Category: Enrichment

Below is a copy of the citation provided to Philip at the recent Learning Environments Conference held in Adelaide, South Australia. Acknowledging his outstanding commitment to Learning Environments Australasia and passion for learning environment design. This was a shared honour alongside Richard Leonard (2019).

PHILIP IDLE

Learning Environments Australasia bestows its highest honour, Life Membership to Philip Idle, in recognition of long and dedicated service to outstanding contribution to leadership.

Phil has committed many years of service to LEA.

Positions held plus year(s)

Joined CEFPI 1 August 2000

Fremantle WA 2002 – WA committee member

Brisbane QLD 2003 – WA committee member

Sydney NSW 2004 – WA committee member

Hobart TAS 2005 – WA committee member

Adelaide SA 2006 – WA committee member

Singapore 2007 – WA committee member

Melbourne VIC 2008 – Regional President

Darwin NT 2009 – 2010 Regional President/Chair (position name changed)

During Phil’s time as Chair, the Australian Chapter transitioned from a region controlled under the auspices of CEFPI in North America to an autonomous status as an affiliate with control over financial and organization structures, resulting in the establishment of CEFPI Australasia Ltd.

Nov AGM 2010 – 2011 – Past Chair, CEFPI Australasia Ltd

Nov AGM 2011 – 2012 – Past Chair

Nov AGM 2013 – International Director

Nov AGM 2014 – International Director

Nov AGM 2015 – International Director

Nov AGM 2016 – International Director (name change from CEFPI to Learning Environments Australasia)

Oct 2016 Chair-Elect for International Board of Directors (A4LE)

Oct 2017 – Oct 2018 Vice Chair, A4LE

Oct 2018 – Oct 2019 Chair, A4LE

Oct 2019 – Oct 2020 Past-Chair, A4LE

Phil was a founding member of the Australian Chapter Formed in 2000 in Adelaide.

In 2007 Phil travelled to Toronto CEPI conference and was part of the delegation supporting the creation of Australasia as an autonomous Region.

2008-2010 Regional President Role:

As President, Phil took up this leadership position at a pivotal point in the development of the Australasia Region, always looking ahead to become part of a professional global organization and working to provide the best educational environments.

Building on the experience of attending The Dallas Strategic Planning Workshop in 2008, he convened a Strategic Planning workshop in Melbourne in November 2008. This ultimately led to the formation of a new regional structure focusing more broadly on advocacy (federal and state governments, broader educational sectors including universities), research and innovation, communication (the first Regional Brochure), growth in local Chapters and in our Region (India and Singapore and possibly New Zealand) and our working relationship with the American founding organisation.

During this time Phil was awarded the CEFPI Presidents Award (2009). He served on a number of international committees within CEFPI including as a juror on the School Planning & Architectural Exhibition Annual Awards panel, committees on Governance and Innovation, and as part of the Strategic Planning Workshops in Dallas 2008 and Philadelphia 2010. Phil’s untiring work and commitment lead us to ultimately becoming a more independent organization when a memorandum of Understanding was signed in 2010 with the US establishing us as an Affiliate group.

2010 – As Regional President, Phil led the delegation to Philadelphia to finalise and execute the MoU which established AU as an affiliate. He also led the renamed ‘Mayfield Project’ (previous Young Professionals program) at the Perth conference in the same year.

In 2013 Phil and other architect/teacher members from Scotch College/SA/WA architectural practices spent 3 days in working in the village of Matipwili, Tanzania, working with the community to develop a brief for a facility that best meets the needs of the wider village community. Through a process of intense consultation with village leaders and investigations of daily life and building techniques, the visiting group was able to gain an insight into what was needed and what might be possible to construct. This initiative was born out of the Mayfield Project ‘Schools as Sanctuaries of Hope’ initiative that the WA team developed in 2012.

In 2015 Phil returned to Tanzania to lead a small group of CEFPI members and educators to work on construction of the new Trade Training Centre Facility.

2015 Honored as Director of the Year at the LearningScapes Conference held in San Diego.

2016 – 2017 Led the “Global” Taskforce of A4LE, representation from North America, AU and UK, to establish the foundation for a repositioning of A4LE as a global organisation.

2018 – 2019 As the first Chair of A4LE from outside North America, Phil led the association through the process of defining a structure for a global association, and a redefinition of the structure in North America. Phil demonstrated excellent leadership through several difficult and potentially divisive episodes as the Board grappled with this significant change, keeping the Board focused on the strategic objectives and epitomising “grace under pressure”.

