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About us
Fleurieu Marine Education provides programs that aim to create stewards of the ocean in each young heart. Ali and Renee won the expression of interest process to provide educational services at the South Australian Whale Centre in Victor Harbor in early 2022, leading to the creation of Fleurieu Marine Education. While the Whale Centre has been undergoing renovations, Renee and Ali have been busy running programs at the Victor Harbor Library, taking Kindy kids on beach excursions, and offering incursion programs to schools.
Our team put on fun and exciting educational marine programs that cover Australian curriculum content. By getting children outside we show them the wonders of the sea around the Fleurieu Peninsula: what marine life is found here, and how can we help them survive. We want all children to develop a love for our planet.
Our values
Collectively we strive to spark curiosity by facilitating opportunities to investigate and explore the maritime world. We believe in encouraging young minds to interact with the natural environment. Children learn by doing and interacting with their world. The natural world provides many opportunities for us to experiment with ideas; to think, question and make hypotheses. Becoming citizen scientists is a great way to foster inquisitive minds. Research suggests that children are more likely to thrive when they are connected to nature. Our planet needs future caretakers with a diverse understanding of local ecosystems and a confidence to help enact positive changes – small and big.
We aim to:
- Create programs that align with the Australian National Curriculum.
- Increase marine education with school group tours of the Whale Centre and program bookings with schools, kindergartens, OSHC and holiday programs.
- Encourage Special Education and disability group visits to the Whale Centre due to improved access and facilities of the centre.
- Continue developing relationships with community groups such as Dolphin Watch Victor Harbor, the Encounter Bay Right Whale Study, Fleurieu Marine Life, Friends of Granite Island, and Friends of Hindmarsh River.
- Create community engagement though citizen science and holiday programs.
- Promote whale education and encourage whale watching and reporting of sightings during whale season.
Our team
Ali
Alexandra (Ali) Bloomfield has a PhD in marine science and a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Hons. First Class). She has experience tutoring at university as well as educating pre-school children about marine life. She has presented talks at international conferences as well as at community forums.
Ali has spent over a week of her life (minute for minute) SCUBA diving, a lot of it here in South Australia doing biodiversity surveys of rocky reefs. Ali has lived in the Victor Harbor region for 12 years raising her children with her husband.
“From my experience, children really enjoy finding items on the beach. This creates a fantastic opportunity for marine education as they seek clarification of what they have actually found.”
Renee
Renee Newman has a Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology) and is a qualified sailing instructor. She has sailed around the world and has taught children outdoor education in various settings. Renee has a Diploma in Small Business Management and ran her own ecotourism business on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Renee grew up in Victor Harbor and has been raising her children here with her husband since returning from sailing around the world.
“I’m excited to pass on my experience in ecotourism and to engage children in the local marine environments we call home.”
Tours & Events
Programs
Grubs up
Year 1 to Year 7
(Incursion only)
Learn how different marine animals eat, collect and gather their food. Water-based experiments allow students to explore the physiology and behaviour of toothed and baleen whales.
Beach Combing
Kindy to Year 6
(Incursion or excursion)
Investigate marine animals and artifacts washed ashore.
School Programs
Curriculum based incursions
(2022 Programs)
Marine biologists bringing marine education to schools through a variety of different programs.
Australian Sea Lions
Reception to Year 10
(Incursion only)
What might Australian sealions need to be safe and healthy? What happens when we understand that our oceans are under stress from population?
Penguin Plight
Year 3 to Year 6
(1.5 hour excursion or 1 hour incursion)
Gain insights into the fairy penguins world. See their plight first hand as they battle foxes, the weather and habitat issues.
Group Bookings
Amazing Marine Animals
Kindy to Year 4
(Incursion only)
Children will learn interesting facts about local marine animals while acting as detectives.
Whaley Spectacular
Pre-school to Reception
(Incursion only)
Children will learn what to look for when out whale spotting, including how to identify different whale species and how scientists identify individuals.
Grubs up
Year 1 to Year 7
(Incursion only)
Learn how different marine animals eat, collect and gather their food. Water-based experiments allow students to explore the physiology and behaviour of toothed and baleen whales.
Amazing Animals
Kindy to Year 4
(Incursion only)
Children will learn interesting facts about local marine animals while acting as detectives.
Penguin Plight
Year 3 to Year 6
(1.5 hour excursion or 1 hour incursion)
Gain insights into the fairy penguins world. See their plight first hand as they battle foxes, the weather and habitat issues.
School Programs
Curriculum based incursions
(2022 Programs)
Marine biologists bringing marine education to schools through a variety of different programs.
Australian Sea Lions
Reception to Year 10
(Incursion only)
What might Australian sealions need to be safe and healthy? What happens when we understand that our oceans are under stress from population?
Beach Combing
Kindy to Year 6
(Incursion or excursion)
Investigate marine animals and artifacts washed ashore.
Whaley Spectacular
Pre-school to Reception
(Incursion only)
Children will learn what to look for when out whale spotting, including how to identify different whale species and how scientists identify individuals.
Group Bookings
Learn with us today
Bring curriculum based marine education to your classroom, or make a group booking to learn about marine life in the Fleurieu with our trained team.
Photographer Megan Crabb
Resources
Group Bookings
School Programs
Curriculum based incursions
(2022 Programs)
Marine biologists bringing marine education to schools through a variety of different programs.
Australian Curriculum Links
Marine Education Programs
Australian Curriculum links
SA Whale Centre Interactive Education Program Options
