EcoCentre in St Kilda, Victoria | Non-profit organisation

EcoCentre

Locality: St Kilda, Victoria

Phone: +61 3 9534 0670

Address: St Kilda Botanic Gardens, 55A Blessington St 3182 St Kilda, VIC, Australia

Website: http://www.ecocentre.com/

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25.01.2022 Meet one of the more hidden creatures of Port Phillip Bay: a unique species of worm called Diopatra dentata. They have jaws that put most science fiction monsters to shame but you hardly ever see them because they hide in their burrows and only extend their head to grab food. Our Spring NatureSpot season launches next week -- find out more about how you can share the plants and animals you see around you at ecocentre.com/naturespot

24.01.2022 Join our friends at Prince's Trust Australia online 9 - 10 September for #AchieveFest. In collaboration with The Big Issue Australia,UN Youth Australia, High Resolves & Zoos Victoria, Achieve Fest is a free, two-day online immersion designed to support young people, educators & parents with the skills & networks you need to thrive now & into the future. Register today > http://bit.ly/achievefestsept

24.01.2022 Great article by Notes of Substance about her experience with the St Kilda Repair Cafe a fantastic reminder that the Repair Cafe does more than just save items from landfill.

24.01.2022 Do you have a passion for looking after our local environment and want to use your skills to help the Port Phillip EcoCentre help create an empowered, active community? We'd love to have you as part of our team of volunteers. We are currently looking for volunteers to assist with projects from home, while we stay safe during COVID-19. This session is suitable for individuals interested in initially volunteering for online projects in 2020, with the option to continue participating in group-based activities once we can safely resume our regular operations in 2021. Register at ecocentre.com/volunteer

24.01.2022 Get to know the wonders of Port Phillip Bay and its connected waterways in Day by the Bay, an online program of stories, science, art and music to celebrate connections to our local environment. Day by the Bay 2020 is part of the Victoria Nature Festival, and launches from next Monday! Explore the suite of programs at: https://connectedtoportphillip.com/day-by-the-bay-2020/

23.01.2022 Planning a picnic this long weekend? Don't forget to go zero waste: choose reusables and avoid plastics! We're thrilled to partner with International Waste Platform to bring you these multilingual posters. They're designed to help restaurants, fast food chains, take-away providers, cafés, shops, supermarkets, and canteens in schools and workplaces around the world reduce waste by encouraging people to bring their own reusables. Find out more: https://internationalwasteplatfor...m.org/campaign-materials/ Sustainable Port Phillip Bayside City Council, Victoria Stonnington City Council Zero Waste Victoria Tangaroa Blue Yarra Riverkeeper Association

22.01.2022 We're thrilled to be listed as finalists in several awards being announced this month. Congratulations to all EcoCentre volunteers, partners and staff involved in these projects! Keep Victoria Beautiful: 2020 Sustainable Cities Awards (Ceremony: 13 Nov) Living Water Workbees (Finalist: Environment Award) Multicultural Bay Ambassadors (Finalist: Young Legends Award)... St Kilda Repair Cafe, in partnership with JECO The Jewish Ecological Coalition (Finalist: Waste Award) NatureSpot, in partnership with City Of Port Phillip (Finalist: Council Environment Award) Victorian Marine and Coastal Awards (Ceremony: 20 Nov) Fam Charko (Finalist: Individual Achievement and Emerging Leader) Port Phillip Baykeeper Program (Finalist: Inspiring Community Engagement and Education)

21.01.2022 Get to know the sharks and rays of our Bay! This program introduces students to the fauna of Port Phillip Bay (and southern Australia), specifically chondrichthyans (fish with a cartilaginous skeleton) by understanding their habitats, known life cycles, functional morphology (anatomy) and their diverse evolutionary traits. Additionally, this program will teach students about the geological history of Port Phillip Bay and the ways in which humans impact shark/ray populations.../habitats in Port Phillip Bay. Find out more at ecocentre.com/incursions/online/sharks

20.01.2022 People from all over the world travel to Port Phillip Bay to see Weedy Seadragons (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) - Victoria’s marine emblem. Discover what other creatures call Port Phillip Bay their home. Make sure that your resolution is set above 1020p to access the best viewing experience! A special thanks to the wonderful Deakin Design Lab team for this immersive Bay360 experience.

