Regenerative Futures

Research interests

The aim of our research projects in this field is to build the capacity of teachers and school leaders to develop curricula, pedagogies, and learning environments that help nurture the thriving of people, places, and the planet.

The research builds on a tradition of education for sustainability at Woodleigh that dates back to its reimagining as a progressive school in the mid 1970s under the leadership of Principal Michael Norman. An important area of focus for the work is the development of the school’s unique Regenerative Futures Program, including the creation of an innovative learning precinct that incorporates the school’s farm and wildlife reserve.

Woodleigh’s leadership in the field of Regenerative Futures provides opportunities for staff and students to develop, extend, and deepen the knowledge, skills, values, and world views that enable them to contribute to the development of a more sustainable and regenerative future.

Research questions

The Woodleigh Institute helps generate, support, and curate research that guides thinking and practice at Woodleigh School and is shared with the wider education community. Research projects in the field of regenerative futures at the school are aligned by the key research questions set out below and conducted through cycles of action learning to ensure they have a direct, positive impact on student learning and staff professional practice.

  • How might schools best design and implement impactful, experiential learning in the context of Regenerative Education?

  • In what ways does regenerative education meet the needs of young people, the places where they live, and their local and global communities?

  • How can regenerative literacy (knowledge, attitudes, emotions, and actions) be developed in teachers and students to help empower them to make a positive impact on people, places, and the planet?

The Woodleigh Institute offers learning programs in the field of Regenerative Futures and is part of a wider network of schools and organisations leading this work in Australia and internationally.