If you are not sure, Accredited Permaculture Training (APT) is permaculture education accessed through Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and is a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification – just like your plumber, sparky, horticulturist, hairdresser, motor mechanic. These qualifications are identified as Certificate I through to Certificate IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma.
In the early 2000’s APT was kicked off, and APT was provided by and available through several RTOs across the country, some were private RTOs and some were TAFEs (Technical And Further Education organisations), operated by the public sector.
Over the last decade and a half, hundreds at least (perhaps more) Permies undertook this training, mostly completing Certificate III and Certificate IV. In late 2024 a new team was established, a VET Circle, within Permaculture Australia to progress the extraordinary work done before to invigorate this pathway for permaculture education. Importantly, not to conflict with other learning streams, such as PDCs, but to coexist and with an intent of complimenting other education streams. Providing choice for our permie community.
After a lot of discussions, discovery of what courses were where and in what state, understanding any new guidelines that might exist for the delivery of APT, connecting with our Jobs and Skills Council – Skills Insight (responsible for all agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, etc and of course Permaculture, in VET), we have an aspiration and a plan.
Our aspiration is to initially focus on Schools; the delivery of permaculture education within the school curriculum for years 9 through 12, commencing in 2026, in every state and territory. We know some schools in Victoria and WA are already delivering Certificate II for years 9-12. Our discovery, like any design forensics, is expected to be a little wanting and there may well be others we have yet to find and connect with – let us know if you or someone you know should be connected with.
Our plan that is underway is to refresh the Certificate II training material, to bring a refreshed approach to structure and content, and shift it to a more appropriate project-based learning approach rather than paper-based knowledge tests – more suited to learning permaculture.
There are several things that must happen to give us the capability to start delivering in 2026, including engagement with schools, engagement with RTOs, establishing a list of any member with an interest and competency in teaching Certificate II in schools, and last but by no means least, is the uplift of the training material.
The VET Circle has established a team that will work on the revised training materials. We want to hear from anyone that can contribute to this team and its endeavour. Be that simply insight, through to hands on writing. The team is being led by Lindra Woodrow, who most of you will know or know of, and is a veteran of VET, not just in permaculture but also other disciplines.
The door is open, and we welcome any inputs you feel you can contribute. And of course, if you know folks who might not be members of PA, but have a skill and an interest, reach out and encourage them to contact us. If you are an accredited teacher and/or have a valid TAE, and have an interest in teaching in this space, let us know so we can add you to the growing team of interested/available teachers.
And of course, if you want to get your school onboard in 2026, or know of a school that should be contacted, get in touch. Please contact us at vet@permacultureaustralia.org.au
The Permaculture Australia 2025 Annual General Meeting covered a range of important topics, including the annual report, strategic planning, and governance discussions. The meeting also addressed financial matters, constitutional changes, and the election of new board members. Finally, the participants expressed gratitude for outgoing members and discussed plans for future board activities and training.
In order to make sure Permaculture International Ltd trading as Permaculture Australia is up to date with current rules, regulations and operating conditions there are some adjustments to our MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION that need to be made. These changes are required to be voted on by our members.
The Memorandum outlines the company’s basic details like name, objectives, and legal powers, while the Articles of Association detail the internal governance structure, including rights and responsibilities of shareholders and directors, and how the company will be run on a day-to-day basis; essentially acting as the company’s constitution
A description and explanation of the changes being put forward and online voting were made available to members on the 15th of March 2025 and have been left open and available until 1 pm on the 6th of April 2025.
All 9 Special resolutions were passed and accepted by the members who responded to the online form. Our Constitution will now be updated to help support Permaculture Australia into the future.
We would like to thank our departing board members who have all made the decision to step back and allow some fresh energy and skills.
Toad DellLinda WoodrowNaomi AmberGreta Carroll
Thank you to Toad for your 3 Years , Linda, Naomi and Greta for your 2 years of time, energy and passion over the last few years.
We are pleased to announce the new Permaculture Australia Board for 2025-2026
As a current financial member, you are invited to the Permaculture Australia Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held on Sunday 6th April 2025, 1pm EST (Melbourne / Sydney Time) online via Zoom.
Links for associated documents will be available here
Attendance via Zoom – Attendance via Zoom is welcome, the Zoom meeting will be activated right at 1 pm. You will be required to pre-register, for attendance purposes. Please register HERE
Nominations to the Board – Members can nominate themselves or another member they think is suitable and willing to serve on the Board. People nominated must hold a Permaculture Design Course (PDC) certificate or VET Permaculture Cert III or higher, and confirm they are willing to stand and are familiar with or will become familiar with the responsibilities/time commitment outlined in the document ‘What Does Board Membership Involve’.