20.01.2022 This term, were bringing our award-winning incursions online to your schools and early learning centres for free! Explore the 10+ topics, including sustainable living, marine ecology, and urban biodiversity, at ecocentre.com/incursions/online

19.01.2022 Vale Tony Flude, tireless Secretary of the Port Phillip EcoCentre for 15 years. Tony has been a wonderful friend to many of us, and a fantastic Secretary, Committee Member and supporter of the EcoCentre for over 15 years. We will miss him terribly, says our President Pam ONeil. Tonys legacy is planted across our community, in flourishing landscapes, partnerships and inspired ideas. EcoCentre founder Neil Blake once declared Tony's smile was 'an as-yet untapped renewable ...energy source'. At the EcoCentre, Westgate Park and in all his days, Tony embodied the notion: there is life, and life, and life. All welcome to join Tony's livestream funeral Fri 11 Sept, 11am: https://www.funeral.info/n/xuek6v

19.01.2022 Every year in Australia, tens of thousands of cotton buds are flushed down toilets, make their way through waste management facilities, and enter our oceans. The plastic stems do not biodegrade. They pollute our oceans, harm marine life, and wash up on our beaches. More cotton buds are collected off Victorian beaches than straws, plastic cutlery and lollipop sticks combined. Sustainable alternatives exist and are already stocked by many retailers. We are calling on all cotton... bud retailers to protect our environment and marine life, and stop selling plastic-stemmed options. Better Buds

19.01.2022 We've had a huge week of FREE online incursions, connecting children with our marine life, urban biodiversity, and sustainable actions through digital classrooms. Book in an online incursion at ecocentre.com/incursions/online

18.01.2022 Next Tuesday: Our very own Reiko Yamada will be joining Damon Gameau, Director and Actor of 2040, in this exciting live panel Q&A and virtual film screening. Tickets are free for youth under 25! Get your tickets here: https://www.fanforcetv.com/programs/2040-stonnington

18.01.2022 Join the EcoCentres Matt McArthur on a dive into the Port Phillip Bay to discover the biology, migration and distribution of native Giant Spider Crabs (Leptomithrax gaimardii). After youve learnt all about Giant Spider Crabs, test your general wildlife knowledge with an interactive quiz!

17.01.2022 St Kilda Repair Cafe Price: Free Date: Sunday, 11 April (COVID permitting) Time: 2pm to 5pm Location: EcoCentre, 55A Blessington St, St Kilda VIC 3182... Join us at the EcoCentre on Sunday, 11 April for another installation of the St Kilda Repair Cafe! Do you have a favourite cardigan that has lost a button? What about broken kitchen appliance that you'd like to bring back to life? Bring your broken items to the Repair Cafe! You'll reduce waste and learn new skills, all while having a cup of tea! https://www.facebook.com/events/291855025918836

17.01.2022 Skill Up and kickstart your involvement in the local climate movement with free Wednesday night workshops hosted by our friends Port Phillip Emergency Climate Action Network. Topics include how to build a movement, how to gain media attention, and how to apply skills for the climate movement. Register at http://pecan.org.au/skillup/

17.01.2022 Spring has arrived and nature is buzzing with life! A brand new season of NatureSpot begins today! Last year, we recorded 21 species previously never recorded in Port Phillip, including some from private gardens. Your contribution will help the EcoCentre create a species dataset to protect and enhance our urban biodiversity. ... Join an event, find out how to get involved or log your photos at https://ecocentre.com/naturespot

16.01.2022 We're looking for volunteers to help us create translated subtitles for our Baykeepers short films. The first step in environmental action is forming a connection with the environment -- as a volunteer translator, you'll be helping more of Melbourne's diverse community connect to our Bay. Send us a message on Facebook to get involved. Estimated time commitment is 2-3 hours.

16.01.2022 Our NatureSpotters have been as busy as these pollinators, logging photos of what species live around them. If you live in Macnamara (including Elwood, St Kilda, Port Melbourne, Albert Park, South Yarra and Caulfield -- map in comments), show us what lives in your backyard, balcony, or suburb: https://ecocentre.com/NatureSpot Pictured: 1. European honeybee on kale flowers 2. Hover fly on rocket flowers... 3. European honeybee on borage flowers See more

16.01.2022 Join us for a conversation on being the REgeneration! Hear inspirational stories of action from youth in Melbourne and explore what you can do as a young person to take action for our planet and climate crisis. We'll link you up to networks and resources, so you can get started. This event limited to young people between 12 and 25 years old. ... Presented in partnership with Stonnington Youth Services Expressions Committee. Register at: https://ecocentre.com/civicrm//info%3Fid%3D1091%26reset%3D1

16.01.2022 Join us next Thursday to get your creative juices flowing! 'Creative connections to nature' will provide participants with the opportunity to explore inner-creativity and links to nature through writing and drawing activities. You'll be guided through a series of environmental life writing and creative drawing activities. This free online seminar is most suitable for inexperienced writers and drawers with an interest in incorporating these activities into personal experiences of self-care.