‘Phil was very influential in bringing about the establishment of Learning Environments Australasia both within Australia and more particularly on the international scene. In doing so he has established a great rapport with our American colleagues and is well respected by them. As an architect working in the education sector, Phil has been involved in planning some outstanding schools and through his work, demonstrated his passion for and belief in the positive impact that learning environments can have upon learners of all ages. As a leader with Learning Environments Australasia Phil has shown himself to be strong advocate in promoting our vision’. Jeff Philips, Life Member LEA

‘Phil’s nineteen-year commitment to LEA as founding member in 2000 through to International Chair has been driven by his passion for excellence in educational design. He has been instrumental in uniting LEA into a global organization which has advanced educational design internationally, and has also inspired EIW Architects to continually pursue design excellence. His leadership of the Matipwilli Project is a legacy to EIW Architects, as much as it is to him, a project that we are proud to have been involved with and see first-hand how architecture and education can provide hope and future for students in developing countries. His involvement with LEA (and also being Director at EIW Architects) has enabled the synergies between theory and practice evolve into remarkable architectural outcomes. His passion continues to inspire all those involved in the procurement of excellent educational facilities.’ Tony D’Andrea (LEA Member) on behalf of EIW Architects.

This citation honours the significant contribution Phil Idle has made to Learning Environments Australasia.

Meet the wonderful women working at EIW:

Hello Shin!

Role at EIW – Architect

// A woman/girl that inspires you and why?

Amy Cuddy. Her ted talk about “power posing” is empowering.

// How will you show support and encourage others to help forge women’s equality?

I will continue speaking positive language to all women in my life including myself.

Hello Chloe!

Role at EIW – Studio Leader / Architect

// A woman/girl that inspires you and why?

I’ve been very fortunate to meet women who inspire me, I feel I have a collection:

The one who raised me on her own, and fought like hell to survive,

Ones who break the bias of what it’s like to be a female leader,

Ones that get back up after falling,

One that works for the United Nations to make the world a safer place for all,

Working with change makers, and women who enable change for the future generations,

Within our office, those that are kind and gracious, and support one another,

Ones battling to save the lives of others, sick family members, all whilst keeping afloat,

My sister, raising a powerhouse little daughter…,

The ones working in communities to help break the bias

// How will you show support and encourage others to help forge women’s equality?

I will break the bias by celebrating and acknowledging women’s achievements, be supportive and help empower them as individuals to keep on doing what they are doing, whilst also acknowledging the men who are also helping break the bias, by celebrating and acknowledging the achievements of women.

Hello Kate!

Role at EIW – Studio Manager

// A woman/girl that inspires you and why?

I can’t pinpoint one woman or girl. The following women and girls collectively inspire and amaze me for their strength mentally and physically:

Activists dedicating and risking their lives (particularly in countries where disparities in the treatment of women and girls is widespread)

The single mother battling to pay the bills

The domestic/sexual violence victim who somehow picks herself up and continues for her children

The women that work in industries where the vast majority of their colleagues and leaders are men

That one girl or woman that speaks up and sparks others to come forward and thus creating change

The woman who has climbed the corporate ladder and reached her goal

And sooooooo many more….

You all inspire me.

// How will you show support and encourage others to help forge women’s equality?

I have a young daughter and another on the way. I will forever teach them to speak up and that they can be whatever they want to be. I will teach them to be brave not perfect. I will teach them that all humans are equal and to always seek happiness and help others find theirs.

I will acknowledge men who speak up, create change and actively support the equality of women.

[photo by Yusron El Jihan]

Hello Kathryn!

Role at EIW – Architect

// A woman/girl that inspires you and why?

Cathy Freeman, because of the courage it took for her to stand up for Aboriginal rights on an international stage.

// How will you show support and encourage others to help forge women’s equality?

I try to call out gender stereotypes, discrimination, and bias.

Hello Meg!

Role at EIW – Studio Designer

// A woman/girl that inspires you and why?

Fanny Mendelssohn (sister of Felix). Her desire to be a composer was “tolerated” rather than supported by her father, of which he said “”Music will perhaps become his [i.e. Felix’s] profession, while for you it can and must be only an ornament.” Despite this, and even having to publish some early works under her brother’s name, she still went on to pursue her passion for her art and produced beautiful and enduring works of music.

