essentials of STEINER education and development 2025 COURSE
I continue to offer two parallel courses in 2025. There is an in-person course in the Sunshine Coast as well as an online course.
The in-person course takes place on seven Thursday mornings (11am - 2pm) and one Saturday afternoon (2.30 - 5.30pm) each term.
The online course takes place over eight sessions per term, on Monday evenings from 6 - 9pm.
This course offers a nurturing space to develop as an educator and / or parent through a range of experiential learning techniques, groupwork, discussions, facilitated processes, lectures and reflections. It also serves as professional development for experienced educators to renew and recharge their forces.
You are provided with opportunities to develop skills in a variety of crafts such as dollmaking, puppetry, felting, silk dyeing and papercrafts (moving pictures and shadow theatre), and create and tell stories, do presentations and get constructive peer feedback. We regularly practise movement, singing, painting, drawing and claywork.
This course is for those who wish to be authentic artistic educators and parents, joyfully engaged with children’s development and learning, supported by Rudolf Steiner’s wealth of insights into human development. The course provides a foundation for educators at all levels (Early Childhood, Primary and High School) and is particularly helpful for those who work in a Steiner setting without previous training in this approach to education. It provides very practical and imaginative essences of anthroposophy that empower educators, and facilitates the development of creative storytelling skills over four major projects. This course is also for parents wanting to understand how to support each child’s unique development process and to be confident and creative in their parenting skills.
An imaginative view of the course, inspired by the wisdom of childhood and the enthusiasm to creatively nourish each unique child from birth onwards.
— For the head —
Looking through the windows of light of Steiner’s insights into human development and its relevance to 21st Century and key educational theories.
Inquiry, exploration, reflection.
Finding clarity
— For the heart —
Connecting and learning to express our unique selves, developing emotional intelligence, self-development, welcoming diversity as soul nourishment.
Allowing the artist to emerge in word, colour, form, sound and movement, social life.
Developing empathy
— Walking the path —
Working with the wisdom of my life, understanding my environment, making and creating, bringing life and enthusiasm to obstacles.
Leading towards the future
Working with love
“The sole reason this course is exceptional – and it is exceptional – is due to the quality of Carol’s teaching and the quality of Carol as a person”
The basics of the course
Open and accessible to anyone, parent or educator, who wishes to take this exciting journey of self-discovery.
Attendance at least 90% of the course.
All storytelling projects to be completed for certificate of attendance.
Facilitated by Carol Liknaitzky, with guest educators.
Cost: $2,000 per annum ($500 per term)
Course located in Sunshine Coast or online
Submit an enrolment request for this Course!
Dates and Details 2025
*In-person sessions located in Sunshine Coast, QLD
*All times listed are in AEST
TERM 1:
IN-PERSON: 27 February - 10 April
7x Thursdays 11am - 2pm
1x Saturday 29 March, Crafternoon 2.30 - 5.30pm
or
ONLINE (Zoom): 24 February - 14 April
8x Monday evenings 6 - 9pm
CONTENT:
Understanding the essentials of how young children develop and learn and what supports whole child development in a healthy way
o Holistic approach to Early Childhood and the 3-fold and 4-fold windows of human development
Storytelling 1: Creating a nature-based original story for very young children with felted puppets
Self-development: The principles of being a responsive, respectful, reflective and creative educator
Activities: Felting, Clay work
TERM 2:
IN-PERSON: 1 May - 12 June
7x Thursdays 11am - 2pm
1x Saturday 31 May Crafternoon 2.30 - 5.30pm
or
ONLINE (Zoom): 28 April - 16 June
8x Monday evenings 6 - 9pm
CONTENT:
Creating a nourishing environment by developing practice in observation skills
o Nourishing the senses with particular emphasis on the transformative process from birth to adulthood
o Language development in relation to music and movement - birth to adulthood
o Child Contemplation – deep observation exercise
Storytelling 2: Creating an original story with songs and rhymes, using a moving picture
Self-development: Developing self-confidence and embodying learning and insights in movement, music and language development
Activities: Drawing, creating a simple song, making a moving picture
TERM 3:
IN-PERSON: 24 July - 4 September
7x Thursdays 11am - 2pm
1x Saturday 23 August, Crafternoon 2.30 - 5.30pm
or
ONLINE (Zoom): 21 July - 8 September
8x Monday evenings 6 - 9pm
CONTENT:
Knowing myself
o The phases of human life development; Seven qualities underpinning adult behaviour
o Deep listening skills, relationship building and working collaboratively
Storytelling 3: The fairy tale as a path of development for the soul. Creating a healing tale
Self-development: Learning how to build partnerships, welcome diversity, understand the self.