15.01.2022 Join us to learn all about creating the perfect housing needs of a range of urban wildlife species. Find out what makes the perfect home for birds, possums, bats, insects and frogs, where to put them, and why providing an artificial home for urban wildlife will benefit you too!

14.01.2022 Missed out on our fully booked seminar last week on the amazing life of spider crabs in Port Phillip Bay? Great news -- the seminar recording is now available! Watch it at https://ecocentre.com/blog/2020-09-02/spider-crabs

14.01.2022 You don't need to rush out to Spotlight to make a face mask; here's a handy guide on how to make a face mask using things lying around your home, like hair ties and t-shirts. Sewing skills not required!

14.01.2022 Insects, birds, mammals and other animals living in our city rely on parks and reserves to find food, take shelter and breed. The decline of such natural landscapes in urban areas, along with climate change, is a serious threat to our local biodiversity. We can help improve the overall health of our urban biodiversity and contribute to climate adaptations by creating a habitat garden at our homes, schools or nature strips. Such gardens will not only support biodiversity, but will bring in beauty, enjoyment and nature connection into our community. Find out more about our free online incursion, 'Habitat Gardens for Healthy Urban Biodiversity', at https://ecocentre.com/incursions/online/gardens

13.01.2022 This week, we're celebrating NAIDOC Week with the City Of Port Phillip's calendar of virtual programs. The week is a great opportunity for people from all walks of life to participate in a range of activities that celebrate and support our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Click through for the full program >

13.01.2022 In Port Phillip we are no strangers to the impacts of the current climate emergency, having experienced dangerous levels of bushfire smoke, heatwaves and flooding in recent times. Find out what the CSIRO Victorian Climate Projections tell us about Port Phillip's future climate conditions: https://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au//su/climate-projections Sustainable Port Phillip

13.01.2022 Join Elsternwick Park Association (EPA) at the Elsternwick Park Nature Reserve Community Meeting this Sunday! Whether youve discovered the park during isolation or youre a local who is long familiar with the area, this is the event for you: a chance to learn more about the master plan, which includes seven zones open water, tall marsh, shallow wetlands, swamp scrub, damp sands, herb-rich woodland, grassy woodland and native lawn to provide habitat for plants and animals.

12.01.2022 Join our vertebrate palaeontologist and keen diver Ben on a journey into the depths of Port Phillip Bay as he talks all things sharks! Ben is leading expeditionary teams into the Bay that are re-writing the palaeontological history of Australia and has discovered the remains of giant macropredatory sharks (capable of eating baleen whales!) If you're keen to learn more about the incredible diversity of sharks that currently reside in the Bay, their bizarre evolutionary traits and some of Ben's amazing diving adventures, you'll want to join us for this one.

12.01.2022 Our friends at Stonnington Youth Services are hosting a free youth cinema event and Q&A for 2040. Award-winning director Damon Gameau embarks on a journey to explore what the future would look like by the year 2040 if we simply embraced the best solutions already available to us to improve our planet and shifted them into the mainstream. Structured as a visual letter to his 4-year-old daughter, Damon blends traditional documentary footage with dramatised sequences and high-end visual effects to create a vision board for his daughter and our planet.

11.01.2022 Tomorrow we're taking the 15th Annual School Sustainability Festival online for the very first time! Students across the state -- and even the Northern Territory -- have prepared video and live presentations, for a fun-filled day of kids teaching kids about sustainability. Congratulations to all 250 participating students from 17 schools for your hard work so far, and we can't wait to see your presentations tomorrow! Pictured: sneak peeks from the presentations from St James Primary School, Gardenvale Primary School, and St Kilda Park Primary School.

10.01.2022 We build relationships to inspire, educate and demonstrate sustainability and reconnect people to the natural world.