// How will you show support and encourage others to help forge women’s equality?

I will do my best to lead my young daughter by example and support her as my own mother supported me in choosing my own path in life and work, emphasising that fulfillment comes from within and not from trying to satisfy the expectations that others project on to you.

Hello Lesly!

Role at EIW – Graduate of Architecture

// A woman/girl that inspires you and why?

All the women who give a voice to the voiceless.

All the women who walked before me so I could run.

All the women who set themselves on fire to give me warmth.

All the women whose actions allow me to dream.

My Mum, who left everything she knew, moved to a foreign country to give me the opportunity to be where I am today.

// How will you show support and encourage others to help forge women’s equality?

To speak up against gender stereotypes. To celebrate everyone’s achievements no matter the size.

Hello Tanya!

// A woman/girl that inspires you and why?

All women and girls who selflessly support, care for and love those around them. Women who rise above the challenges and obstacles in society to achieve a better future for the ones following.

// How will you show support and encourage others to help forge women’s equality?

I will always support and encourage gender equality and acknowledge those men who support this too.

Lighting, it is one of those things you may not always notice consciously when you enter a space, but lighting plays an important role in setting the mood and creating atmosphere in any type of environment. The new range by Marz lighting recently caught our eye, with its earthy and natural qualities and hints of art deco, modernist and mid-century design. We contacted Director Coco Reynolds and she kindly offered her time to answer a few questions.

Can you tell us about your new range and the inspiration behind it?

I worked for a period as an Interior Architect, and while working in the field, I observed a lot of commercial lighting products in the market but not a lot of simple everyday lighting with a soft, homely aesthetic. I developed the Terra range to fill this gap with handmade clay ceramic shades and combinations of hand-turned timber elements, which creates a versatile selection of pendants, ceiling and wall fixtures. The tactility and irregularity of handmade elements have always been very appealing to me, but “handmade” can be hard to manage when working in production and at scale. So for these lights, we looked at a process called slip-casting, which allows ceramicists to produce multiples of an object at a time, but the result is still slightly imperfect.

Do you have a favourite from the new range?

The Terra 1.5 Ceiling light in Vanilla Bean is my favourite. It’s probably one of the simplest, but I love the contrast between the two stacked parts, the glossy glazed asymmetric form and the gritty unglazed cylinder.

(Pictured left: Terra 1.5 Ceiling Light in Vanilla Bean)

Can you tell us a little about your production process?

Most of our components are crafted in Australia, but we do develop some parts with international makers. We are not averse to overseas production as long as all of the variables are understood and achieved ethically. Our products are designed in the studio, and we work with various makers such as glassblowers, ceramicists or timber turners to develop and produce the components, which are then hand-assembled and packaged in our Byron Bay studio. The design is not just about the final product; we’re passionate about the process, the materials and the concept, so we must get on with the people we work with because it can be a very collaborative process. The makers play such a pivotal role.

Have you ever been the victim of the replica industry?

Unfortunately, the first range I ever released was copied. As an independent designer just starting out, it was a difficult pill to swallow. I learnt that you carry the risk and associated costs with designing, producing and testing a product in the market for larger corporations to have the ability to cherry-pick designs they see to be successful and release them to the market for a fraction of the cost. But I think awareness around the creative industries & design theft within Australia is changing. Consumers are starting to question and value the origin of their products. Once customers understand how something is made, the people and the story behind the product, they see its true value, which encourages people to buy less and buy better.

Who or what inspires you? Are there any other design industries that perhaps fascinate you?

I’m a bit of a furniture nut, particularly vintage furniture, and my ideal afternoon is spent curled up on the couch scrolling through 1st Dibs.

Please finish this sentence

Lighting has the ability to….influence your mood and change your experience of a space.

// You can explore and purchase more swoon worthy lighting designs by Marz via Inlite.

We all need spaces to meet, work, celebrate and more! SpacetoCo is bringing people together and helping to fill this big need. SpacetoCo allows anyone to share and book a variety of community spaces by the hour.

SpacetoCo continues to expand with partnerships in local government, numerous small businesses benefiting and expanding community connections. We had a chat with Co-Founder Jeremy Hurst to find out a little more about this innovative and valuable concept.

For those who haven’t heard of SpacetoCo can you tell us a little about it and what originally sparked the concept?

