TAFE NSW students have helped repurpose more than a thousand bunches of Australian wildflowers used in a Zimmermann fashion runway show, by gifting them to patients at St Vincent’s Hospital and honing their floristry skills to create a land art installation.

Certificate IV in Floristry students used part of the 300 square metres of Australian native flowers - donated by Grandiflora after the fashion show - to prepare 675 bouquets for St Vincents Private Hospital employees and patients and create a floral installation on campus at TAFE NSW Padstow. 

Certificate IV in floristry student, Evelyn Freeman, worked on the art installation at TAFE NSW Padstow. Evelyn said: “It was really exciting to be able to repurpose the flowers and at the same time develop our hands-on skills. Building the installation at TAFE NSW Padstow was an invaluable experience working in a team and on a project of that scale and size.”

Grandiflora florist, Saskia Havekes, helped create the floral masterpiece for Zimmermann and said it was a huge win for the Australian floristry industry to be featured on a global runway. 

“We were able to regift every single stem and bloom so that nothing went to waste,” Ms Havekes said.

“It was the pinnacle of my career to see how many charities, hospital workers and TAFE NSW students were able to benefit from these repurposed wildflowers.”

TAFE NSW teacher in Floristry, David Berger, said the donation was a great example of collaboration to create sustainable practice in floristry.

“Floristry at TAFE NSW is highly regarded in the industry because our teachers have worked in the field for many years and produce some of the finest florists in NSW,” Mr Berger said. 

“Not only are students able to support local growers by finessing their skills using Australian natives, but they are also ensuring that perfectly good wildflowers are repurposed and given a second life.

“With our industry connections, students are able to use their hands-on skills in real world situations which is something that sets us apart from other training providers.”

To enrol in a floristry course at TAFE NSW, visit www.tafensw.edu.au, or call 131 601.

Media contact: Jessica Cortis, TAFE NSW Media and Communications Business Partner. 0456 170 211.