DEECD: Regional Victoria Landscapes

For a few weeks in April I was sent all over Regional Victoria with the Department of Education & Early Childhood Development to photograph teachers at work who had been nominated for the Victorian Education Excellence Awards 2013.

 

At each school, I had to give a sense of the environment around the school, as well as photograph teachers highlighting the particular area that they are excelling at with their students. It was fascinating & inspiring to see how individual teachers can have such a big impact & create momentum with students, schools & even the broader community.

 

I learnt about salt bush along with other native indigenous plants from a school in Huntly that is working closely with the Indigenous community in the area. I learnt about online teaching programs run through schools in Bendigo & Hawkesdale allowing remote students greater access to a wider variety of subjects than their small schools have the capacity to offer. About garden projects, Indigenous culture education, music programs, photography programs, Autism programs, a school who’s kids visit seniors in nursing homes…. really exciting stuff that has kids engaged, learning & growing.

 

I was also particularly struck by the land in different areas around regional victoria. Australia truly is a diverse country. Every town felt distinct & seemed to reflect it’s landscape.