What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 3:30pm Tuesday 9am - 3:30pm Wednesday 9am - 3:30pm Thursday 9am - 3:30pm Friday 9am - 3:30pm

Daylesford Dharma School

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Australia
Daylesford, VIC
Daylesford Dharma School

Founded on Buddhist principles, we embed experiential learning of kindness & wisdom into the Australian Curriculum.

Our academic approach is informed by inquiry, creativity and reflection. We teach to the whole child through a mindfulness approach. -We view education holistically.
-Our school strives to ensure that our students’ hearts and minds are nurtured through a program that seamlessly integrates experiential learning, the Standard Australian Curriculum, and Buddhist principles.
-We are dedicated to kee

ping our class sizes small, our teacher-to-student ratio is 10 to 1, meaning we are able to be present and attentive to your child’s needs.
-We are the first Australian primary school to develop a school-based on Buddhist principles, ensuring that mindfulness and meditation are at the core of each day.
-As an independent, not-for-profit school our fees are extremely low. We believe that education is a right, not a privilege. We can work with you to provide school fee assistance.
-Our school community is at the heart of how we grow and flourish. While our expansion has been organic and based on the generosity of our benefactors, we also believe in applying robust strategy and planning to our next stage of growth.

19/06/2026

The Power of Play (Part 2)...Whether it is building cubbies, crafting model boats to test in the creek, designing water engineering systems from the creek to the sandpit, or launching a flying craft - what looks like play is also applied and experiential learning.

These play activities represent active exploration in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). This approach helps students confidently apply STEM concepts to their projects, connecting classroom learning with hands-on creativity.

In an evolving future shaped by generative AI, this ability to create with heart and hands will be among a crucial skill set for our students.

18/06/2026

We shine brighter together...even without the power! A heartfelt thanks to our incredible Daylesford community.

We arrived at school last Friday to find that thieves had removed our copper wiring, leaving us without power. And your support shone through!

Because of you, we were able to relocate our students to the Daylesford Town Hall for two days of uninterrupted and community connected learning. We are immensely grateful to Lisa from Hepburn Shire Council for the swift organisation to smoothly transition our school. And of course our students who saw it as a great adventure, our teachers who are so adaptive with their teaching skills and our relocation and logistics team - you know who you are!

Our deepest gratitude goes to our dedicated tradies who dropped everything and got on board to restore our power. Thanks to your quick action and hard work, our school is fully operational again. We are so proud to be part of such a resilient, caring community!

John Roberts Electrical thanks Matt!
Daylesford Landscaping & Earthworks thanks Wayne, Judy & Nev Purtell
Brian and Jo Purtell electricians
Mel Ogden Ceramics thanks Mel!
Paradise Bookshop thanks Devon!
Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre thanks Kate!
Hepburn Shire Council thanks Lisa!
CitiPower and Powercor Australia

14/06/2026

“Play is as important to human development as sleep and nutrition” (Dr Stuart Brown)

Play teaches problem-solving, creativity, emotional regulation, and lifelong learning skills. It’s an important part of learning and development - play is vital for happy, engaged human beings (and it's not just for the early years)

12/06/2026

Since 2014, the Dharma School has been part of the River Detectives Program, earning a Regional Recognition Award from the North Central CMA in 2023 for the contribution made to the Regional Catchment Strategy goals.

At Smiths Creek on Cornish Hill Reserve, our students have become real-world scientists: testing water quality, macroinvertebrate sampling and surveying habitats to understand the health of their local environment.

Through this nature-based learning, the creek becomes a living classroom for our student River Detectives…from graphing water-quality data in Maths, exploring biology and chemical sciences concepts to writing reports, poetry and creative reflection. Through this nature-based learning, students develop both practical skills and a deep connection to place.

Learn more in our latest blog article (below or via link in bio) and discover how nature-based learning transforms education through meaningful, engaged learning experiences: https://dharmaschool.com.au/river-detectives-part-1/

07/06/2026

Throughout May, our Dharma School community embraced mindfulness through our Meditate in May challenge, Lojong Meditation sessions, Mindfully Walk to School Day, mindful eating activities, family meditation sessions and concluded with the Twilight Peace Market. These were opportunities to bring mindfulness into our daily lives, to connect and reflect together.