SpacetoCo is an online marketplace for the short-term hire of spaces in the community. This means you can easily find, book, and pay for any type of space you need, be it – a community hall, a dance studio, tennis court, park, gazebo, and many more.

Wherever there are people, there is a need for space. Connecting people with people is at the heart of what SpacetoCo does. We strive to make the technology invisible when it comes to people sharing spaces with each other. We have re-engineered the user journey and ensured that space hire can be as easy as grabbing your mobile device to book accommodation, airfares, and order food delivery or an Uber ride.

Essentially there is more to SpacetoCo than just a booking tool and dashboard. It represents a pathway to growth for space owners whilst also providing a much improved and more modern customer experience. For businesses, sharing their spaces can provide much-needed income & customer growth.

The spark for the concept was hatched back in 2015 while I was working on a prototype with the u.lab project. My project was to open an eco-friendly accommodation to inspire others that it would be possible to be eco-friendly by making simple design choices. Around this time, I realised that it was super painful to find and book professional learning spaces for my clients. I also had been married in my Perth Hills backyard 10 months previous and I thought, ‘what if other people who don’t have a backyard might like to use my space for their event?’ The final thought that cemented the concept was that I was about to share accommodation – why not space as well, but do it by the hour.

What types of spaces are available to hire through SpacetoCo?

We have an abundance of different types of spaces that range from outdoor community-activated places (Town Team Spaces), cafes, community centres, beaches (you can book Cable Beach in Broome through SpacetoCo), classrooms, co-working, consulting rooms, performance spaces and so many more!

What sort of benefits (socially, economically etc.) result from the SpacetoCo concept?

Quite a lot!

When people use spaces efficiently, the local economy wins, the space owner wins, the environment wins and neighbourhoods become more vibrant.

(Above: Receiving the Merit award at the 2021 INCITE Awards for Innovating Government.

Jonas Tyle Petersen (right) – Chief Digital Officer, Office of Digital Government, Department of Premier & Cabinet of WA).

We work towards space sharing being something that encourages sustainable use of spaces – we want to see utilisation and we achieve that by growing bookings (The City of Vincent has grown the use of its civic spaces by 31% since shifting to SpacetoCo). The side effects of more utilisation are more people in towns and precincts spending in local area economies – this creates success for everyone and the result is more vibrant places. But best of all, it’s the greater community connection we see between people. In an era where society is digitally divided, it’s great to be working to get people together in spaces. We see stories of space owners becoming friends with the people who hire their spaces, where people who needed a space found something affordable, allowing them to experiment and explore with a business idea. Participants in those new ventures go on and connect with one another.

The challenges we are living through from COVID are going to affect local area economies for many years to come – especially in NSW, Victoria, and other badly impacted communities. When the era of lockdowns has passed, the solutions for communities to rebuild in a new normal will be needed. We believe that space-as-a-service is one of these things. Making it simple to find and share space(s) is going to be needed more than ever. In addition to this, we’re seeing a trend towards bookings where the reasons for hire are increasingly to do with remote-work, work-from-home alternatives, and team-meetups for work.

Schools, Colleges and training centres etc. have some amazing spaces that aren’t always 100% utilised; we heard this is something you’re currently investigating further. Can you tell us more about this notion and perhaps how educational facilities can get involved?

We have been focused on local government spaces but are absolutely interested to work more with schools in 2022. We know that government schools are actually required to make their facilities available for community use… the community might not always get that impression. There is a significant opportunity to use education spaces more – they sit in the heart of the community and contain ovals, playing courts, undercover areas, classrooms, theatres, libraries and so many more. They are used 40 weeks of the year between 8 am and 5 pm but are available outside those times and every weekend. They are also mostly empty for 12 weeks of school holiday time – no space is probably wasted more than a school space.

To get involved in Space Sharing, schools can get in touch with us and start listing their spaces for free. We make it simple so there is minimal admin for the school. We do know that schools can be risk-averse, so it’s good to highlight that no space hire can occur without the school’s say-so. They can even capture a bond to mitigate risk. More details can be found here.

Can you tell us something most people wouldn’t know about you?

