About us
Our Story
The Ecohouse Vision
To transform the house and garden on the corner of the St Kilda Botanical Gardens into a model sustainable building that will provide education and inspiration to the wider community, acting as a seed for further change. In addition to the redesigning and refitting project, audiovisual displays and other educational programs will be developed to assist the general public in putting sustainable living ideas into practice.
Today, the Port Phillip EcoCentre is a place where environmental solutions are hatched and nurtured. The EcoCentre is a not-for-profit, community-managed, environment group, providing a base for affiliate groups involved in activities that promote biodiversity, environmental sustainability and community action.
Our Strategic Documents
Please note that all documents linked below are PDF downloads, which are also available in hardcopy at the EcoCentre.
Strategic Plans
EcoCentre Strategic Plan 2018-21 and Monitoring and Evaluation Framework 2018-21
Contact Us
Opening Hours:
Call us to make an appointment.
Phone: (03) 9534 0670 Fax: n/a
Email: info@ecocentre.com
Education & excursion inquiries: schools@ecocentre.com
Staff and Key Facilitators
April Seymore - Executive Officer
April Seymore serves as EcoCentre Executive Officer since 2015, previously coordinating EcoCentre Education Programs for five years. April brings innovative, integrated expertise with over 15 years of community development, tech projects, sustainability initiatives and school teaching experience in Australia, Ireland and the USA.
April applies improvisation, citizen science, music and digital storytelling to teach Early Years, Prep to year 10, secondary specialist programs and adult education. She brings a global systems perspective, and is committed to empowering meaningful action across our whole community. She is also a ResourceSmart Schools facilitator and assessor, a Board member for Tomorrow's Leaders for Sustainability Inc, and a member of the global Waterkeeper Alliance.
April is available for keynote speaking, workshop facilitation, media appearances, MC-ing events and panel discussions/facilitation.
Book April for your event
Committee & Public Fund Managers
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Committee President - Pam O'NeilPam brings to the EcoCentre an overarching and active commitment to education and community involvement as empowerment. With Degrees in Economics, Politics and Arts, as well as Diplomas in Education and Visual Arts, Pam's skills and civic commitments have translated into equally diverse fields of work and community involvement. These include senior positions in government, including leader of policy and planning for adult community and further education for Victoria; leadership in schools and TAFEs; in membership of community boards and as a Systems Analyst, Researcher, Strategic Planner and Management Consultant. As a practising artist, her exhibitions have included works on the transformation of the lands of the Boon Wurrung people by Europeans in what is now the municipality of Port Phillip. |
Newsletters
Catch up on stories of wildlife, events, and our work with community and partners. Stay in the loop and get involved via our volunteer opportunities!
If you're not subscribed you can Sign Up to our Newsletter for all the EcoCentre's latest news.
Media Coverage
2019
- Rising tide of plastic choking Port Phillip Bay, July 2019. Port Phillip EcoCentre released updated data, showing that 1.4 billion pieces of rubbish are flowing into the Bay annually. Over 1 billion of these litter pieces are microplastics, almost double what was previously calculated.
- Tons of litter fished from Yarra every year as native species suffer, March 2019. Microplastics accounted for about three-quarters of the waste flowing into the Bay.
2018
- Microplastics bad for bay, October 2018. Tiny plastic pieces a huge threat to ecosystem. Article written by Port Phillip Baykeeper, Neil Blake.
- Greens to grow eco hub, October 2018. Port Phillip's popular EcoCentre will be given a $2.75 million cash injection if the Greens win at November's State Election.
- Call for science superheroes, October 2018. The Port Phillip EcoCentre team needs people to help protect our bay, by collecting information and photos of what you see by the seaside. Through citizen science, beachcombing becomes a superpower.
- A tale of two beaches and their rubbish problem, July 2018. Any way the wind blows, streams of rubbish will be dragged to the shores of Port Phillip Bay.
- Millions of plastic pieces choking Port Phillip Bay, June 2018. Port Phillip EcoCentre released data calculating 800 million bits of rubbish are flowing into Port Phillip Bay annually from just two rivers, painting an alarming picture of pollution on Melbourne’s much-loved coastline.
Positions Vacant
Student Placement (Next intake term 2, 2021)
The EcoCentre provides a range of opportunities for university and high school students to complete their work experience or student placement.
Current opportunities include (but are not limited to):
Our Awards
Since 1999, the EcoCentre team has been recognised through over 35 awards from local to Victorian, Australian and international.
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Finalist, Community Award, Premier's Sustainability Awards December 2020 Living Water Workbees (nominated with Werribee River Association) |
Pages
The EcoCentre acknowledges the Kulin Nations, including the Yalukut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung language group, traditional owners of the land on which we are located. We pay respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Elder members of our multicultural community.
