Empowering Communities through Lifelong Learning

The Wyndham Learning Festival is an annual series of events, brought to you by the community for the community. It provides opportunities for FREE learning activities across the City of Wyndham. The Festival has activities for all ages and interests, promoting lifelong learning for all and welcoming new events, sponsors and participants to reflect this diverse and dynamic community.

Join us in September for another fun filled and immersive festival!

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Resilient Wyndham

Led by Wyndham Community & Education Centre with support from Wyndham City Council, the Wyndham Learning Festival is set to run from September 1 to 7, 2024, at various locations across Wyndham. The 2024 theme focuses on “Empowering Communities through Lifelong Learning.”

Our approach to planning the Wyndham Learning Festival is all about providing a broad range of opportunities that match the needs, interests, and aspirations of the vibrant and varied Wyndham community.

Our belief in a connected and inclusive community comes from understanding that unity builds resilience in facing different challenges. Together, we’re stronger.

Click on the link to learn more about Wyndham’s RESILIENT WYNDHAM 2021-2025 STRATEGY. Here you can explore the ways we’re committed to fostering a resilient community capable of tackling local and global challenges.

Lifelong learning

The Festival’s main goal is to bring people together through the fun of learning. It aims to inspire our community to explore new experiences while advocating for lifelong learning across all age groups: Early Years, School Years, Young Adults, Adults & Seniors.

There is a collective recognition that learning occurs throughout life. It happens through different forms, at different times, and in different environments. In short, learning goes beyond the classroom. Learning is a continuous process for everyone, regardless of the form it takes or where you find yourself.

This year’s Festival aims to boost its influence by gaining more community support, launching new events, involving new sponsors, and welcoming a wide range of participants. In doing so, it will mirror the liveliness and diversity of our ever-growing learning community.

‘In order to build a ‘learning community’, a culture that values, celebrates, supports and encourages learning throughout life needs to be fostered and facilitated. Every person, at every stage of their life should have lifelong learning opportunities to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to fulfill their aspirations and contribute to their societies.’

A look back at the 2023 Wyndham Learning Festival

With almost 80 community-led learning events, over 1200 registrations, and a mix of in-person and online events, the 2023 Wyndham Learning Festival (WLF) offered something for everyone!

The theme for 2023 was ‘Our Thriving, Creative Community’. The  Festival not only celebrated the magic of learning but also showcased the vibrant and diverse community of Wyndham. It offered a wide range of enriching experiences for residents and visitors alike.

Some key highlights from 2023 include:

Wyndham Learning Festival reusable tote bags 2023

Our WLF tote bags remain immensely popular, proudly displaying the remarkable talent discovered through the Way Out West annual photography competition. In 2023, our bags showcased captivating photos by Ashlee Brown and Thavishi Bandara Athauda.

Click HERE to see images featured in previous years. 

Ashlee Brown – The River

Ashlee, a 26-year-old resident of Werribee and a mother of three young children, has a deep connection with the Werribee River.

Growing up around the river, Ashlee spent her childhood and youth enjoying the peace and beauty of the area. She wanted to share this love of nature with her children and took them on an adventure along the riverbank, capturing the moment on her iPhone camera.

The Werribee River is a source of comfort and inspiration for Ashlee, who has a passion for photography, which she enjoys alongside her roles as a hands-on mother and model.

Her dedication to her community was recognised when she won the One Wyndham Young Person of the Month award, and at the annual awards event, she learned about the range of events and programs offered by Wyndham City, which inspired her to enter the Way out West Photographic competition.

Ashlee’s story is a testament to the power of nature and the importance of pursuing one’s passions.

Ashlee Brown Werribee River photo
Thavishi Bandara - Boots

Thavishi Bandara Athauda – One small step for man, one giant leap for mother nature

Meet Thavishi, a 15-year-old creative enthusiast from the local area who has always been fascinated by various forms of art.

Her love for photography was ignited in grade 5 when her teacher, who also happened to be a photographer, organized a class photography competition, which Thavishi won. She was rewarded with a small camera, which she still treasures to this day.

Thavishi has participated in various local creative competitions, including one where she used flowers on her hands to create a beautiful image and another where she used digital artwork, winning first prize. This win boosted her confidence and motivated her to continue her creative journey.

In 2022, Thavishi came across the Wyndham Way-out-West Youth Photography Competition in her school newsletter. Drawing inspiration from her earlier floral hands photo, she decided to incorporate her own boots, threaded with purple lace, and adorned with flowers from her garden. To enhance the visual impact, she splashed water around the scene, ultimately capturing a stunning image on her father’s iPhone.

Currently a year 10 student at Werribee Secondary College, Thavishi is an accomplished pianist who enjoys playing jazz. Additionally, she takes part in traditional cultural dance classes, showcasing her creativity through various forms of art.


Thavishi’s journey exemplifies the power of perseverance and passion. Her journey is a reminder that anything is possible when we follow our passion.