All you need to know about us
Seaweed Sally was founded in 2002 with a focus on helping children better understand their local marine environment in Victoria. The business was established to encourage awareness, respect, and care for the coastal ecosystems that surround them.
Did you know...
The horseshoe shaped jelly that washes up on the sand is not a jelly fish, but the egg case of the moon/sand snail?
Southern Ocean Education focuses on the hands-on aspect of learning, while allowing plenty of time for discussion, questions, and answers. If an answer isn’t immediately available, we’ll make sure to find it using our extensive resource library.
A key feature of our program is a display of live intertidal rockpool animals collected from local Victorian waters, including Port Phillip Bay. This provides children with the opportunity to learn firsthand about the animals' unique feeding habits, defensive mechanisms, use of camouflage, and how to respect marine life and its environment.
The water temperature in which these local animals live ranges from approximately 10°C in winter to a peak of 21°C in summer. To ensure their well-being, the animals are transported in specially chilled containers to maintain the proper water temperature. When not traveling, the animals are housed in tanks regulated by chillers, creating a stress-free environment.
In addition to the live animals, we also display many preserved specimens for the children to touch and learn about. We are always expanding our collection, adding new and interesting species—most of which are local Victorian marine animals. Many of these specimens can even be found by anyone with a keen eye while beachcombing.
Based in Braeside, our business visits throughout the greater Melbourne area and many parts of country Victoria. Any inquiries you make will be personally handled by Josie Nicholls.
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Director
She is a highly experienced professional in marine biology with extensive hands-on experience in the field, bringing both scientific depth and practical insight to her work. Holding a Bachelor of Teaching (Primary & Secondary), with majors in Science and Physical Education, she combines strong academic foundations with a passion for education and student engagement.
As Director of the company, she specialises in administration and strategic coordination, working closely with schools and education staff to organise impactful events and incursions. Her unique blend of marine science expertise and educational leadership ensures programs are both academically rigorous and highly engaging, creating meaningful learning experiences for students and educators alike.
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Senior Marine Educator & Administrator
A qualified Aquatic Scientist, SCUBA diver, and educationalist. As a mother of three and the founder of our business in 2002, her passion, enthusiasm, and extensive knowledge have driven our success in delivering educational programs with excellent outcomes. Josie's dedication to marine education is evident in her hands-on approach and innovative teaching methods. Her leadership has been instrumental in creating a dynamic learning environment that inspires both children and adults to appreciate and protect our ocean.
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Marine Education Officer
Jacinta is a dedicated Marine Scientist and Consultant with a Master of Marine Biology from James Cook University and a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology and Aquaculture from Flinders University. She specialises in translating complex environmental science into clear, engaging, and practical knowledge that supports real-world impact.
Her expertise spans science communication, community outreach and engagement, the development and delivery of educational programs for children, and scientific report writing. With a strong commitment to marine conservation, climate action, sustainability, and environmental education, she works to bridge the gap between research, policy, and community understanding.
Driven by collaboration and evidence-based solutions, she believes that accessible science is key to empowering communities and organisations to respond effectively to environmental challenges. Through strategic communication and partnership, she contributes to meaningful, lasting change for the health of our oceans and the future of our planet.description.
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Marine Education Officer
With a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management from University of Otago, she brings both academic expertise and hands-on field experience to her work. During her studies, she participated in pāua and sea lion surveys, gaining valuable experience in marine monitoring, data collection, and coastal ecosystem research.
Growing up in bayside Melbourne, she developed a deep connection to the ocean that continues to shape her career. Whether swimming in open water or heading out on research vessels, she thrives in marine environments and is passionate about contributing to the understanding and protection of coastal ecosystems.
Her strong scientific foundation, combined with practical fieldwork experience and a genuine love for the ocean, drives her commitment to sustainable environmental management.
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Marine Education Officer
Wendy comes to us in 2025 with a wealth of experience both in the natural environment sector and education. With a degree in both Science and Education and having worked many years in a classroom teaching role, Wendy is more than capable to transform your classroom into a watery underworld and share her fascination with the natural world and its inhabitants with your students in a fun and engaging way.
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Marine Education Officer
Amy comes to us with extremely extensive experience, she has been working in this sector for nearly as long as the OG!!
Amy has a B.Sc in Marine Biology and Zoology and a B. Teaching (Primary & Secondary). She has worked in many roles previously including with the Marine Discovery Centre in Queenscliff, Vancouver Aquarium in Canada, closer to home at Gould League and Eco Explorers. Amy is also a qualified snorkel guide instructor. We are so excited to have Amy on board with us as part of a fantastic little team to continue to deliver high quality, hands on educational marine life experiences to all ages.
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Marine Education Officer
An avid snorkeler who spends hours exploring beneath the surface here in Melbourne and experiencing marine animals and their interactions first hand. A passionate advocate for our ocean environment, Fiona loves sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm with people of all ages. Her dedication to marine conservation shines through in her engaging storytelling and commitment to educating others about the wonders of the underwater world.
