Welcome to our Daylesford Dharma School community.

A Letter from the School Principal

Hello, I’m Andrea Furness, Co-founder and Principal of Daylesford Dharma School and I welcome you to our very special school community. In May 2022 I became the Daylesford Dharma School Principal for a second time. I was the first School Principal between 2009 – 2012.

Set within 22 acres on the outskirts of Daylesford, our students are active members of our local community. Our weekly Bush School program sees our students develop deep connections to nature and prioritise its care. 

Our integrated Daily Awareness Program teaches students a range of meditation and mindfulness tools that they apply to their daily lives. We see our students learn to self-regulate, ask to take brain breaks, and play independently during regular periods of noble silence.

Sadly, in 2024 in Victoria, we see disastrous outcomes for youth who are not schooled in the fundamental qualities of kindness, compassion, self-love, and responsibility. 

Markedly, many of our students continue their secondary education at Alice Miller School, Daylesford Secondary College, and other schools in the Central Goldfields and Macedon Ranges.  I often receive glowing feedback that  Dharma graduates demonstrate maturity and confidence beyond their years.

Finally, you do not need to be Buddhist for your child to benefit from learning ethics, empathy, and self-awareness. We welcome families of all backgrounds and love to celebrate their cultural and religious traditions.

Furthermore, we are a Low–Fee Paying Independent School and are committed to ethics of accessibility and inclusivity. You can further negotiate through our volunteering program and bursaries.

If you are interested in finding out more about whether Daylesford Dharma School may be the right choice for you and your children, check out our enrolments page, and please contact us to book a school tour or to learn more. 

Warmest, 

Andrea Furness
Principal, Daylesford Dharma School