Parados 2027 Programs
Parados programs bring young people together to explore, create and share ideas. In 2027, our four offerings connect environmental learning, creative practice, youth voice and performance across the Noosa and Gympie regions.
Blue Space
Explore the ocean. Connect with Country. Create for change.
Blue Space is a year-round program based in the Noosa Biosphere. Young people explore coastal and marine environments through observation, artmaking, conversation and environmental learning, and consider how they can care for the places they know.
The year begins with a camp on Minjerribah, followed by a K’gari camp mid-year. Camps bring young people together with artists, environmental educators and First Nations knowledge holders.
2027 highlights
Minjerribah Young Artists Camp · 28–31 January
K’gari camp · mid-year
Ongoing learning and creative projects connected to the Noosa Biosphere
Green Space
Learn from gardens. Make things that help places thrive.
Green Space is a hands-on program where young people explore gardens, biodiversity and sustainable living through practical projects and creative making.
In 2027, Green Space will run at Maroochy Botanic Gardens one day a week. It will also be offered in the Gympie region, led by Hayley Davis.
Activities may include ecological observation, gardening, permaculture, habitat-making, sustainable design and creative projects inspired by local places.
2027 dates and booking details to be announced.
True Story
Tell truthful news. Share ideas. Raise awareness.
True News Space is for teens who want to explore environmental issues, cultural heritage and place names—and bring youth perspectives into public conversation.
Young people practise research, communication and debating, then create stories using writing, sound and images. They can highlight achievements, share hopes and ideas, explore careers in conservation and stewardship, and find funding opportunities for youth-led projects.
Stories may be shared through Parados communication channels. Young people can contribute without appearing in published content. The program explores privacy and responsible media-making, including ways to tell stories with voiceovers, captions, artwork and images of places or objects. First Nations stories are approached with guidance from the appropriate knowledge holders and respect for cultural protocols.
2027 dates and booking details to be announced.
Musical Storytelling
Explore big stories. Create performances rooted in place.
Musical Storytelling invites young people to explore how theatre and musicals tell stories about the environment and our relationships with place. Works such as Moana and local theatre productions can spark ideas and discussion.
Young people then bring their own perspectives to the stage, contributing to writing, music, movement, choreography, costumes, design and performance.
2027 dates and booking details to be announced.
Term 4 Timetable
Performing Arts with Grace
WEDNESDAYS WITH GRACE | PERFORMING ARTS & FILMMAKING
This term, Grace is offering two creative classes for young people who want to perform, experiment, make things and have fun.
1:30–3:30pm | Performing Arts
Ages 6–12 | Homeschool
A creative afternoon of singing, acting, dancing and Theatre Sports.
Through games, improvisation and practical activities, students will explore the basics of performing arts while building confidence, creativity and teamwork.
There will also be opportunities to explore what happens behind the scenes, with students contributing to our upcoming short film.
3:30–5:30pm | Filmmaking
Ages 12+ | After School
This group will work towards creating a short film to share at the end of the year.
Students will explore storytelling, performance and filmmaking while getting hands-on experience with cameras and other filmmaking equipment. They’ll have opportunities to develop ideas, work both in front of and behind the camera, and collaborate to bring their stories to life.
Both classes are practical, creative and collaborative, with plenty of room for students to bring their own ideas and personalities to the work.
Wednesdays
1:30–3:30pm | Ages 6–12 | Homeschool
3:30–5:30pm | Ages 12+ | After School
With Grace
Green Space
Wednesdays, 9:00am–1:30pm (9 weeks, starting Oct 7)
Cooroy Community Gardens
$60 per student | Play On! vouchers accepted for On Country Activities
Led by registered teachers, Green Space Learning is a hands-on, project-based program where children learn through nature, sustainable design and collaboration.
Children will explore:
Permaculture and sustainable living
Sustainable design, planning and construction
Geometry, measurement and real-world mathematics
Art, design and practical problem-solving
Group work, communication and shared decision-making
Critical thinking, experimentation and reflection
Opportunities to connect with First Nations educators and learn respectfully through local knowledge and perspectives
A key project will involve helping to restore the permaculture building at Cooroy Community Gardens. Children will contribute ideas, develop plans, measure materials, solve practical problems and work together to help bring the space back to life.
The program will maintain a maximum ratio of one educator to 10 students. Educators hold current Blue Cards and CPR qualifications, and the program is covered by appropriate insurance.
Green Space Learning offers a supportive, mixed-age environment where children can develop practical skills, confidence, curiosity and a stronger relationship with the natural world and their community.
Blue Space Learning Program
Blue Space Learning is a place-based youth education program connecting young people with the ocean, waterways, culture and community through immersive learning experiences on the Sunshine Coast.
Designed for a small group of passionate young people aged 10–16, this 9-week pilot program invites participants to explore the ocean as a classroom — developing deeper connections with place, strengthening environmental awareness, and learning from ocean practitioners, artists, scientists and cultural knowledge holders.
Through surfing, snorkelling, storytelling, ecological observation, creative practice and cultural exchange, students will investigate the relationship between people and the sea. They will learn to listen deeply to the natural world, understand local ecosystems, and explore how traditional knowledge, contemporary science and creative expression can work together to care for our blue spaces.
The program includes excursions throughout the region, including coastal environments, waterways, wetlands and national parks, alongside studio-based reflection and creative responses. Students will build skills in research, writing, observation, collaboration and environmental stewardship while developing their own relationship with the ocean.
Blue Space Learning is inspired by the understanding that healthy oceans create healthy communities. By slowing down, paying attention and learning from the places around us, young people are encouraged to become thoughtful custodians, storytellers and future leaders for our coastal environments.
Program themes include:
Ocean literacy and marine ecology
Cultural connection to Country and Sea Country
Surfing, water confidence and ocean safety
Deep listening and observation practices
Creative storytelling and environmental art
Sustainability and community action
Connecting local knowledge with global ocean perspectives
Term 4 2026 Pilot
A limited number of places are available for this inaugural fellowship-style program. Participants are selected for their curiosity, commitment, independence, love of the ocean and willingness to engage deeply with the learning journey.
Blue Space Learning is an initiative of Parados Education, developed in collaboration with local ocean educators, artists, environmental organisations and cultural knowledge holders.
Large-scale Puppet Making
A 4-week puppet-making program where young artists design, build and animate large-scale puppets inspired by nature, ocean, and the principles of honourable harvest. Through storytelling, recycled materials and collaborative performance, participants explore creativity, sustainability and the idea that everything we receive from the Earth is a gift.
2D Studio
2D Art Studio | all ages
A creative, hands-on introduction to drawing, painting, collage and printmaking.
Young artists will explore a wide range of 2D art techniques through imaginative projects and playful experimentation. They will work with drawing materials, paint, paper, found materials, printing tools and mixed media to discover different ways of making and expressing ideas.
Each session introduces new skills and possibilities, including drawing, painting, collage, pattern, texture, colour and simple printmaking techniques.
The focus is on exploration, confidence and creative expression, rather than creating a perfect finished artwork. Children are encouraged to experiment, make their own choices and discover what happens when different materials and techniques are combined.
A relaxed studio environment gives young artists the freedom to get messy, try new things, develop their skills and enjoy the process of making.