ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS, ARTICLES, GROUPS, JOBS, AND PLACES - MELBOURNE

Nuclear Free Collective monthly online meeting
2025-08-07 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-09-04 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-10-02 18:00 - 19:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | online
Join us for the Nuclear Free Collective’s online organising meeting.
Every first Wednesday of the month 6 pm
Our future is renewable, not radioactive.

Springvale Urban Harvest
2025-08-09 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-09-13 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-10-11 13:00 - 15:00 | Springvale Community Hub, 5 Hillcrest Grove SPRINGVALE, Melbourne, VIC, 3171, Australia
Springvale Urban Harvest is a free monthly event that supports the growing of food locally, food knowledge and good nutrition. Come along to swap excess homegrown produce and gardening extras and meet like-minded growers in the area.
Springvale Urban Harvest operates on the second Saturday of the month (excluding January) and is supported by The Greater Dandenong Seed Library and the Springvale Community Hub Clothes Swap.
What can be swapped?

Home-grown fruit and vegetables
Seeds you’ve saved, seedlings and cuttings you’ve raised (edible only)
Share your gardening tips, exchange skills, stories and recipes
Gardening goodies (coffee grounds, worm juice, etc.)
Copies of your favourite seasonal recipe
Gardening magazines or gardening books you’ve read

If you require additional assistance to participate, please get in contact with us.

Sustainability Saturdays - Beeswax Wraps
2025-08-09 14:00 - 16:00 | Springvale Community Hub, 5 Hillcrest Grove SPRINGVALE, Melbourne, VIC, 3171, Australia
Are you passionate about reducing plastic waste? Dive into the world of sustainability with our beeswax wrap making workshop.
This two-hour workshop is split into two sections:

The first hour is an informative chat about bees and the important uses of bee products (honey and wax).
In the second hour, you will learn how to make your very own beeswax wraps. Ditch the plastic wrap forever.

This workshop is designed for ages 16+.

Online: Bird nests around the world: natural wonders with climate clues
2025-08-11 14:00 - 15:00 | online
Despite their tiny brains, birds are amazing architects, and we can learn a lot from their nest designs – including domes, cups and pendants. How did nest building evolve? Why are nests so diverse? Will birds successfully adapt their nests as the climate warms? To find out, Dr Iliana Medina Guzman has analysed hundreds of nests from around the world, in museums and in the wild. Join her interactive exploration of these beautiful and innovative constructions, live from the University of Melbourne’s Burnley campus.

Home Salad Growing
2025-08-14 13:00 - 14:00 | Avondale Heights Library And Learning Centre, 69 Military Road Avondale Heights, Melbourne, VIC, 3034, Australia
Join seasoned permaculture designer and educator Scott Hitchins for an insightful program on cultivating and maintaining salad plants. Discover the secrets to ensuring your salad greens flourish in your vegetable garden, providing you with a continuous harvest for years with minimal effort and no need for annual replanting.

August Park Care Day at Darebin Parklands
2025-08-17 13:00 - 15:00 | Darebin Parklands – Mt Puffalo – hill nest to the egg sculpture, Separation St, Alphington, Melbourne, VIC, 3078, Australia
Join the DCMC Rangers & Friend of Darebin Parklands for an afternoon of planting native grasses & wild flowers with the community, to help build habitat for wildlife!
Please wear weather appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes. Equipment, gloves and refreshments will be provided!
WHERE: Meet next to the giant egg sculpture which is opposite the Parklands Ave entrance. We’ll be planting the hill next to the sculpture, colloquially known as Mt Puffalo.
SEE MAP BELOW
For further info, email: kim@dcmc.org.au

Nuclear Free Collective monthly in-person ACTION meeting
2025-08-21 18:00 - 19:00 | Friends of the Earth Melbourne, 312 Smith St, Collingwood, Melbourne, VIC, 3066, Australia
Join us for the Nuclear Free Collective’s monthly in-person ACTION meeting
Every third Wednesday of the month 6 pm – 8 pm drop in at 312 Smith st Collingwood (upstairs, enter through Perry st side-door)
Paint banners, plan actions, make props.
Our future is renewable, not radioactive.

Hume Enviro Champions - Masterclass 6, Leadership and Advocacy
2025-08-23 09:00 - 15:00 | Hume Global Learning Centre – Sunbury, 44 Macedon Street, Sunbury, VIC, 3429, Australia
Leadership and Advocacy – learn ways to bring people together on a project or idea, that keeps them coming back to make change happen.