This is my third career – I was a primary school teacher for 13 years before doing 10 years of tech consulting for education. Starting up SpacetoCo is number 3! Most people may not know we appeared on Shark Tank (it was very tough) and that I am also the Chair of Save Perth Hills – a group working on an alternate vision to some proposed urban townsites that will only add to Perth’s urban sprawl. I love downhill snow skiing and used to compete in Eventing (equestrian cross-country, show-jumping, and dressage). Oh and my wife and I run Quenda Guesthouse in the Perth Hills.

Dr Imms is an Associate Professor at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education and holds education degrees granted in Australia and Canada, including a research MA and a PhD in Curriculum Studies from the University of British Columbia. With awards spanning his primary, secondary and tertiary teaching career, Dr Imms has made, and continues to make a valuable contribution in his field.

Dr Imms is also a member of the cross-disciplinary Learning Environments Applied Research Network team (LEaRN). LEaRN is an international leader in applied research aimed at improving the design and use of learning environments across all educational sectors, based on an understanding that the built environment critically impacts the educational experiences of teachers and learners and that applied research and design of innovative learning environments will bring community benefit. LEaRN is self-funded through a succession of ARC Linkage grants, consultancies and commissioned research for education departments, the Federal Government, and autonomous schools.

Dr Imms kindly agreed to answer a few questions for us.

Can you tell us a little bit about what led you here? Was there a time in your life or a particular memory that sparked your interest in working in this field?

In 1965 my Grade 2 teacher in a small Tasmanian town converted our classroom into a ship and sailed us around the world for the year. She used a manipulation of the learning environment to underpin a remarkable cross-disciplinary ‘lived experience’ curriculum. Totally unheard of at the time. Another influence has been my Visual Art training (I taught for a decade). I used this to re-design and build my own homes – we did it all, from windows and doors to moving structural walls, building bespoke furniture that ‘fitted’. When I got the chance to join the cross-disciplinary LEaRN group at Melbourne University, I jumped at it.

Please finish this sentence. A learning environment should be…

..a natural, exciting blend of innovative design and innovative teaching. While aesthetics are critical to building an engaging environment, nothing matters unless the teaching/learning meets that level of excellence.

Covid-19 has forced learning to go online. A lot longer for some than others. What sort of long-term consequences (positive and/or negative) do you think we could see down the track?

I don’t think it will dramatically alter already established trajectories of changing our schools’ working and learning actions. Some minor adjustments for sure, but the reality is, the learning spaces of schools serve such a huge array of social activity, on-line will only briefly touch on that.

What are you working on at the moment?

A 15-country ‘scoping study’ – getting 60 of the best ILE minds in the world (across industries, researchers, educators) to answer the question – what is the next big research project? We’ll take a year to get these insights.

In your eyes how does Australia compare to other countries in regards to teaching and learning environments? Are we keeping up?

Our ILETC project (4 years, 17 Partner organsiations, 4 countries), reinforced a perception that Australia and NZ are leaders internationally.

Can you tell us something most people wouldn’t know about you?

In Grade 1 my mother would wave me goodbye at the front door as I walked to the school next door…and Id sneak in a back window and dress up as a superhero for the day. Got away with it for months…I spent days dressed in boxes (Robotman) masks and capes…

Steelcase engage in a variety of thorough and consistent research. The Workspace Futures team conducts ongoing research on work and the workplace. They are a group of highly skilled individuals with diverse qualifications including designers, psychologists and educators.

Aileen Strickland McGee and Andrew Kim lead education research within their Workspace Futures team. They study educational environments at schools and universities and regularly participate in presentations and workshops on educational issues. You can peruse their extensive and enriching research on their website.

Andrea Albiez, the Regional Manager for Education (Aust & New Zealand) kindly agreed to answer a few questions for us, so let’s dive a little deeper in to the world of Steelcase…

Steelcase doesn’t just sell furniture; you provide a number of additional services. Can you tell us more about this?

Yes, Steelcase offers a portfolio of services to support our design community and clients in the places where we work and learn. These services can include anything from design support such as drawings, renders or VR experiences; to sharing and presenting insights from our research, conducting surveys, workshops and consulting that help our clients achieve organisational success.

Steelcase Education works with educational institutions to create highly effective, rewarding and inspiring learning environments. We help institutions of all sizes leverage space to pursue a range of goals, whether it’s growing revenue, improving recruitment and retention, raising test scores or attracting top talent.

Integrating Steelcase consulting with our product solutions creates an impactful combination not just in the classroom, but cross campus.

You work closely with educational institutions and speciality consultants in the design of learning environments. Can you tell us about the new AP Education Idea Book and the philosophy behind this?

