Foundation Course Authors

Erwin Berney

EduCareDo was created by Erwin Berney (1922 - 2011).  He was a founding member of the first ‘Orientation Course’ in Anthroposophy in Sydney and the well known initiatives that followed. These included Parsifal College for Adult Education (now known as Sydney Rudolf Steiner College) where he lectured until his mid 70’s.

Erwin had a great interest in the science of producing food and medicine. His research was based on the science of anthroposophy and he had an ability to communicate and develop the findings for integration in practical life. Erwin founded Demeter Biodynamic Bakery which later became Helios Enterprises. The bakery was a hub for bread workshops, ongoing research, as well as commercial production of biodynamic, Demeter certified bread. Erwin also created the Goethean Science Research Centre for Agricultural, Food, and  Medical Testing and Research which, along with Helios, was the first producer and distributor of Wala anthroposophical medicines in Australia. One of the many outcomes of his research and experiments was the production of commercial-size, chemical-free storage facilities for grains, which was endorsed by the CSIRO and are now used widely in Australia.

Erwin also formed Hermes Trilance Ltd, a bank-like organisation to  support anthroposophical initiatives around the world.

When Erwin retired from lecturing at Parsifal College he committed himself to writing a foundation course in anthroposophy accessible to those unable to attend institutions. He called it EduCareDo. This commenced in 2002 and Erwin tutored EduCareDo students for the following decade. He also prepared the way for subsequent EduCareDo courses which he imagined would be offered to students.

While writing these courses he continued to pursue individual research in food production and the possibilities of biodynamic agriculture towards improving climate change. Erwin then presented the findings to the Australian government.

In 2011 Erwin passed away. He was 90 years old.

Inspired by Erwin’s intention for subsequent courses, the EduCareDo team released a number of subject courses in 2020.

Lesley Evans

Lesley Evans came to anthroposophy at age 21 and, in 1975, attended the foundation course in Social Development at Emerson College in the United Kingdom. This gave shape to her experiences and introduced her to the new impulse of biography work. Her working life became committed to Curative Education and the questions of destiny that arose within the families of intellectually disabled persons. Lesley was a class teacher and Principal of Inala, an anthroposophical organisation supporting individuals with disabilities.

Annika Jaensch

Annika Jaensch graduated in Creative Speech and Drama from the Section for Oratory and Musical Arts at the Goetheanum Free University of Spiritual Science in Dornach, Switzerland, in 1973. She has worked as a performer, director and teacher in both performance and educational environments. Annika works from her studio ‘Sunstone’ in Arcadia, NSW. Through this course she endeavours to open the door to some of the wonderful gifts of human speech.

Brian Keats

Brian Keats has been compiling and publishing the Antipodean Astro Calendar (Biodynamic planting and naked eye astronomy guide for southern hemisphere) since 1985. He also publishes the Northern Star Calendar (a Biodynamic calendar for the northern hemisphere) and is the author of Betwixt Heaven and Earth. Brian is an itinerant teacher at Rudolf Steiner schools and colleges (specializing in Mathematics, Astronomy, Biodynamics, and Spiritual Science); and has lectured and conducted workshops across Australia and in the United States. He also farmed biodynamically, and is a founding member of the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association of Australia.

Brian’s calendars and associated works are available from his website.

Susan Margaret

Susan Margaret’s art training began with a BAVA in sculpture, at Newcastle University (1985). During the years 1991-99 this art training was continued with Fiona Campbell. She has attended various courses, weekend workshops, and engaged in extensive independent study based in anthroposophy.

She has given many painting and sculpture workshops, and has taught for 5 years at Newcastle University in the Fibre/Textiles Department; weaving & sculpture at Parsifal College; and in various other contexts. After studying Holistic Counselling at Sophia College, Susan now facilitates clay and color personal development workshops at the Relaxation Centre, Brisbane, Australia.

Anthony mecca

Anthony Mecca has been farming for 15 years, being introduced to biodynamics early on and working with many experienced farmers and mentors. He has worked in market gardening, small grains, perennial crops including berries and tree fruit, managing his own CSA farm for 8 years, and with a variety of animals, most prominently 8 intensive years of using draft horses as the main source of power, caring individually for a 15 cow herd, and working on a raw milk dairy. The farm and garden as a center of community life has been pivotal in his work. Bringing people into relationship with the wonder, beauty, and nourishment a biodynamic farm can provide, and seeing them grow and develop through this relationship individually and in community over the years has inspired his work. He is currently the director of Farmer Training for the Biodynamic Association in the US, which offers (2) year-long programs integrating the EduCareDo foundation year course and the biodynamic agriculture and nutrition course with direct practical work with a mentor, skills development, journaling, observational exercises, an independent project, additional readings, and weekly cohort conversations via video conference.

Lisa Romero

Lisa Romero is an author of inner development books, a complementary health practitioner and an adult educator who has been offering healthcare and education enriched with anthroposophy since 1993.

From 2006 the primary focus of her work has been on teaching inner development and anthroposophical meditation.

Through Inner Work Path Lisa offers lectures, courses and retreats for personal and professional development.  Lisa's most recent initiative is the Astral-Arc, a YouTube channel offering a place to hear from young people asking questions on the path, practicing the work of love through awakening the mystery centre of the heart, and hearing various artistic expressions of both.

Through Inner Work Books Lisa has published 'The Inner Work Path’ focusing on meditation practice, 'Developing the Self’ written after many years of working with Waldorf teachers to support their inner work and pedagogical understanding of child development, 'Living Inner Development’ offering an understanding of the inner experiences and results of various inner development exercises, 'Sex Education and The Spirit' to help awaken an understanding of our communal responsibility for the healthy development of gender and sexuality within society, "Spirit-led Community" which introduces spiritually healthy guidelines for lessening the negative influence of technology on the inner life, and "A Bridge to Spirit - Understanding conscious self-development and consciousness-altering substances". 

Through EduCareDo Lisa has authored and tutors a year-long course  - Inner Development for World Development and contributed to a number of the other EduCareDo courses.

For several years Lisa was the lecturer of Health & Nutrition and Gender studies at Sydney Rudolf Steiner College and for many more years delivered inner development training to College Tutors. Since 1999 she has been presenting on the subject of gender, sexuality and spiritual life. She has been working with Waldorf schools as a part of their health and wellbeing curriculum, working directly with the students, teachers and parents on this theme. Lisa has contributed to and is an adviser on Health and Personal Development for the Australian Steiner Curriculum Framework. She has developed training courses, and facilitates professional development on this subject for teachers and health professionals. Lisa designed and facilitated EduCareDo ‘Towards Health and Healing’ which has offered 8 year-long courses focused on working with therapists from all modalities, as well as Waldorf teachers, toward cultivating the depth of anthroposophical insight through practical applications of therapeutic and pedagogical methods. Lisa is a contributor, tutor and director of Inner Work Path, EduCareDo, Developing the Self Developing the World and the Y Project.

Developing the Self Developing the World delivers community education, and the Y Project supports the bridging of young people into healthy community life. Lisa’s capacity to deliver esoteric wisdom with insight and understanding allows her to meet the diverse needs of a range of communities and professions. Essentially, her work springs from the inner work, meditation and exercises, together with a dedication to the path of unfolding consciousness.

For more information on upcoming courses with Inner Work Path visit: innerworkpath.com