Under the Permaculture Australia Constitution, members who wish to stand for election to the Board must be nominated by at least 2 other current financial members of Permaculture Australia. If you wish to self-nominate and don’t know any PA members, then include a couple of references from people who know what relevant skills you have to offer PA in your nomination information. You are able to NOMINATE HERE or PA members attending the AGM can nominate during the AGM if they feel they have enough information about you (you are also entitled to speak to the meeting in support of your self-nomination).
We look forward to receiving your responses/nominations and are happy to answer any questions you may have. We encourage anyone who’s considering nominating to chat with a current Director/s.
Nominees for the 2025 Permaculture Australia Board
Bronwyn Chompff-Gliddon
Obtained PDC in April 2020 from Charles & Jolene Otway at Terra Perma, and have applied the teachings to my life and business ever since. The thing that hit me the most during the PDC was that this is what I’ve been trying to do my whole life – I just never knew it was called Permaculture. I have now dedicated my business, career and life to promoting permaculture as the only way to live sustainably – now, and even more so in the coming days.
With a long background in small business administration and bookkeeping and a current focus on business coaching, I offer expertise in organisational structure, financial acumen, and business administration and operation.
Catherine Reynolds
I am fairly new to Permaculture, having completed my PDCs in 2024 after a 3-year re-programming of my worldview through regenerative education in the fields of economics, finance and living systems organisational design. Permaculture grounded me and allowed me to integrate all this new information in real life and provide foundations for new ways of living and being in the world. I am now of the opinion that Permaculture is one of the critical foundations for the social change required to: • “wake up” those currently frozen in separation, despair, fear, denial and helplessness • create the conditions for connecting people to the earth, its creatures, elements and each other • empower people with practical ways to take back agency in their lives and communities and I want to participate in the Permaculture movement directly to assist in fulfilling the PA mission as an influential enabler for community resilience and activism in the face of contemporary threats to planetary boundaries, and their social consequences.
John Champagne
20+ years experience and Permafund
PDC in 1992 with Vries & Hugh Gravestein RPL for Diploma in Permaculture Design
Practical Development, Teaching, Demonstration and promotion,Private Consultancy & eco-village design, Community engagement.
Knowledge, experience and a history with PA
Tim Collings
20 yrs + experience in organisational design and development, coaching and developing boards and leaders, with the last 7 years devoted to infusing living systems theory and practice into these processes. I’ve spent many years as a learning and experience designer and have applied these skills in adult learning in both organisational and community contexts, as well as in youth settings in community organisations. I’ve learnt directly from world leaders in regenerative systemic change and organisational development, including Carol Sanford and Giles Hutchins. I’d hope to bring my whole self, all that I practice and all the energy I can muster to serve on the Board of PA.
2024 / 2025 Permaculture Australia Board Members Renominating
As a returning Aotearoa resident from 40 years in Australia, I was delighted to find the equivalent of a Permaculture convergence was due to occur within two months and 10 km of where I’ve resettled in Taranaki – North Island, west coast, big dormant volcano. What better way to meet and network with both local permies and those from the multiple climate zones of this long and narrow country?
The hui, which translates from Māori as ‘ceremonial or social gathering’, took place in the private Green School in Taranaki. About 110 permies converged on the event organised not locally, but by PiNZ – Permaculture in New Zealand. The hui coincided with the local sustainable gardens/farms/builds trail which some local permies were helping run.
Following a tour of the magnificent whale-shaped and concrete-free buildings and grounds, the hui settled into a routine of morning circle (a bit touchy-feely for some) followed by PowerPoint presentations. There were a couple of diploma presentations and also a session for those from the regions to connect and coalesce. The local National Party MP Barbara Kiruger joined our regional Taranaki group.
The permaculture and regenerative scenes are intertwined in Taranaki. The region has been a dairying powerhouse since colonisation. Of the couple of dozen people I asked most saw regenerative pasture-grazing beef and dairy as potentially highly significant for carbon drawdown and food supply. The remainder were ‘don’t know’. I met plenty of soil food-web nerds too.
I was wowed by all the presenters I saw and am looking forward to videos of those that I missed.
First was Yotam Kay, who has ADHD, two books and lots of YouTube including a TEDx Talk. With his ‘reality-checker’ wife Niva, their ¼ acre Pakaraka Farm produces 10 tons of food a year.
Then there was white-bearded Rob Guyton who with his wife Robyn has a 23-year-old food forest established from a scraggly block nobody wanted in the cold wet deep-south town of Riverston. Despite having been on NZ TV and in a Happen Film, Rob was not recognised in the wealthy seaside town of Oakura where he was challenged by local ladies as he tugged at plants on a bushwalk. Once he got chatting they were eager to show him around.
