Workshops
As part of the conference program, there are five workshops attendees can participate in. Delegates will be able to select their preference when registering for the conference (from early March 2025).
- Scraps to Soil (Tuesday 13th May)
- Local Government Waste Procurement (Wednesday 14th May)
- Operational Material Use – Optimising Waste Levy Exemptions Across Australia (Wednesday 14th May)
- Investigating Illegal Dumping (Thursday 15th May)
- Makeup Masterpieces (Thursday 15th May)
Scraps to Soil
Scraps to Soil is a home composting and worm farming workshop that teaches you how to transform your kitchen and garden scraps into nutrient-rich food for your soil and plants.
Offered by MidWaste Regional Waste Forum, this workshop covers the basics of getting started with composting and worm farming at home and teach you how to create rich compost to make your garden grow!
You will learn:
- The benefits of composting
- How to set up, manage, and maintain a compost bin or worm farm
- What materials to use and how to troubleshoot common issues
- How to apply compost products effectively in your garden
MidWaste consists of five councils on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, working together to manage waste strategically at a regional level.
Facilitator: Elizabeth Scott
Elizabeth is an Environmental Education Teacher at two local public schools and is part of their 'Well Being' programmes.
She is an active member of Sustainable Schools NSW and attends workshops and webinars to connect with like-minded teachers, focusing on reducing waste in schools and learning the skills of worm farming, composting and growing.
Working as an educator for MidWaste, she finds herself in many beautiful community gardens and is generally surrounded by people wanting to know more!
Her demonstrations are practical and light-hearted. Join us for a 'hands on' composting and worm farming workshop, get your hands dirty and walk away with the skills to turn your kitchen and garden scraps into amazing food for your soil.
Local Government Waste Procurement
Getting the procurement process right is essential for councils aiming to deliver cost-effective and efficient waste services.
Designed specifically for local government staff, this workshop will help strengthen your understanding of waste services procurement and achieve better outcomes for councils, residents, and the environment.
You will gain a practical foundation in:
- The key components of waste services procurement
- The various stages of the procurement process
- The different methods and strategies involved
Facilitators:
- Katherine Driscoll, Impact Environmental Consulting and
- Marcelle Psaila, NSW Environment Protection Authority
Operational Material Use – Optimising Waste Levy Exemptions Across Australia
Across Australia, landfills aim to maximise the recovery of waste materials for operational purposes. However every year, millions of dollars in levy exemptions – whether OSOP (QLD), OPD (NSW), or AOU (SA) – go unclaimed due to:
- Regulatory confusion
- Lack of awareness
- Time constraints
This workshop will break down waste levy exemption frameworks in each Australian state and the key steps required to meet regulatory requirements for materials used in:
- Day cover
- Road and cell construction
- Other operational works
With over $17 million in increased Operational Material exemptions delivered to facilities across Australia in 2024 alone, the Resource Hub team will share practical tools and insights used to maximise exemptions every day. They will provide:
- Exclusive insights from regulatory assessment teams
- Simplified processes for managing exemptions
- Strategies to reduce approval time and save money
Facilitators: Lacey Webb & Oscar Gallagher, Resource Hub
Investigating Illegal Dumping
Illegal dumping is not going away. Even with strong awareness, education, and prevention programs, a small percentage of the community will continue to dump waste illegally.
This is why thorough, procedurally correct investigations are critical to taking enforcement action against offenders.
This interactive workshop will equip participants with essential skills and techniques to conduct effective investigations and obtain credible, admissible evidence.
Key Topics:
- Appointing investigators correctly
- Understanding legal frameworks for gathering evidence
- Effective collaboration with other authorities
- Investigation techniques and best practices
- Managing and protecting collected evidence, including personal information
Using a real-world case study, this workshop will provide opportunities for discussion, knowledge-sharing, and problem-solving, helping participants refine their investigative approach.
Facilitator: Jason Scarborough, JS Regulatory Service
Makeup Masterpieces
In this fun and exciting workshop, you’ll create striking artworks on paper using vibrant makeup.
With a choice of easy-to-use stencils or more advanced techniques, there will be plenty of guidance from your experienced tutor, artist Vivianne Hazenveld.
We encourage you to scour the back of your bathroom cupboard for pre-loved eyeshadows/powders to bring along. If you don't have any, that's ok! There will be plenty of extras so please don't buy anything new. Absolutely no experience necessary, just a sense of curiosity and play.
Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to explore your creativity in a simple, environmentally friendly and effective way, all while having fun!
Facilitator: Vivianne Hazenveld
Vivianne Hazenveld is an award winning mixed media artist shown in over 50 exhibitions worldwide. With a curious mind and a love for reusing materials, many unusual items have found their way into her work. These include glass shards, fabric blinds, bottle tops, candle wax and even piano parts!
She first exhibited her repurposed works in the Waste to Art Category in the Warringah Art Prize in 2010 and continues to find new ways to incorporate repurposed materials into her art.
She developed and ran the Waste to Art Project in Port Macquarie last year - you can find out more about the project here. With a strong background in community art workshops and team building, Vivianne’s events are inclusive, engaging and a whole lot of fun!