{"id":120095,"date":"2026-05-08T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/bellarinetimes\/?p=120095"},"modified":"2026-05-06T14:55:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T04:55:28","slug":"giving-back-through-growing-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/bellarinetimes\/news\/giving-back-through-growing-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"Giving back through growing skills"},"content":{"rendered":"

FOR more than five years, students from The Gordon’s landscaping program have combined hands-on learning with community engagement through a longstanding partnership with Samaritan House Geelong.<\/p>\n

Through this partnership, students apply their coursework in a live setting, gaining practical experience that directly benefits the Samaritan House community.<\/p>\n

Working on-site, students have actively enhanced the outdoor spaces used by residents every day.<\/p>\n

Projects have included landscaping works such as mulching, planting, cultivating garden beds, edging and ongoing grounds maintenance, all designed to improve both functionality and visual appeal.<\/p>\n

Students have also been involved in the installation of shared outdoor spaces that provide a welcome place for guests to relax and connect.<\/p>\n

These include a timber terrace with seating, a sheltered barbecue and a basketball court, designed for year-round use.<\/p>\n

A key highlight of the partnership is the establishment of a low-maintenance, environmentally sustainable native garden, featuring native plant species selected for their resilience and water efficiency.<\/p>\n

Designed with minimal upkeep, the garden supports local biodiversity while providing a calming, green space that residents can enjoy throughout the year.<\/p>\n

For students, the experience offers more than practical skills development.<\/p>\n

Working on a live community site helps build confidence, teamwork and communication skills, while deepening students’ understanding of how their trade can make a positive contribution beyond the classroom.<\/p>\n

“It’s a great opportunity for students to get out of the classroom, apply their skills and see the impact of their work in a real environment,” landscaping teacher Anth Johnstone said.<\/p>\n

“It reinforces the value of the course, where technical skills, teamwork and community awareness come together.”<\/p>\n

Through this partnership, landscape apprentices at The Gordon gain valuable hands-on experience while contributing to greener spaces within the local community.<\/p>\n

If you are looking for a career outdoors, applications are now open to study horticulture at The Gordon starting in July.<\/p>\n

Visit thegordon.edu.au<\/a> for more information and to apply today.<\/p>\n

\/\/SPONSORED CONTENT<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

FOR more than five years, students from The Gordon’s landscaping program have combined hands-on learning with community engagement through a longstanding partnership with Samaritan House Geelong. Through this partnership, students apply their coursework in a live setting, gaining practical experience that directly benefits the Samaritan House community. Working on-site, students have actively enhanced the outdoor […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":156,"featured_media":120096,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-120095","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nGiving back through growing skills - Bellarine Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Study horticulture at The Gordon. Gain hands-on landscaping skills through community projects. 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