The establishment of a Steiner School in South Gippsland will provide opportunity within the community to enhance and compliment the educational options available in the region.

In an effort to involve the local community in Steiner Education, the Waratah Rudolf Steiner Group offers ongoing education seminars and parenting discussions in conjunction with the already existing Waratah Rudolf Steiner Playgroup. We see this as a crucial part of the educational process to deepen parent/community understanding of how children learn and the ways in which the Steiner curriculum meets the needs of the developing child.

Steiner Schools operate worldwide and are recognised for their philosophy and practice of educating the whole child through the “head, heart and hands” approach.  Steiner schools form the largest and fastest growing group of independent schools in the world. In an ever-changing local and global community, many parents are exploring the range of educative options available to them and their children. It is widely acknowledged that the, creative, artistic and nurturing learning environment of Steiner Schools provides positive benefits for the education of our children. The task of educators, in conjunction with parents and community to prepare children for the challenges and opportunities of the future by nurturing healthy development from “the inside”; to provide the right nourishment at each stage of physical, emotional and spiritual growth.

The Waratah Rudolf Steiner Group has researched the impact of the introduction of Steiner Schools into Victoria and found their enrolments to be extremely healthy and growing steadily. In June 2001, over 7000 students were enrolled in Steiner Schools and Streams across Australia, these numbers are steadily increasing.

For a Steiner School to work effectively, the teachers, known collectively as the College of Teachers, will work together on curriculum development, pedagogical studies, teaching methodology and other educational matters. The College of Teachers will work co-operatively with other Staff on administrative issues.

Members of the Waratah Rudolf Steiner Group have associations with the Melbourne Rudolf Steiner School and Sophia Mundi Rudolf Steiner School; these connections will provide our teachers with ongoing resources and support. The group plans to become a member of the Rudolf Steiner Schools Association, which holds annual conferences.

Rudolf Steiner