09.01.2022 We know that Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor) live at the St Kilda breakwater, but did you know that St Kilda Beach is home to many more species? How many can you name? Explore the virtual beach via this immersive Bay360 experience, brought to you by the talented students at Deakin Design Lab. Make sure that your resolution is set above 1020p to access the best viewing experience!

09.01.2022 A rare opportunity to snorkel in your own lounge! Join the EcoCentre's Marine experts team Matt McArthur and Ben Francischelli and dive into the secrets of Port Phillip Bay. Find out what lies beneath in our blue backyard, and bring your best questions about diving and what calls our Bay home. Join us this Thursday - register at https://ecocentre.com/civ/event/info%3Fid%3D257%26reset%3D1

08.01.2022 What does 'wilderness' mean in 2020? In Elwood, the lawns of the Elsternwick golf course no longer look quite so manicured, with the recreation of pre-colonial wetlands, right in the heart of an urban community. Congratulations to the team at Elsternwick Park Association (EPA) on your fantastic work bringing wilderness back into urban Melbourne.

08.01.2022 For the first time ever, we're taking our incursions online -- for free! Our online incursions cover topics including marine ecology, biodiversity, and sustainable living. Sign your class up for free at ecocentre.com/incursions/online Our 'Sam the Sea Dragon' incursion introduces students to Victorian marine habitats and wildlife and the threats posed to these systems by plastics. As Victorias marine emblem, the gracious weedy seadragon was happily surviving in Port Phillip Bay until plastic started to enter the ecosystem. Through hands-on activities students will learn about why plastics are amazing but when they get out of control they cause problems for our wildlife.

08.01.2022 Human x Human - Free live streamed experiential art events Saturdays in September. Join us in improvised movement and dance exploring emotional responses to the here and now, contemplating the environment and the power of collective human action. This week's session will visit Antarctica: find out more at http://www.carolinepackham.com/humanxhuman Caroline Packham The EcoCentre community is invited to perform together as an ensemble for the final recorded performance session on 26th September 11-11.40am. To book a place for this all ages session, please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/119194268265

08.01.2022 Congratulations to Port Phillip Baykeeper Neil Blake ... and 27,000 of you* who joined BAYKEEPER PROGRAMS in the last 5 years! WINNER: Inspiring Community Engagement and Education - Victorian Marine and Coastal Awards 2020. We're heartwarmed and humbled by the calibre of the finalists. *Okay.... we didn't list you by name in the nomination or fit you all in the photo here, but truly remember each of you who join us to #BeABaykeeper, connect to and protect our beautiful waterways. So please join us on a beach in 2021 so we can high five over this collective recognition! We miss you!

07.01.2022 Melbourne Water is planning for a Waterway Blitz. The project is now open for community feedback on litter collection, weed removal, and amenity improvements. Find out more >>

06.01.2022 Less than 24 hours left to stop AGL: share this post! AGL - Victoria's largest emitter - is proposing a new gas pipeline through Western Port Bay, despite a range of ecological risks and the emissions associated with fossil fuels-based infrastructure. Let's use community power to protect our Bay and stop this project from going forward. Complete Environment Victoria's 8-question survey and they will transform your responses into a full, unique submission. Submissions close Wednesday 11:59am.

06.01.2022 Captain Trash calling from the crow's nest: Subscribe or donate to RESCUE the good ship 3RRR rrr.org.au

06.01.2022 In April 2020, the Star of the South officially kickstarted the environmental approvals process after being referred to both the federal and Victorian governments. But if governments go slow, we could be waiting years to see this game changing offshore wind project deliver action on climate. Join our mates at Friends of the Earth and call on both the Morrison and Andrews governments to prioritise putting in frameworks to create thousands of jobs in offshore wind.

05.01.2022 It’s #CitizenScienceMonth! We thank all individuals and organisations that have contributed to our citizen science programs. Your observations have been important in determining ways we can understand and care for local ecosystems. Research contributions to biodiversity maps, shoreline shell surveys, street litter audits, and pollution statistics would not have been possible without your support! Get involved by visiting EcoCentre.com/volunteer

04.01.2022 Worms are an essential part of healthy soil. Healthy soil creates healthy food; vegetables and fruits that we eat and need for our bodies to stay healthy. This free online incursion is designed to help children develop sustainable actions. It investigates worm facts and looks at where worms may live in our gardens, worm farms, composts and in garden soil, and teaches children how to build a worm tower for their garden. Our online incursions are free for Term 3. Find out more at ecocentre.com/incursions/online

04.01.2022 Today's State Budget has brought some big wins for the environment, including: $797m for household energy efficiency, solar, and batteries, with $335m supporting low-income households to install energy-efficient reverse-cycle air conditioners $540m to establish six renewable energy zones $16m directed towards programs to protect our coast from the effects of climate change... Read more in Environment Victoria's excellent summary of the Budget.