This Masterclass session will be the sixth in a series of eight. A schedule of dates and topics for the masterclass sessions can be found on the Hume City Council website.
The Enviro Champions masterclass sessions provide in-depth training in the key knowledge and skills you will need to plan and run a successful community-led project.
Anyone with a passion for the environment and sustainability can attend the masterclasses. There is no requirement to complete the introductory course before attending.
You are welcome to attend all of the masterclasses in the series, or just the ones that meet your specific skill development needs.
This masterclass will provide the opportunity to network with like-minded people and share your ideas about taking action for the environment and sustainability in Hume.
To be eligible to attend the masterclass series, you must currently live, work, study or volunteer in Hume.
What to expect
IRRESISTIBLE PROJECTS LAB with Les Robinson
Ever wondered how you can excite people to ‘come and play’ with your project? This fun workshop with Changeology expert Les Robinson, is actually an enjoyable idea incubator, where you’ll work with likeminded people to guarantee your project is noticeable, buzzworthy, and irresistible.
No matter what the scale of your project idea, this masterclass will help you to makes it fun, simple, where the people are, make it social and of course add food. The day is packed full of practical ideas that will have people wanting to join in to support your project and your successes story spreading by word-of-mouth.
Once you have participated in a Les Robinson workshop you’ll never look at community project ideas in the same way. His energy and inspiration to innovate provide a foundation for projects and activities that create change in peoples lives as well as the environment.
What to bring
This will be an indoor event, please bring;

Plenty of energy
Laptop or tablet (there will be power points available for charging devices)
pen and paper

Full day event
Morning tea and lunch will be provided
Enquiries
Jo Burton – Environmental Community Development Officer
email: job@hume.vic.gov.au or mobile: 0455 091 999
Privacy Notice
Through Eventbrite registrations, Council is collecting some personal information for administrative purposes. This information will not be disclosed to any other party except as required by law. You may access this information by contacting Council on 9205 2200. To view our privacy statement, go to Hume City Council Privacy Policy.

Living in Symbiosis - an Archeology of the Future
2025-08-26 19:00 - 20:00 | Lecture Theatre (B117), Glyn Davis Building (133 – Melbourne School of Design), Lecture Theatre (B117), Glyn Davis Building (133 - Melbourne School of Design), Melbourne University - Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
More than a method of work, “Archeology of the future” is a true approach to the built landscape established by Lina Ghotmeh throughout her practice. Founder of Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture, Paris based discipline, Lina Ghotmeh’s designs develop from thorough historical research emerging as exquisite interventions that enliven our memories and senses.
In this “Archeology of the future”, every architecture is drawn from its place and from the traces of its past. A link is drawn between time, memory, space establishing an anchored place drawing a strong tie between the Humane and Nature. The past meets the future as histories are unearthed and memories excavated to enable questioning, innovation, and a more sustainable architecture.
Bearing a “humanist” approach, Lina Ghotmeh’s practice emphasises the power of craft and that of the hand in the making of Architecture. Through this, the built embraces the traditions of its localities, while uplifting the subjective experience and the collective memory of those it recalls.

Online - Coastcare Victoria Schools Kit Professional Learning
2025-09-03 16:00 - 17:30 | online
This event will be conducted online via Zoom. A Zoom link will be emailed to you closer to the date.

Event starts 4 pm sharp.
Preview the Schools Kit here: Coastcare Schools Kit
The Coastcare Schools Kit is an online education resource that aims to engage young people in caring for marine and coastal environments. The Schools Kit consists of a collection of video clips with simple, easy to follow lesson plans. Lesson plans include engaging activities including quizzes, games, videos, and investigation worksheets. The Schools Kit is aimed for Years 5-8. It is a flexible resource that is adaptable to younger or older audiences.
The aim of this professional learning session is to unpack Lessons 6 -7, and for you to ‘be the student’ and emerse yourself in some of the activities in the Kit.
This video is from Lesson 5 – Action and Innovation: Litter Stopper. This showcases a beach clean-up with a purpose, and how citizen science has lead to stopping litter at the source.