Thank you to all our amazing students, families, staff, and partners who helped create a month filled with awareness and community!

A special thanks to Lojong Meditation, Buddhist Council of Victoria, Quang Minh Temple, Konchok Buddhist Centre, Atisha Buddhist Centre Bendigo, Stream Entering Monastery, Mindful in May, The Daylesford Foundation, and Daylesford Landscaping & Earthworks.

03/06/2026

Our Twilight Peace Market was once again a great success - we raised over $2,900! THANK YOU to our young people in the Student Action Team for your vision and hard work in making this happen!

The deeper value of this event is about confidence, connection and contribution. This is a student-led enterprise with purpose! All funds raised will support the creation of new play areas at the Daylesford Dharma School.

There is still time to make a tax deductible donation before 30 June. Head to our Meditate in May fundraising page to donate https://meditate-in-may-2026.raiselysite.com/

29/05/2026

History came to life for our junior students last week through visits to the Daylesford Museum and Sovereign Hill, where they explored how families, toys, play and daily life have changed over time. These immersive experiences outside of the classroom help drive their learning and turn abstract concepts into real discoveries.

This hands-on exploration has sparked their curiosity as they prepare for their project: creating their own Toy Museum which will showcase the historical shifts they learnt about.

We were also privileged to have our friend and indigenous Yorta Yorta woman talk with us about the colonial context of this snapshot of Australia. She reminded us that while these histories are so important to learn, they are only part of the whole story.

27/05/2026

Join us at Daylesford Dharma School for our family friendly Twilight Peace Market this Friday 29th May. All are welcome!

This is a student-led event and during the month of May, our students have created, grown and organised their own market stalls and products - from garden produce to handmade goods and food.

The deeper value of this event is about confidence, connection and contribution. This is a student enterprise with purpose and all funds raised will support the creation of new play areas in our school.

24/05/2026

Lojong Meditation and the Daylesford Dharma School are deeply honoured to welcome revered Tibetan Buddhist teacher Geshe Konchok Tsering for a special teaching and meditation on Cultivating Compassion in Everyday Life.

As part of Meditate in May at Daylesford Dharma School, this session will explore a simple but profound question: What does genuine compassion look like in modern daily life? Not as philosophy alone but as something we can actually practise: with our families, communities, work, health challenges and everyday human struggles.

Geshe Konchok Tsering is the founder of Konchok Buddhist Centre in Melbourne and one of the founding teachers connected to Daylesford Dharma School.

Ordained as a monk at age 12, Geshe-la spent 17 years studying at Sera Je Monastic University in India before receiving the prestigious Geshe degree and later teaching internationally at the invitation of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

This is a rare opportunity to sit with an authentic lineage holder and receive practical teachings grounded in lived wisdom, warmth, and compassion.

The session will include:
• Teaching
• Guided meditation
• Practical reflection for everyday life
• Tibetan translation by Dorje (Thubten Shedrup Ling Monastery)

🌿 Tuesday May 26
🕒 3.45–5pm
📍 Daylesford Dharma School
💛 Pay What You Can tickets available
🌱 All proceeds support the creation of the Dharma School's Five Precepts Walking Path

Limited seating, bookings essential:
https://collections.humanitix.com/calm-mind-open-heart

More about Geshe Konchok Tsering:
https://konchokbuddhistcentre.org

22/05/2026

Join us at Daylesford Dharma School for our family friendly Twilight Peace Market on Friday 29th May. This is a student-led event and during the month of May, our students have created, grown and organised their own market stalls and products - from garden produce to handmade goods and food.

The deeper value of this event is about confidence, connection and contribution. This is a student enterprise with purpose and all funds raised will support the creation of new play areas in our school.

Address

90 Daylesford-Trentham Road
Daylesford, VIC
3460

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 3:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 3:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 3:30pm
Thursday	9am - 3:30pm
Friday	9am - 3:30pm

Website

https://www.dharmaschool.com.au/, http://linktr.ee/daylesforddharmaschool

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