Victorian Schools Garden Program

Every school a garden, every garden a classroom.

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2018 Regional Awards Results

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With the Award entries closing late September, the VSGA committee has been busy judging the 120 entries from 60 schools across the state to determine this year’s successful schools.

Judging is never easy,especially with so many school undertaking amazing garden projects or running successful school garden programs.

An increase in this year’s entries and the popular category ‘Most Engaging Student Garden for Learning’, proves that gardens are now being used by schools as additional classroom with lots of learning being taken outdoors.

This year there are 20 regional Awards winners from which three State and the Kevin Heinze Perpetual Award winners will be decided.  Winners will be announced at the Presentation Ceremony at the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens on the 15th November along with the announcement of the other category awards.

Click for the 2018 VSGA Regionl Awards Results.

$43,000 Worth of Award Prizes to be Won

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Enter your school garden into one or all of the 10 VSGA Award categories. It’s quick and easy, submit a power point/video presentation on your garden. (View an Award winning entry)

  • Most Engaging Garden for Play $1000 x 3 awards
  • Catholic Education Melbourne – Most Engaging Student Garden for Learning                       $1000 x 3 awards
  • Maxicrop – Best Edible Garden $1000 x 3 awards
  • Independent Schools Victoria – Greatest Improvement of School’s Green Space                     $1000 x 3 awards
  • Nursery & Garden Industry of Victoria – Best School Garden Exhibiting Biodiversity $1000 x 3 awards
  • HMA Journalism Award for Best Horticulture Article $1000 x 1 award.  For years 7-12.
  • RB Landscapes Award – Garden design and consultation Valued at $5000
  • Turf Victoria Award – Turf Package provided by Coolabah Turf Valued at $4500
  • Australian Growing Solutions Award – Garden Compost Package Valued at $2000
  • Fleming’s Nurseries Award – Orchard Valued at $1000

Entries close Friday 7th September 2018.

2018 Grant Results

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During the month of May, the VSGA evaluated 210 grant applications received from 120 Victorian schools.

Forty one successful schools shared in $40,000 worth of vouchers and products and now have the opportunity to undertake their proposed garden projects.

Once again the Maxicrop – Edible Garden Grant category was the most popular, with many schools wanting to expand their produce gardens. Other popular categories were the Fleming’s Orchard Establish Grants, Australian Growing Solutions – Garden Compost Grant and Warner’s Outdoor Common Room Grant.

Please click here to view the 2018 Grant Results

2018 Grant Applications & Award Entries Open

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Grant applications open on 1st March and close on Friday 27th April at 5pm 

An opportunity exists for all Victorian schools to apply for one of 11 grant categories available.

With $40,000 worth of vouchers or products to be won for your school garden, enter your school now.

Award submissions open on 1st March and close on Friday 7th Sept at 5pm 

The Awards encourage all schools with practical student grown gardens that incorporate learning, community and/or well-being into their school yards to enter.

There are 10 categories Award categories to enter and $43,000 worth of vouchers or products to be won.

 

For more information on the Grant and Awards and how to enter, please go to appropiate web page.

 

2017 Award Results

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Over 500 students and teachers from across the state gathered in the Royal Botanic Gardens to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Victorian Schools Garden Awards (VSGA).

Bonbeach Primary School, a small school of 300 students in Melbourne’s South East, was awarded the grand prize of the ‘Kevin Heinze Perpetual Award’ by Judith Graley, Parliamentary Secretary for Education, for its creative garden which houses a fantastic array of spaces.

Their garden which includes an imagination garden, food forests, frog bogs, giant worm farm, chicken coop and outdoor classrooms was voluntarily built over the past 4 years by parents, teachers, students and the wider community. The garden has been integrated into the student’s learning under the science curriculum, as well as playing host to the wider community for education and sustainability workshops.

In its 40th year, the Victorian Schools Garden Awards have a long history of bringing gardening skills and the joy of learning to school-aged children through their school gardens and this special anniversary was marked with a planting of Corymbia leichhardtii, a beautiful small gum tree, by Ms Graley and Bonbeach Primary students in the Guilfoyle Lawn of the Royal Botanic Gardens.

At this year’s ceremony $40,000 worth of vouchers and products were rewarded to 35 Victorian schools. The Most Engaging Garden for Learning Award was highly sought after, which proves that schools are seeing the many learning, health and well-being benefits of taking learning outdoors and into the gardens.

VSGA Chairman and Nursery and Garden Industry of Victoria CEO, Craig Taberner explains, “With the tremendous support of Victorian schools and program sponsors, the VSGA has stood the test of time, as we celebrate 40 years. Participation in the program remains as strong as ever, and it is fabulous to see the large number of Victorian schools that use outdoor spaces as part of their learning environment.”

The VSGA acknowledges and thanks all our partners, but in particular, the Victorian Government. Through the ongoing commitment of the Victorian Department of Education and Training, it is estimated that the Victorian Government has contributed in excess of one million dollars towards the program over the past two decades and assisted in growing many young gardeners.

 Click here for 2017 VSGA Award Results

Contact us

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