We want to partner with designers and educators to prepare students for success. It can be difficult to imagine what the future will be like, and very challenging for educators who, in part, must prepare students for jobs that don’t exist yet. We know organisations want employees with skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity, as well as adaptability, empathy, leadership abilities and cultural sensitivity.

Schools and universities are facing unprecedented challenges due to changes in society, demographics and technology. The value of teaching has never been so important. Clever space planning and furniture can support these challenges and expectations.

The AP Education Idea Book is a compilation of research insights, applications and case studies that explore and demonstrate how new active learning environments improve student engagement and outcomes, that will help prepare them for success in the ever evolving and creative economy.

The role of a library is constantly evolving. How can we design libraries to be future-ready?

Many libraries are breaking away from tradition and redefining what a library should be, with a vision of the library as a vital resource center that connects students and faculty to one another, to librarians and to information.

Today’s library should be a broader and deeper resource than ever; a place where traditional and new knowledge resources converge. With information available online virtually anytime, housing countless books has become of secondary importance.

Students are looking for spaces that support the types of work they’re being asked to complete. They need spaces to fully immerse in the creative process — to think about a problem, to prototype solutions and be able to share their work and gather feedback.

Designing for an Evolving Library should:

• Embrace a diversity of behaviors and blur the line between social and academic activities
• Empower students to control their own learning process — and their own success.
• Have opportunities for socialisation and individual discovery, and to be supported cognitively, emotionally and physically
• Allow students and faculty to connect and collaborate, to focus and be productive

By serving as a safe, neutral space, and supporting a range of needs from social to emotional to scholarly, libraries can continue to be a positive catalyst for change on campus.

Can you tell us about Steelcase Foundation? Can you share one of your success stories?

At Steelcase we believe business can be a force for good, and by leveraging our scale and resources around the globe, we can make a real difference in the communities where we live and work. We aspire to do more to create a ripple effect that is broad and deep and profoundly inspiring. By helping others reach their potential, we more fully realise our purpose to unlock human promise. Between Steelcase and The Steelcase Foundation, we supported communities with over $6.8m in monetary and in-kind donations in 2019.

Steelcase are a signatory of the UN Global Compact, demonstrating our public commitment to meet fundamental responsibilities in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anticorruption, and our alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Independent from Steelcase Inc., the Foundation was established in 1951 by Steelcase founders and original trustees, Walter Idema and David Hunting Sr., to support “charitable, scientific, literary, and educational causes”. Today, the Foundation supports projects that drive systemic change in our communities, with a goal of directing 60 percent of their annual budget toward education.

The Steelcase Foundation empowers people to reach their full potential. Quality, accessible public education is paramount to achieving this vision, as well as generating education, work and cultural opportunities. The Steelcase Foundation uses a social justice lens to evaluate projects that improve equity and opportunities for everyone in Steelcase Inc.’s founding community of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Kent County) and in Athens, Alabama (Limestone County), where Steelcase operates a large manufacturing facility.

There are many success stories from education/learning centres, homelessness, suicide prevention causes and more. One that comes to mind is the ongoing support of the Sowing Opportunity Now (SON) program:

Since 2015, the Steelcase Foundation has supported the Grand Rapids Urban League’s (GRUL) Sowing Opportunity Now (SON) program, a workforce-based program targeting young men of colour aged 16-28. The program addresses academic, personal, and social needs, providing help to complete high school/GED, continue their post-secondary education and career training, and job placement to overcome the barriers they face and find stable employment.

The first three years of the program has found overwhelming success, serving 150 young men, and provided a springboard for them to increase their educational opportunities, enter in career-laddering training programs, find stable housing, and secure full and part-time employment. Participants credit the program staff in their ability to help them improve their current situation, reduce barriers to personal and professional success, and get on the path to a living wage job and financial and family stability.

In addition to the Steelcase Foundation, Steelcase Inc. offers up to 10 Active Learning Centre Grants annually. The grants include furniture, design review, installation, onsite training, transformation support services, plus a Learning Environment Evaluation for two-year grant period.

Award criteria assesses how well the school’s educational strategies align with active learning philosophies, capacity for future active learning spaces based on the grant-funded experience, robust plans for completion of research on approved topics and a comprehensive dissemination plan to share learnings and insights.