Activities: Painting, Building a shadow theatre, props, sets and puppets for the healing tale
19, 20, 21, 22 September: Heart Spaces IMMERSION 2025 for a
combination of online and in-person participants on the SUNSHINE COAST
TERM 4:
IN-PERSON: 16 October - 27 November
7x Thursdays 11am - 2pm
1x Saturday 15 November, Crafternoon 2.30 - 5.30pm
or
ONLINE (Zoom): 13 October - 1 December
8x Monday evenings 6 - 9pm
CONTENT:
Going beyond: Microcosm & Macrocosm
o A deep dive into the nature of sleeping, dreaming, birth and death
o The earth’s evolution in relation to The Dreaming stories of Australian First Nations.
o Spiritual development - Working practically with the throat and heart chakras
Self-development: The importance of self-care, nourishing our well-being and finding balance; Weekly journal entries on insights, learnings and research questions from the sessions and readings
Activities: Creating new rituals/celebrations with story, song, poetry, movement
Cost: $2,000 per annum ($500 per term)
Course located in Sunshine Coast or online
Submit an enrolment request for this Course!
Testimonials
“Your class has taken me to another level Carol, to take risks without fear and feel safe has been so nourishing for my soul. I sing with pride, dance with happiness, draw with ease, and listen with enthusiasm. You made all this happen for me and I thank you with my heart. Your beautiful nurturing soul creates magic.”
“I really value all that you bring to us and appreciate your warm and passionate delivery. I could listen to you forever, you have such a gift of building these wonderful images through your words, it’s quite extraordinary and I feel very blessed.”
“Carol is a truly special human being and gifted teacher. I have learnt so much and i wish i could be a student of Carol’s for the rest of my life. Carol teaches in a such a way that few are capable of. To inspire such wonder in her students, to bring song and dance and laughter and fun to the course, while totally being able to communicate the teachings of Anthroposophy to others who have little or no experience in this knowledge,. I loved the combination of Craft, child based study, Anthroposophy, Carol’s own experiences, dance, song, special guests, group involvement, and discussion. This balance is wonderful. Carol lives what she is teaching with love and honesty and without judgement. ”
“I’ve loved my year journey through Steiner perspectives on life, death and a whole lot in between.
You have helped me feel like I can incorporate more Steiner inspired approaches within my family and home, as well as share possible approaches with others.
Your approach to Waldorf ideas was presented in a way that was flexible and palatable, rather than rigid and not in alignment with my values. Concepts were brought to life, rather than abstract concepts and there was a welcome to explore understanding and questions.
It felt safe to explore artistic endeavours that I didn’t think I was capable of creating and developed a confidence within myself to continue expressing in this way. I have used my hands, heart and mind for goodness!
Most of all, this course has been not just life changing, but life improving. I feel more confident in my parenting and understanding stages of development from a more loving way. I have made beautiful friendships and I feel inspired for more.
I am so grateful for your heart and the spaces I have discovered.
- Cindy L
”
“ If I had to put my experience with Carol and Heartspaces over this year into words.. I would say that its like colour has washed back over all the places I had doubts and insecurities in parenting and home education journey - inspired by Steiner philosophy.
Carol provided a safe, comforting space where I could show up exactly how I was each week.. I would leave more enlivened and all my cells a little bit more awake and excited! I connected with other women who were equally as supportive and reaffirmed that I am following the right path for me.
Carol’s depth of knowledge within the realm of Steiner philosophy, is impressive and I have gained a wealth of insight where I was drawn to with curiosity for years prior.
Carol has been extremely generous in many ways. I feel that her kindness, acceptance and her heart, have been such a light in these times. So thank you again Carol, 2023 has been such a pivotal year for me and my family. I have noticed now how much easier I find gratitude in stressful moments and I truly believe it is a result of what I have learnt through Heartspaces.
- Carly E”
“The Steiner “Heart Spaces” course surpassed my expectations. Carol holds a powerful, yet gentle and nourishing space for her students and we all feel safe to connect and share our experiences. Carol supports her students to lean in to their own growth opportunity and embrace their full expression. I would highly recommend this course to anyone who wishes to expand their knowledge of this topic and also grow as person in ways they didn’t expect to!:)
- Lisa H”
“The things I enjoyed most about Heart Spaces were the following:
1. It was so beautiful to be in community with equally self-responsible and like-minded women! Nourishing and deeply supportive. The beautiful, gentle yet firm way you hold the space is also what largely allows for this.
2. I absolutely loved the opportunity to open up my mind and my perspective to a new and wide lens! The content was enriching for my life, as it helped me to make sense of the world during a challenging time.
3. The course brought craft work back into my life, in a way that I hadn’t expected. Using my hands to create is something that seemed to just fall away over the years, and Carol reminded me of the importance of working with my hands. Not only as a tool to reconnect with myself, but to be a support as I navigate life’s challenges.
My own development has been impacted so deeply that it’s not easy to find words.. I now feel a deeper sense of having my own back. Of knowing who I am, and what I want.
I know that I stand on firm ground, and that I am capable of doing what needs to be done in order to continue to grow, and continue to become who I am. (I’m not sure that process ever ends?!)
I LOVED the crafternoons!! Having them separate from the content was great for me, as it allowed me to drop deeply into the experience, process and medium we were using.
Thank you for offering this work to the community, it is so deeply needed and I recommend it to absolutely everyone
- Melissa H”