[permaculture-oceania] do you know these guys?

[Russ Grayson]

On 1/6/06 3:09 PM, "Ian Lillington" <ems.indicators at adelaide.on.net> wrote:

> My curiosity was raised when in the US magazine, Permaculture Activist, I
> found a partnership calling itself the Permaculture Institute of Australia,
> (PIA) offering PDC's in only "seven very full days"

The speed readers course in Permaculture, I thought on reading Ian's
description above. Mindful that when we taught the PDC we found the
conventional 72 hour course structure was inadequate, I took a look at this
organisation's website. It's in the USA and, yes, they offer a residential
course component of only a week but that is preceded by a period or prior
study via the Web and phone... its like study by telepresence. Here's their
blurb:

"Most permaculture certification courses run between 12 and 15 days and can
cost upwards of $1,500 (those are US dollars. This is because certification
requires 72 hours of actual instruction and training. One of the biggest
obstacles for many to participating in a certification course is being able
to take two weeks off in the middle of their already busy lives.

"With the use of CSC's webinar classes, students will begin their course
from home for the 3 weeks prior to their week long intensive. There will be
two evening phone classes each week taught by either Mark or Wayne which
will better prepare the student for their week long educational experience
into permaculture and design principles. Each webinar class will last
approximately 2 hours. This will provide 12 hours of instruction even before
you set foot in Stelle. The remaining 60 hours will be covered in the
students 7 days on site.

"This means that you will be able to receive your full certification
training in one week rather than two."

Be interesting to find out how this goes - I recall past discussion on this
list over the virtues of on-site versus distance learning which brought
forth April Samson-Kelly's vigorous defence of her distance learning course,
which she has taught for quite some years now, an indication that distance
learning in Permaculture must be effective. If that is so, then learning by
telecommunications might work too. What do you think?

I note CSC's comment above about people taking two weeks off as an obstacle
to Permaculture training. With the new workplace agreements in this country
imposing the minimum two week holiday period in place of the traditional
four weeks off, I wonder if there will be a shrinkage of attendees for
Permaculture courses as the agreements spread through workplaces? Perhaps
the clientelle PDCs attract, however, is a more 'professional' demographic
that does not work under these conditions and retains the traditional four
week break.

> I think the 'PIA' idea is that their course is recognised by the Institute
> in Australia - I think they mean the Mollison institute.

If Bill is still accrediting courses utilising his course structure, does
this imply that there are two systems of 'accreditation' operating in
Australia? A state recognised APT and a private accreditation through Bill's
insititute?

My questions: Does this matter? Is one more 'official' than the other? If
so, what is it that confers this 'more official' status?

Ian wrote: I haven't found a "PIA" anywhere else; perhaps we should have one
here too?

You mean another of the same name? Doesn't Bill have it? How would it differ
to PRI? Is PRI a de-facto PIA? There have been suggestions that
'Permaculture International' is misleading as PIJ is not an international
organisation and, if that has validity, then PIA might be more
representative. Ideas?
 
> Perhaps an aussie tag sells well in the US permaculture market.  Pity their
> history is not quite accurate.

Then they must have got over the kefuffle of the 1990s when there was that
open dispute between Bill and some of the American permaculturists. Hope so

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
RUSS GRAYSON
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PO Box 1045, Manly, NSW 1655 AUSTRALIA
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Australian City Farms & Community Gardens Network
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