Rethinking Habitat Management for Threatened Reptiles and Frogs east of Melbourne
2025-09-13 10:00 - 16:00 | Tirhatatuan Wetlands Conservation Park, 24 Illawarra Avenue, Rowville, Melbourne, VIC, 3178, Australia
Rethinking Habitat Management for Threatened Reptiles & Frogs East of Melbourne –
with David De Angelis
Our understanding of the types of habitats used by threatened frogs and reptiles is increasingly developing. In some cases, assumptions about the best way to manage revegetation, weed control and fire can result in poorer outcomes for local populations. We will visit several sites where David will explain why habitat structure and land management history are often more important for the survival of reptiles and frogs than whether the plants they live among are indigenous or introduced. We will also discuss some of the difficulties managing populations that are increasingly being recognised as living in habitats that might otherwise be perceived as being too highly disturbed, polluted or weedy. Species that will be discussed include the Glossy Grass Skink, Swamp Skink, Growling Grass Frog and Southern Toadlet.
Our guide – David De Angelis:
David is an ecological consultant and environmental educator with a background in ecological land management, having worked on wetland and bush crews early in his career. He is particularly interested in the conservation and ecology of reptiles and frogs, having surveyed and written habitat management plans for the threatened species will be discussing.
Locations:
1st location: Tirhatatuan Wetlands Conservation Park, Rowville. Meet 10:00am opposite 24 Illawarra Avenue. (Melbourne Water Land)
2nd location: Bayswater north, meet at the south end of Market drive off Canterbury Road (Maroondah land)
3rd location: Bungalook Conservation Reserves, Kilsyth South. Meet at 7 Tereddan drive, enter Tereddan Drive off Liverpool road (DO NOT believe your GPS there is no vehicle access to Tereddan Drive from the west of the site)
Terrain – Across slashed grass, formed paths, single file tracks, up and down steep embankments.
Wear/Bring – Closed solid shoes, long pants, water, food, any medications you may need. Dress for the weather forecast of the day i.e. wet weather clothes, sun hat. Fold up chair/something to sit on for lunch.

Sustainable Style Workshop
2025-09-13 10:30 - 12:00 | Collingwood Library, 11 Stanton St Abbotsford, Melbourne, VIC, 3066, Australia
Finding your personal style doesn’t have to cost the planet. Join us at Collingwood Library to learn how!

Looking to develop your personal style, but worried about textile waste?
Join conscious dressing advocates Simone and Natacha for a hands-on styling workshop. You’ll learn how to get more from your existing wardrobe and shop with the planet in mind.
Bring along an item from your wardrobe and we’ll show you how to style it!

If you have accessibility questions or requirements, please contact us at yarralibraries@yarracity.vic.gov.au or on 1300 695 427.

Sustainability Saturdays - Seed Balls and Seed Paper
2025-09-13 14:00 - 15:30 | Springvale Community Hub, 5 Hillcrest Grove SPRINGVALE, Melbourne, VIC, 3171, Australia
Make seed balls and seed paper in this interactive workshop, hosted by Emma Grace.
Learn why pollinators are important and how to help them by growing flowers. This engaging experience connects you with nature, sparks curiosity, and promotes sustainability.
It’s a wonderful chance to help create a greener future together.

Nuclear Free Collective monthly in-person ACTION meeting
2025-09-18 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-10-16 18:00 - 19:00 | Friends of the Earth Melbourne, 312 Smith St, Collingwood, Melbourne, VIC, 3066, Australia
Join us for the Nuclear Free Collective’s monthly in-person ACTION meeting
Every third Wednesday of the month 6 pm – 8 pm drop in at 312 Smith st Collingwood (upstairs, enter through Perry st side-door)
Paint banners, plan actions, make props.

Food For Thought: Sustainable Food with Jo Barrett and Jade Miles
2025-09-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Manningham Function Centre, Function Room 1, 699 Doncaster Road Doncaster, Melbourne, vic, 3108, Australia
Come along to Manningham Council’s 2025 Inspired Living Series presentation on the exciting world of sustainable food!
Jo Barrett – Jo is one of Australia’s most innovative chefs specialising in sustainable and low waste cooking. Having released her cookbook Sustain: Groundbreaking Recipes And Skills That Could Save The Planet, she went on to be named ‘Chef of the Year’ at the Good Food Guide awards 2024.
Jo is a long time collaborator with sustainability legend Joost Bakker, taking part in the groundbreaking eco-living experiment futurefoodsystem – a self sustaining, zero waste, highly productive house in Melbourne’s Federation Square. Jo currently works with Wild Pies, utilising invasive game species in pies, and is collaborating with the CSIRO to develop creative, edible ways to use the 456 million loaves of bread wasted in Australia every year.
Jo will discuss her journey into sustainable food, and inspire audience members to embrace new ways of eating.
Jade Miles – Jade is host of the Futuresteading podcast, and author of a book by the same name. Both are practical guides to living slower and simpler, in ways that are healthier for you, your home and the environment.
Jade is a regenerative heritage fruit farmer at Black Barn Farm, a biodiverse orchard, nursery and workshop space in Northeast Victoria.
Jade is also CEO of Sustainable Table, an organisation seeking to transform farming, food and fibre systems through regenerative practices. Grounded in care for people and planet, her team facilitates connection, collaboration, funding and learning to catalyse positive change accross Australia’s food system.
Inspired Living Series – keynote speaker events:
The 2025 Inspired Living Series by Manningham Council, showcases five insightful, not-to-be-missed evenings. The Series will introduce you to a diverse line-up of local keynote speakers offering unique insights on how we can all shift to and embrace sustainability.
Topics range from sustainable food to low waste lifestyles, and each speaker will talk about their journey, and inspire our audience to embrace simple, positive lifestyle choices, connection to nature and foster community for a stronger, more resilient and brighter future.