Taranaki local Kama Burwell, an ecological designer and engineer, is rapidly cladding the family cattle farm with native bush, helped by local crews such as Rapid Regen. She described the holistic process of family farm regeneration including the familial succession aspects. We both went to Inglewood High School and I reckon Kama is probably the greatest alumni.
Venerable elder and educator Robina McCurdy described social and governance considerations of intentional communities. Invisible structures did not feature so much overall at the hui but Robina’s wide-ranging talk rapidly refreshed my sociocracy knowledge.
There were about 15 Māori attendees, and the call and response and singing (waiata) in the language of all participants showed me, this white man has some catching up to do. Whetu Marama, a film about recreated canoe voyages from Hawaii to Tahiti and Rarotonga educated me on the history of Māori occupation of Aotearoa. The word Hui in Hawaiian means ‘community or extended family’.
Local band The Slacks kicked off the dancing as the alcohol-free event went into celebration mode on Saturday night. I’d say the average age of attendees for the weekend was 50 – perhaps because Facebook and websites are the predominant forms of social media with local reach? The same demographic was apparent in the garden and farm tours I attended.
Overall the national hui was a wonderful event brimming with people-care, cultural reverence and high-achieving permies. Kudos and gratitude to the PiNZ Council, legends that they are.
One of Permafund’s assessment criteria for small grant applications is “Bang for the Buck”.
Daniel Chibwe, a permie of great entrepreneurial spirit in Lilongwe, central Malawi, delivered 192 newly qualified farmers for the first stage of a newly funded project at Mlatho Agri Learning Hub. Next comes more training, more demonstration plots and a tree nursery for 150,000 endemic and fruit trees. He plans for another 800 students to complete the 5-day course Transforming Agriculture Using Permaculture Practices.
To squeeze every drop of impact from the $2000 Permafund grant Daniel also blitzed the local press, radio stations and social media with reports of the course and its associated projects which include supplying tools such as spades, wheelbarrows, and briquette-making.
Daniel said most farmers have experienced first-hand the diverse effects of climate change and poor soil fertility, which consequently cause low agriculture production. “The training was aimed at imparting permaculture knowledge among youth so that they should shift towards more sustainable farming practices by adopting permaculture farming. We have taught them how they can prepare manure, organic pesticides, Mbeya fertiliser and others, using materials which are locally available in our communities.”
The Mlatho project is one of 20 that Permafund has funded this year and will now monitor for progress, content and lessons learned.
Seed funding for their community projects is gratefully received by grant recipients such as Mlatho Farms and Agri-Learning Hub who’ve written to say “We are incredibly grateful for your support, which has made this program possible, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration to promote sustainable farming practices here in Malawi and Africa.”
Since 2012 the Permaculture Australia’s Permafund grants program has supported 93 community permaculture-oriented environmental and education projects in Australia and overseas thanks to gifts from donors, bequests and fundraisers.
For future applicants, the launch of the 2025 Permafund grant round will be announced on the Permaculture Australia website.
For more information and to share fundraising suggestions, please contact the Permafund committee at permafund@permacultureaustralia.org.au
Our thanks to Dominique Chen, Managing Director of Yuruwan for this report,
“Growing on Country is an online course for anyone in any field (from permaculture, regenerative agriculture, syntropics, horticulture and nursery work, to backyard pottering) who wants to be an ally when growing, gardening or engaging with Indigenous plants, people and communities on unceded land.
Specifically, it is for those wanting to explore how to effect social and environmental justice through growing and gardening.
The course will support learners to be informed, respectful, equitable, culturally safe and inclusive in their relationship with people and with Country.
Growing on Country has been written, designed and developed by a team of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people with contributions and feedback from Elders, knowledge holders, researchers and community members.
It is a very unique and much-needed resource in the space of reparative, land-based work. All profits from the course go to Yuruwan – an Aboriginal-run not-for-profit supporting First Nations urban food initiatives.
The five-module course includes interviews, current critical research, case studies, links to readings and resources, inquiry questions, and provocations for applying information within individual learning, teaching and growing contexts.
This emphasis on practical application empowers learners to make a real difference in their own communities. The self-paced course is accessible for one year from the purchase date. At the end of the course, learners will receive a certificate of completion.
We are grateful to have received support from Permaculture Australia’s Permafund, and are happy that the course is now live and ready to do some good work in the broader community.
Thanks, Dominique Chen & congratulations Yuruwan on the course launch.
Permaculture Australia’s gift fund, Permafund, contributes to permaculture education and environmental projects in Australia and overseas. Gifts to the fund can be madehere. All gifts over $2 are tax deductible in Australia and are greatly appreciated.
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