Tertiary
Real-world education and experiences for tertiary students
Zoos Victoria provides relevant and memorable experiences for tertiary students. During workshops and zoo tours, your students will learn about issues at the heart of Zoos Victoria’s moral purpose and experience the zoo from a whole new perspective. Choose your own adventure from the list below. You are also welcome to visit our zoos anytime for self-guided and independent exploration.
Biological sciences
- Animal Welfare Principles workshop (Melbourne Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary) – explore the latest research and innovative approaches that are ensuring the wellbeing of animals in human care.
- Australian Wildlife Health Centre Tour (Healesville Sanctuary) – groups of up to 15 people at a time can go behind-the-scenes of the famous Australian Wildlife Health Centre on this one-hour tour, hosted by one of our Visitor Experience team members.
- VCE Biology programs (all zoos) – use our VCE teaching resources and workshops to do refreshers about evolution, threatened species conservation, habitat management, and data collection and analysis.
- VCE Environmental Science programs at Werribee Zoo and Kyabram Fauna Park (Werribee Zoo and Kyabram Fauna Park) – use our VCE teaching resources and workshops to explore case studies about land and wildlife population management.
Teacher education
- Pedagogy in Practice workshops (all zoos) – give your pre-service students a ‘peek under the hood’ of Zoos Victoria’s school and Early Childhood education programs. Our Zoo Teachers will provide a walk-through of a program of your choice to explicitly model and explain our educational approach.
- Teacher PD workshops (online and at the zoo) – your students can join practicing teachers to learn about using real-world content in the curriculum through on-demand, webinar and face-to-face professional development.
- Animal teaching resources (online) – free and easy-to-understand resources about different species are available on our website.
Conservation and land management
- VCE Biology programs (all zoos) – use our VCE teaching resources and workshops to do refreshers about wildlife conservation approaches, threatened species recovery and habitat management.
- VCE Environmental Science programs (Werribee Zoo and Kyabram Fauna Park) – use our VCE teaching resources and workshops to explore case studies about land and wildlife population management.
Teacher education
- Pedagogy in Practice workshops (all zoos) – give your pre-service students a ‘peek under the hood’ of Zoos Victoria’s school and Early Childhood education programs. Our Zoo Teachers will provide a walk-through of a program of your choice to explicitly model and explain our educational approach.
- Teacher PD workshops (online and at the zoo) – your students can join practicing teachers to learn about using real-world content in the curriculum through on-demand, webinar and face-to-face professional development.
- Animal teaching resources (online) – free and easy-to-understand resources about different species are available on our website.
Sustainability
- SustainABILITY workshop (location of your choice) – explore how a large organisation like Zoos Victoria is taking action for climate change and reducing environmental impact through an Environmental Management System (EMS).
- VCE Vocational Major (VM) programs (Melbourne Zoo) – support students to identify an environmental issue, consider different perspectives of key stakeholders and discover how they can help wildlife through a community-based activity.
- ClimateWatch self-guided walk (Werribee Zoo) – explore our grassland and wetland trails to monitor species that are indicators of climate change. This walk is in collaboration with ClimateWatch and collects citizen science data using an app.
VIP guests and international students
Each of our zoos has a range of special experiences that you can use to engage VIP guests and international students.
Healesville Sanctuary
- Australian Wildlife Health Centre Tour – groups of up to 15 people at a time can go behind-the-scenes of the famous Australian Wildlife Health Centre on this one-hour tour, hosted by one of our Visitor Experience team members.
- Race Around the Zoo – great for larger groups, each team tackle exciting tasks and come face to face with endangered animals along the way.
- VIP Sanctuary Tour – this small group tour includes behind-the-scenes access, and reserved seating at the Spirits of the Sky bird presentation.
Melbourne Zoo
- Australian Bush Guided tour (email us with your requirements) – up to 30 people at a time will journey through the iconic Australian Bush trail and meet the kangaroos, koalas, wombats and birds that live there.
- Australian Wildlife Experience – up to 10 people at a time will journey through the iconic Australian Bush trail and meet the kangaroos, koalas, wombats and birds that live there.
Werribee Open Range Zoo:
- Australia Conservation Walking Tour (email us with your requirements) – groups of up to 15 people will each have their own guided tour of the Australian Trail and the animals that live there, with a morning tea option available.
- Deluxe Safari Adventure – up to 20 people at a time will meet rhinos, giraffes, zebras, antelopes as they travel across the zoo's open plains with their own personal guide.
- Early Morning Savannah – up to 8 people will have an exclusive tour by a Zookeeper to get a glimpse into the lives of the amazing animals of the Savannah and what happens in the morning at the zoo before it opens.
- Race Around the Zoo – great for large groups, teams will follow clues, solve codes, and tackle side quests for bonus points.
Kyabram Fauna Park
- Australian Wildlife Tour – up to 8 people at a time will discover interesting facts about an array of iconic Australian animals on a guided tour led by one of our knowledgeable Zoo Keepers.