Heritage Fruits Society Orchard Tour
2025-10-07 08:00 - 17:00 | Petty’s Orchard, 1 Homestead Road, Templestow, VIC, 3106, Australia
Visit the Heritage Apple Orchard to tour the Heritage Orchard, and meet the friendly volunteers from the Heritage Fruits Society.
See what is on offer, ask questions and join in!
Getting there:

Travel by car – Park in the public area near the Cafe.
Nearest bus service stop – Newmans road shops Templestowe, it is a 1km walk to the Orchard.
Enter Petty’s Orchard corner Monckton Road and Homestead Road Templestowe. Look for the white Marquee.

Wear firm footwear and sun protection. Bring a water bottle!

Electrify Your Life - Summer Comfort - The Pines
2025-10-09 13:30 - 15:30 | Pines Learning, 1/520 Blackburn Rd, Doncaster East, VIC, 3109, Australia
By improving your home’s efficiency, you can reduce energy costs and create a more comfortable home for your family.
Looking for ways to improve comfort and energy efficiency at home? This 2-hour session, funded by Manningham Council and hosted by Pines Learning, is perfectly timed as we enter the warmer months.
Join expert presenter Lucinda and learn practical strategies to optimise your home and appliances for summer comfort.
Topics include:

how heat builds up in your home and strategies to reduce this
simple tips for staying cooler in summer
choosing efficient and affordable appliances
habits and behaviours to make your home more liveable
government freebies, rebates and financial incentives.

You’ll leave with fresh ideas and an upgrades roadmap to help you achieve greater comfort and lower energy use – long into the future.
The session is suited to anyone looking for simple, practical ways to save money, reduce their environmental impact and improve their home’s liveability.
Registrations are essential.
Note: Doncaster Library will be hosting a later session of Liveable Homes – Summer Comfort on 30 October 2025.

Power up a cleaner future
This event is part of our Electrify Your Life program, which supports residents to go all-electric at home, creating a brighter Manningham. Learn how to make the switch at Electrify Your Life.

Wildlife Gardening Seminar Series - Soil care in a wildlife garden
2025-10-09 19:00 - 21:00 | Currawong Bush Park Conference & Environmental Centre, 277-285 Reynolds Rd, Warrandyte, VIC, 3113, Australia
Soil care in an indigenous wildlife garden
All gardens begin and end in the soil. In this workshop we will dive into the world of soil and how to care for it so your indigenous / wildlife garden flourishes and becomes a welcome home for wildlife.
There are many simple ways to improve the soil in your garden and the paybacks can be huge, improving the local environment, supporting wildlife and maintaining a productive and beautiful garden. This webinar will introduce you to the science of soil, and provide tips on how to protect and improve soil for a wildlife garden in an environmentally beneficial way.
Topics covered:

Physical structure of soil – clay, silt, sand
Soil pH and how to adjust it
Six steps to a dynamic soil food web
Simple soil tests
Which mulch to use in an indigenous garden
Planting under existing eucalyptus

Wildlife Gardening Seminar Series

This series of workshops by Sustainable Gardening Australia aims to give you the skills and knowledge to plan and build a wildlife friendly garden at home. All seminars are at Currawong Bush Park Conference Centre, Reynolds Road Doncaster East. Supper is at 6:45pm and the seminar begins at 7:00pm sharp.

Sustainability Saturdays - Dried Flower Posy
2025-10-11 14:00 - 16:00 | Springvale Community Hub, 5 Hillcrest Grove SPRINGVALE, Melbourne, VIC, 3171, Australia
Join Domenica from Lupin Botanical for a delightful workshop where you will craft a beautiful posy using dried flowers, grasses, and other botanicals.
Discover the art of home-drying flowers and learn step-by-step techniques to preserve your blooms. Each posy will be elegantly wrapped and finished with a ribbon.
This fun and creative workshop is perfect for all skill levels and is designed for ages 16+. Bookings required.