03.01.2022 Show your students our area's fantastic fungi & where to find them! This program introduces students to the fascinating kingdom of fungi. Students will discover some of the different types of fungi growing around Melbourne, learning how to identify and classify them. They will investigate and understand the ecological importance of fungi in our ecosystems. Find out more at https://ecocentre.com/incursions/online/fungi

03.01.2022 Whether you were involved in a research activity that we hosted in the past, or are actively involved in some of our current citizen science operations (as an individual or an organisation), we want to hear your thoughts on EcoCentre Citizen Science programs! Fill in our quick form: https://bit.ly/citizenscience2021 We look forward to receiving your stories and feedback on our citizen science offerings, and are keen to discover ways we can make our programs more inclusive, accessible and fun

03.01.2022 Our online incursions are the perfect end of term celebration for your students! Meet Australia's penguins! In this session, we’ll be understanding their behaviour/habits, known life-cycles, functional morphology (anatomy) and their diverse evolutionary traits that have allowed many penguin species to dominate southern marine ecosystems. Find out more: ecocentre.com/incursions/online

03.01.2022 Tawny frogmouths are a local favourite, bringing joy when they're spotted camouflaging in trees in local parks. From their mating rituals to their nest-building skills, there's a lot you might not know about these fascinating birds.

03.01.2022 Spring is here, and NatureSpot is back! The Spring survey is open from 21 September to 18 October. Tell us what plants and animals live in your neighbourhood! Snap a photo and contribute to citizen science from your backyard, balcony or during your daily walks. Last year we added 21 new species to our dataset! Help us improve our knowledge on what lives in our city so we can enhance and protect urban biodiversity. Join us at an information session this month: ecocentre.com/naturespot

03.01.2022 It's time to reframe the "economy vs climate action" debate. The Climate Council's new report shows how 76,000 new jobs for Australians can help rebuild our economy now and tackle climate change.

02.01.2022 Congratulations to the EcoCentre's Fam Charko, a marine biologist and passionate science communicator and just awarded Victorian Marine and Coastal Awards *2020 Emerging Marine and Coastal Leader*. A self-declared ‘girl with gills’, Fam expresses and shares her deep connection to the land and waters of her adopted home of Australia dedicating her work and personal time connecting to and protecting the coasts and marine environment of Victoria. We love working with Fam and kn...ow how many of you do too! Fam's first words of acceptance (in a surprise Zoom call to live feed into the online ceremony) were how humble she feels because she is part of such an enormous network -- and her advice is to get your hands dirty, and connect with likeminded folk. You can see why she's a dream team member at the EcoCentre! Congratulations @Fam Charko. Fam (and our team) cannot wait to get to celebrate with all of you somewhere in nature in 2021.

02.01.2022 St Kilda Beach Shoreline Shells & Microplastics Survey Take part in a community citizen science activity that’s open to all! Price: Free Date: Thursday, 8 April 2021... Session 1 (St Kilda Pier): 9:30am to 11:30am Session 2 (Brookes Jetty): 1:30pm to 3:30pm Register: https://EcoCentre.com/Events We need citizen scientist help to survey St Kilda beach! Help us collect data and information on the species inhabiting the shorelines, as well as collect data on microplastics in the area. Your observations will support the Port Phillip Baykeeper understand the ecology and environmental impacts on our Bay. #citizenscience #citizensciencemonth #microplastics #stkilda

01.01.2022 Ready for the final episode of Fight For Planet A on Tuesday? If you're thinking of how you can put into action what you've learnt, our friends at Sustainable Port Phillip will be online after the episode to answer all your questions.

01.01.2022 Submissions are now open for Remember The Wild's Wild by Nature Short Film Festival! The Festival celebrates everything we love about Victorias incredible natural environment. From your local park or creek, to your favourite wild place to escape the busy city, nature plays an important role in all of our lives. Submissions close Sunday 13 September.