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Warrah’s Partnership with TAFE NSW

Feb 3, 2025 | News

Since 2019, Warrah’s partnership with TAFE NSW has given our participants so many great opportunities to learn, grow, and build new skills. From hands-on horticulture projects to construction work and certificate programs, this collaboration has had a real impact on our community and transformed spaces across Warrah’s campus. A standout example is the Horticulture Therapy Garden, also known as the Spiral Garden.

The Horticulture Therapy Garden is a special space designed to provide training, education, and therapeutic benefits for people with disabilities. It has wheelchair-friendly pathways, raised garden beds, edible and medicinal plants, and fruit trees. And right in the middle? A mud-brick pizza oven that our participants helped build themselves!

The garden isn’t just about plants, it’s a place for connection, teamwork, and hands-on learning. Warrah participants were involved every step of the way, working alongside TAFE NSW instructors as part of their certificate courses.

What We Achieved Together

Every Friday, our participants rolled up their sleeves, learned new skills, and made amazing progress, including:

  • Raised Garden Beds: They built and rendered curved brick garden beds, planting them with edible produce to enjoy.
  • Weed Removal and Planting: The team cleared out weeds to make space for new plants, trees, and future growth.
  • Chicken Coop and Hen House: The TAFE Work Skills Group put together a chicken run and hen house—a great chance to learn about animal care and gardening.
  • Spiral Garden Features: One of the highlights was the mud-brick pizza oven. Participants made and fired hundreds of bricks, helped build the oven, and then got to enjoy pizzas with sourdough bases made in Warrah’s own bakery.

Certificates and Celebrations

Along the way, our participants achieved some amazing milestones:

  • Certificate I in Work Education: Hands-on skills in areas like horticulture, landscaping, and construction.
  • Introduction to Gardening: A six-month course where the team built a brand-new horticulture work area.
  • Certificate I in Access to Vocational Pathways: A great program that helped participants build confidence and foundational work skills.
  • Visual Arts and Gardening Courses: Many participants received Statements of Participation and Certificates of Recognition for their hard work and achievements.

A Space to Be Proud Of

From clearing weeds to building pizza ovens, this garden is proof of what can happen when people come together with a shared goal. It’s now a place where skills are learned, friendships are made, and everyone can enjoy the benefits of nature. Our participants have every reason to be proud of what they’ve created, and the Horticulture Therapy Garden will be a space the Warrah community can enjoy for years to come.

Thank you to TAFE NSW for your partnership and support over the years. While the funding for this particular partnership has ended, we will continue to investigate new opportunities wherever possible.