If you require additional assistance to participate, please get in contact with us.

Backyard birds of Warrandyte
2025-10-14 11:00 - 12:00 | 168 Yarra St, Warrandyte, 168 Yarra St, Warrandyte, VIC, 3113, Australia
Join us for a presentation by John Harris, Principle Ecological Consultant at Wildlife Experiences to learn more about the Local Birds of Warrandyte.
John has worked in both the environmental and educational sectors, so this presentation is sure to be engaging and interesting!
The presentation will get you prepared for the upcoming Aussie Backyard Bird Count which is run each year by Bird Life Australia and supported by Manningham. All level of bird knowledge is welcome.

Backyard birds of Warrandyte
2025-10-14 11:00 - 12:00 | Warrandyte Library, 168 Yarra Street, Warrandyte, VIC, 3113, Australia
Join us for a presentation by John Harris, Principle Ecological Consultant at Wildlife Experiences to learn more about the Local Birds of Warrandyte.
John has worked in both the environmental and educational sectors, so this session is sure to be engaging and interesting!
The presentation will get you prepared for the upcoming Aussie Backyard Bird Count which is run each year by Bird Life Australia and supported by Manningham.
All levels of bird knowledge are welcome.

Electrify Your Life - Drop in session - The Pines
2025-10-15 10:30 - 11:30 | The Pines Library, Cnr Reynolds & Blackburn Roads, Doncaster East, VIC, 3109, Australia
By going all-electric, you can create a safer home and brighter Manningham.
That’s why Manningham Council has partnered with Solar Savers, a local government initiative that takes the hassle out of home energy upgrades. The
Council-backed program has now expanded to offer more suppliers and product choices, as well as home energy assessments for personalised advice.
Do you have questions about making your home more comfortable and efficient? Keen to install solar, batteries or efficient electric appliances? Drop in to learn more.
Join us at your local library for a session between August and October 2025.
Registration is not required. Drop in any time during the one-hour session.

Power up a cleaner future
This event is part of our Electrify Your Life program, which supports residents to go all-electric at home, creating a brighter Manningham. Learn how to make the switch at Electrify Your Life.

FOGO tours - see the Bio Gro organics facility
2025-10-16 09:00 - 13:00 | Manningham Civic Centre, 699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster, VIC, 3108, Australia
Join a free tour to explore the Bio Gro organics facility.
Discover where Manningham’s food and garden waste is transformed into compost as part of our Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) service.
You can see first-hand how your food and garden waste is processed with the chance to ask questions along the way.
Important information:

Closed-toe shoes must worn on the day.
Participants must be 18 years or older.
Please note that there are stairs leading to the decontamination line, which may not be suitable for individuals with limited mobility.

Where to meet:
The tour includes bus transport to and from the Bio Gro organics facility in Dandenong South.
The tour will depart and return to the Manningham Civic Centre at 699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster 3108.
Registration is essential as spots are limited.*
*Due to limited numbers, please note this event is for Manningham residents only.

Online- (Professional Development: Teachers) The Ethics of Wildlife Tourism (Elephants) - Secondary
2025-10-16 16:00 - 17:00 | online
During this online PD, you will:

Learn how to develop the Ethical Capability of your students

Discover real world examples you can use in your teaching by considering the ethical concepts of wildlife tourism and animal welfare

Chat with zoo experts and view behind the scenes content

Recognition: certificate for 1 hour of PD
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers: 2.1, 3.2, 3.4
Curriculum areas: Ethical Capability

Wildlife Gardening Seminar Series - Weeds in the garden
2025-10-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Currawong Bush Park Conference & Environmental Centre, 277-285 Reynolds Rd, Warrandyte, VIC, 3113, Australia
Weeds are the bane of the home gardener but also a serious threat to local native flora and fauna.
Whether in private or public gardens, or in the natural environment, weeds compete with preferred plants for space, light, nutrients and water and often are designed to win in the battle.
In this community workshop participants will learn how to identify and control weeds using an integrated approach that minimises negative impacts on the environment.
Topics Covered:

What is a weed?
Issues with chemical control of weeds
An introduction to Integrated Weed Management – A hierarchy weed controls with chemicals as the last step, not the first
Disposal of weeds
Edible Weeds
Common weed profiles

Wildlife Gardening Seminar Series

This series of workshops by Sustainable Gardening Australia aims to give you the skills and knowledge to plan and build a wildlife friendly garden at home. All seminars are at Currawong Bush Park Conference Centre, Reynolds Road Doncaster East. Supper is at 6:45pm and the seminar begins at 7:00pm sharp.