Finish this sentence: Learning environments should be …. engaging, empowering and inspirational.

Being engaged allows for a deeper, richer learning experience.

When we think about empowering learners, we think about fostering a multi-dimensional definition of student success — moving beyond merely achieving good grades or getting high test scores.

This approach individualises learning by considering how each student’s needs, goals and interests are discovered and enabled, and makes students the drivers in the learning process.

Find out more about Steelcase here.

(Above: Waffle Leaves by Luxxbox – available from Castledex)

// Castledex

The Waffle Leaves (above) by Luxxbox, not only offer functional acoustic sound absorption but we think they offer a pop of nature inspired fun! What’s even more exciting is these leafy designs are 100% recyclable and manufactured from 65% recycled material. They are available in 3 colours and made from pure wool upholstery fabric. We recommend watering once a week (just jokes!).

On the subject of noise, we also couldn’t go past the Hexy acoustic wall tiles by Luxxbox. Available in a multitude of colours, sizes and patterns these wall tiles provide effective sound absorption and can act as a visual wall feature in any room.

< (Left: Hexy by Luxxbox – available from Castledex)

(Right: Puku Ottoman by Coco Flip, available from designFARM) >

// designFARM

The Puku Ottoman by Coco Flip is described as like a little cartoon character you sit on. Well suited to libraries and break out spaces, this piece was inspired by time spent in Japan however Puku is actually an affectionate Maori term for ‘chubby belly’. Coco Flip are based in Melbourne and designer Kate Stokes is originally a WA girl.

The Blossom Pendant by Dowel Jones is exactly what the name suggests, a soft and earthy petal-like pendant. Designed and manufactured in Melbourne, this piece is effective with just the one pendant, or hung in a small cluster for larger spaces.

< (Left: EDO Teahouse by Schamburg and Alvisse, available from Zenith Interiors)

// Zenith Interiors

The EDO Teahouse by Schamburg and Alvisse is the perfect addition to any learning environment requiring space for reading, quiet study as well as group work. Sitting inside the Teahouse feels cosy and intimate while still allowing visual connection to the environment and passers by.

The 3000 standard 2 seat lounge by Schamburg & Alvisse also ticks the learning boxes in regards to quiet study, group work… and maybe a coffee or two. A little less intimate than the EDO Teahouse but more flexibility to move them around according to changing needs. The 3000 lounge pays homage to the Melbourne postcode as the lounge was originally designed for the NAB building located in Docklands, Melbourne.

Currently our talented Australian designers and distributors need our support more than ever. For more information on particular products please contact the showroom listed.

Tell us a bit about yourself, what led you here?

My background is ceramic design and glass. I studied glass at Monash University, and I continued my passion of working with glass since I graduated in 1985. My interests have been diverse, in past I have owned night clubs, bars and partnered with Fashion labels, however glass has always been at the forefront of my mind

In 2010, I used the business skills I had developed and adapted them for glass, creating Mark Douglass Design. In 2016, I established Melbourne Glassworks, a state-of-the-art glass studio and arts centre. It has been a 5-year journey and this year we aim to consolidate a Showroom space into Melbourne Glassworks. Melbourne Glasswork is already a multifunctional workspace, with glass finances, Coldworking equipment (to grind and polish the glass and sandblast), equipment for flameworking and for metal work. Many of the pieces of equipment were collected from other studios or old glass factories overseas.

Do you recall your first big break as a designer?

I remember being included in a group show at Linden Gallery in St Kilda 1986. At that show I sold a piece to Irvin Rockman, who later became Mayor of Melbourne. It was a mirror which sold for $800, which you can imagine in 1986 that was a lot more money than it is today.

After that exhibition Irvin asked me to create all the lights in his home. This was a real starting point in my career.

At the same show, I met and started a long time friendship with Donlevy Fitzpatrick, who was a famous restaurateur in Melbourne, and we collaborated on both, St Kilda’s Dog’s Bar and the George.

These jobs led to a commission for Florentino’s on Burke St, this job was a turning point as I could support myself as a full designer and I was also able to employ assistants to help achieve larger projects and commissions. The group show at Linden really started my career.

(Left: Trixie Cluster – Opal Aubergine, Opal Smoke Grey and Opal White)

You have worked on some large scale lighting installations, do you have a favourite?

