Safari by the Sea

2025 VALA Safari by the Sea

Applied Learning on the Move!

Featuring a stellar line up of outstanding applied learning programs we will visit St Josephs College Geelong (Bobbie Evans & team), the Farm my School project and at Bellarine Secondary College and Lorne P-12 College (Cherie Osta & team) to get a firsthand account of their programs in action.

A fantastic opportunity to learn about innovative VAL program delivery including specific integrated projects. With ample time to meet other VAL educators, share stories, victories, challenges, and exchange engaging program ideas.

Join us on this iconic overnight PD experience! Limited places available, so book now!

(registration fee includes morning tea and lunch on both days, and networking dinner on Thursday evening as well as travel on air-conditioned coach (Geelong – Lorne – Geelong)

Accommodation not included.

Full Program

(subject to change without notice)

Thursday, October 30, 2025

9.30 AM Registration opens @ St Josephs College

Tea and coffee provided

9.20 AM Welcome from VALA & house keeping

10.00 AM St Josephs College Applied Learning program

Includes morning tea.

Plastics Recycling Project

The community in and around SJC collect and donate their bottle top lids. The boys wash, dry and sort the lids by type and colour. From this point, the boys then shred the lids in the ‘R25 Schredder’ ready for processing. The sheet press machine is used to create a ‘sheet’ of plastic that is then cut into various shapes and sanded to make coffee coasters, while the injection moulding machine liquifies the shredded plastic to create pens, rulers and Eddy coins! Eddy coins are discs that represent either a $5 canteen voucher or $4 coffee voucher. These coins are HIGHLY valued by the students of the college.

12.00 AM Depart SJC on Airconditioned bus to the Bellarine Peninsula

12.30 PM Arrive at Bellarine SC - Farm my School and other AL projects

(includes lunch)

At Bellarine Secondary College, a non-profit group called Farm My School operates a 1.5-acre farm, having turned a disused soccer pitch into a place where students can learn food-growing skills, as well as commercially supplying fresh food to the local community.

Farm My School was started by professional gardeners Ben Shaw and James McLennan. 

 By growing food on school grounds, James says they hope to build food security and community resilience, plus they’re educating students on how to grow food. 

The visit to BSC includes a tour of the Basin and Farm, Vineyard and animals in part conducted by Y10 Farm my School students and trainees.

2.45 PM coach leaves Bellarine SC

4.15 PM Arrive at Lorne, check-in to accommodation

(cost not included in registration fee)

5.30 – 9.00 PM.  

Team building gets serious when kick of the evening with a friendly session of barefoot bowling at the Lorne Bowls Club

A great way to get to know your fellow AL teachers!

Post dinner - Fireside chats

A fantastic opportunity to further foster lasting connections and friendships with your newly found peers from across the state. Exchange experiences and share your challenges. You’ll soon realise you’re not on your own. Always full of passion and packed with problem solving insights, one not to miss!

Friday, October 31, 2025

9.00 AM – 12.30 Visit Lorne P-12 College

Includes morning tea

12.45 PM  packed lunch on the Lorne foreshore

1.15 PM Bus departs Lorne

2.45 PM Bus arrives at Geelong .