Camembert in the Classroom project to feature at World Congress of Teachers

In July, Dairy Australia’s Dr Mani Iyer will present the Cows Create Careers - Camembert in the Classroom project to delegates of the 2012 International Federation for Home Economics (IFHE) World Congress in Melbourne.

This will be the first time in its 103-year history that the World Congress will come to the Pacific region bringing together up to 2000 home economists and allied professionals from around the world representing the academic, school, community and family sectors.

Funded by Dairy Australia and run by AGDA’s deputy chief judge Russell Smith on behalf of Dairy Australia, Camembert in the Classroom was successfully launched in 2011 to 14 schools in Victoria and New South Wales. Plans are underway to expand the program Australia-wide by 2014.

Camembert in the Classroom is a complete curriculum package that begins with a whole day of training for teachers who then take what they’ve learnt into the classroom.

Last year, Russell trained 28 teachers and support teachers on how to make Camembert Cheese, who in turn trained 204 Year 9 to Year 11 secondary school students to make and mature their own cheese, research the marketplace and create a 75-second multimedia advertisement.

The module culminates with a ‘Big Day Out’ presentation and awards ceremony where both the cheeses and multimedia advertisements made by the students are judged by Russell and a team of independent judges.

The 2012 International Federation for Home Economics (IFHE) World Congress runs from 16 - 21 July at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.