A milestone project was in Queensland for the East Leagues Club. It was a series of large chandeliers, composed of over 35000 pieces of glass. It was one of my biggest commissions to date. With a budget over $300k, completing it has given me the confidence to tackle any large-scale project whether it be in Australia or overseas. It was a big contact with a lot of pressure and responsibility to deliver on time and within budget. It was a great relief to see it completed and the reward was to see the client happy.

What advice can you give people selecting feature lighting for any sort of interior?

The best advice I can give is follow your first reaction or instinct, and don’t second guess yourself. There are so many choices out there its can be confusing, there are so many combinations of scale, colour and finish, there are hundreds of options. We try to keep our offering as tight as we can. If they look at our website, they will find themselves drawn to a shape or style and colour. After that we would suggest contacting us and we can work with them to see if the light will work in their space.

Can you tell us something most people wouldn’t know about you?

I am a people person, and I enjoy making people happy. I really enjoy what I do, I enjoy working with people, I enjoy hearing people’s varied stories and helping them achieve their lighting or object goals. The objects I make often become part of a person’s everyday life, and I enjoy talking with clients to help make them an object that brings them joy. Something they can look at that brings them joy or helps complete a space.

I love it when I see a client who has had a piece for over 10 years and their face still lights up with joy when they discuss it.

View more of the collection here markdouglassdesign.com

(Below: Vintage Wall Light – Small Aubergine Trixie with Brushed Brass Standard Wall Mount)

The thought of home schooling your child due to the current Covid-19 pandemic could be a little daunting for some. As of today, schools in WA are still open but parents have the options to make alternative arrangements at home if they choose to.

There is a variety of curriculum support and learning resources available online and these will likely increase over the coming weeks as demand grows. We have provided a list below of some of the resources currently available.

As expected some resources may have been created before the Covid-19 outbreak so amendments will need to be made along the way; if they suggest outings or group activities for example.

If you’re looking for any guidance on how to talk to children or young people about Covid-19 the Australian Red Cross has published an article with some suggestions on how to approach the matter. There is also a video resource on youtube published by ABC Australia in partnership with parenting author and educator Maggie Dent. Hopefully this can not only educate them but also help reduce any fear or anxiety they may have.

Happy educating; we might all feel a little more grateful towards our educators once we’re through this.

The Department of Education WA is a good place to start, they provide a range of learning resources and activities sorted by year level. You can also find some great information on support services available as well as general information on health and wellbeing.

In response to Covid-19 Ted Conferences have launched TED-Ed@Home, a range of videos organised by age-level and subject. You can even customise lessons for your child! Worth a look.

ABC iview has some fantastic programs categorised into primary and secondary, and by subject. This one might be good for when mum, dad or caregiver needs a little quiet coffee break.

ABC ME will be extending its educational programming from 10am – 3pm each weekday during term 2. The new schedule will start with blocks of primary school content in the mornings through to secondary school in the afternoons.

The ABC Kids Listen App provides educational and entertaining audio content for children aged 0-5. Their programs are inspired by the Early Years Framework of Australia.

ABC Reading Eggs is aimed at children learning to read. They currently have a 30 day free trial on offer, available on your desktop and via the app store.

Move it Mob Style is a 20 episode x 30 minute dance-based fitness program showcasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander hip hop and music. Perfect for when cabin fever hits and they need to burn a little energy.

Audible is offering free audiobooks for kids during school closures. All stories are free to stream on desktops, laptops, phone or tablet.

Educational Consultant Dr Claire Warden (Mindstretchers Academy) has opened a free virtual nature school for 3-11 year olds. The virtual school supports inquiry-based learning inside the home and in the garden. This is not Australian based so the session times likely won’t suit, but the resources such as her nature play diaries are available for free online. Claire and her team are all about integrating nature with education so her website and social pages may be worth a look just for general inspiration.

“In my experience of working with children in unsettling times, the key is routine and stability in their world, combined with the positive mindset that this will pass, and we will be together again”

Dr Claire Warden

RAC Little Legends is aimed at primary school aged children, these games are designed to help children learn about bicycle, pedestrian and passenger safety. Free to join.

Scholastic Learn at Home has a great variety of learning resources for kindergarten to year 9. Also worth a look!

Autism Awareness Australia have created a list of resources and links on their website to assist educators with teaching children with autism; from visual resources, apps to general support.

If you know of any other online resources that we could add to the list above please get in touch. We will keep updating this list.

Happy educating, keep well and good luck!