500 children potted their own seedlings and created personalised plant labels, taking home both their plants and a sense of pride in growing something themselves.

Alongside this, Agriculture Victoria encouraged visitors to join the Great Biosecurity Quest and become Watchout Warriors by reporting garden pests via the iNaturalist app. Zoos Victoria shared the story of the Golden-rayed blue butterfly, highlighting how planting the right species can support conservation, while the Foodcube display inspired visitors to see how edible gardens can thrive in any space

Visitors also enjoyed the Sustainable Scarecrow Competition, featuring imaginative ‘Habitat Farmer’ entries from schools and kindergartens across Victoria, with many casting votes for their favourite designs.

(You can view the winning scarecrows on the VSGP website latest news page ).

The Wildplace was a vibrant celebration of gardening, creativity and community, with families leaving inspired, more connected to the natural world, and motivated to find or create their own wild places.

Thank you to the VSGP planting activity sponsors:

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria for their wonderfully enthusiastic volunteers who helped children pot their seedlings.

Quality Plants & Seedlings generously grew over 4,000 seedlings for children to plant.

Grow Better supplied their ‘Premium Compost Soil’ – perfect for growing produce and safe for little hands.
Garden City Plastics provided 4,000 environmentally friendly, PP5 recyclable pots.

Takasho for the use of their VegTrugs – sturdy raise planters in which 3500 seedlings were potted from.

Plantfulness for their generous donation of children’s gardening gloves, helping even the most dirt-shy participants get involved, and encouraging a love of gardening that can continue at home.

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