Campus Resources:

interns enjoy full 24-hour access to our campus resources including extensive reference library of thousands of excellent texts, journals and publications, and to wireless broadband internet. Other student facilities include communal kitchen and cob oven, optional personal garden plot in the student garden as well as participating fully in our working Permaculture systems and lifestyle.

Community Connections:

PCA is well-located and connected with the wider Nimbin community and local sustainability and transition initiatives. We are just a short walk from Nimbin Village, a centre for alternative lifestyle and culture. Interns are encouraged to make use of opportunities to participate in wider community activities and cultural events. Nimbin is located in the picturesque hinterland of the NSW north coast, surrounded by world-heritage subtropical rainforests, an hour from Byron Bay and magnificent beaches.

Tutors and trainers 

The core training team is Robyn Francis and Janelle Schafer, both highly experience qualified permacture trainers, and PCA trainees Caroline Todd and Guy Stewart, plus guest trainers from our bioregional network of experienced practitioners, specialists and tradespeople including:  Peter Hardwick (bushfoods, native and rainforest plants), Hogan Gleeson (soil food web, commercial organic production), Ray Flannagen and Stuart McConville (composting toilets and greywater systems), Gilbert Louttit (qualified blacksmith), Robert Rosen (community economics and legal structures), Lynne Oldfield (video and film making) and many more.

Djanbung Gardens Campus

Djanbung Gardens is one of permaculture’s leading education centres, established 1993 by Robyn Francis as a purpose-designed living classrom. The training room is a spacious earthbrick hexagon, passive solar designed surrounded by verandas, edible landscape and marsupial meadows for the wallabies.  Djanbung Gardens is the campus of Permaculture College Australia, non-profit provider of vocational training and community education in Permaculture, sustainable living and design, and building resilient communities. The name Djanbung was given by senior Bundjalung elder and lorekeeper Uncle Eric Walker. (‘Djanbung’, pronounced with a silent ‘d’ , means platypus in the local Wyabul dialect)

Living community arrangements

  Interns live as a functioning learning community with our long-term residential APT (Accredited Permaculture Training) interns. Three charming old railway carriages house the communal kitchen and shower, (2 carriages have beds) and social landscape with in/out door eating, fire circle, woodfired barbeque and cob oven. The community of interns at Djanbung Gardens take responsibility for self-organisation within a set of guidelines for community living. Interns roster to contribute to food and prepare communal meals and thus have the opportunity for a complete garden-to-table experience. Interns participate in the daily management of animal and production systems in the gardens.

Internship Costs:

Internship programs cost $400/week ($4000 per 10-week internship, $3200 for 8-week internship) which includes all training, course materials and handbooks, on-site camping, use of all communal facilities and contribution to communal kitty. Some accommodation may be available for extra cost (e.g. bunk bed in the carriages is an extra $25 per week or for a single bed $50 per week) – please enquire regarding accommodation options and availability.

Early bird discount: register and pay 2 months before start date and save 10% of course fee. NB Misc Living Costs and additional food please allow a minimum of $100/week

Certification Interns successfully completing the program will be awarded a Permaculture College Australia Certificate of Completion in Permaculture Practices. Each certificate lists the specific areas of competence attained during the internship.

Ongoing Options:

Once the internship period has been completed, interns can apply to remain at Djanbung Gardens as a residential volunteer or gain experience at other Permaculture sites as a wwoofer.

REGISTER NOW!!! Download your registration form

 International Internship Registration Form 2011 doc (74 kB)

To reserve your place, please complete the registration form and pay $200 deposit to Permaculture College Australia.

Please read the student information on our website for refund policy and codes of practice. Payment by Paypal can be arranged

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