About
Zoë Dojo is a living project of regeneration — born from the need to restore both place and culture through acts of care, creativity, and connection.
The building itself carries a remarkable story. The original structure on this site was destroyed in the 1967 bushfires. In a generous act of philanthropy, it was rebuilt in 1969, and soon after, in 1971, became Zoë Community School — a pioneering space for alternative education, spearheaded by Gregor Lash and inspired by the philosophy of A.S. Neill, founder of Summerhill School.
Named after Neill’s daughter, Zoë Community School became a living experiment in progressive education. As a central figure and coordinator, Gregor Lash helped shape and advocate for a model of learning that moved away from rigid, authoritarian structures and toward autonomy, self-governance, community-led learning, creativity, and care for the natural world. The school embodied a radical social philosophy for its time, exploring what education could become when children were trusted, listened to, and invited into meaningful participation.
Decades later, Felicity Horsley, a former student, returned to find the building weathered, neglected, and at risk of being lost to the community. Over two years of hands-on restoration and community effort, Felicity and a growing network of helpers have re-awakened the space, guided by the belief that care is the foundation of regeneration — both physical and cultural.
The word Dojo means “Place of the Way,” and Zoë means “Life” in Greek. Together, they speak to a space for immersive learning and embodied practice; a place to develop character, deepen awareness, and live in right relationship with others and the more-than-human world.
Today, Zoë Dojo is a grassroots project inviting artists, therapists, educators, families, and community members to walk new paths of learning, healing, creativity, and connection. Together, we are shepherding space for the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible.
Felicity Horsley
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Educator • Performer • Theatre Maker • Community Cultural Development Artist • Wellness Practitioner
Felicity Jane Horsley is a lifelong mover, maker and mischief-weaver. A teacher, performer and Animateur with 25 years of experience, she’s passionate about creating spaces where creativity, connection and transformation can flourish.
Her work dances between the performing arts, activism, education and wellbeing—inviting people to come home to their bodies through play, curiosity and embodied learning. Whether it’s in the classroom, the studio, or under the open sky, Felicity’s teaching nurtures resilience, joy and a deep sense of belonging to self and to the world around us.​
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As a performer she has toured nationally and internationally with companies including Terrapin Puppet Theatre and Polyglot Theatre, creating immersive children's performances. As a theatre-maker, she’s produced and performed original work for festivals and communities across Australia.
A passionate educator, Felicity has taught children and young people for more than two decades across the country and internationally, including a five-year residency at Maningrida College in Arnhem Land, weaving together cultural storytelling, physical expression and wellbeing practices.
Her background draws from rich and varied training in contemporary performance, acrobatics, clowning, somatic movement and physical theatre, alongside certifications in yoga teaching, menstrual cycle coaching and deep nature connection. She holds a Postgraduate diploma in Animateuring (creative facilitation & theatre making) from the Victorian College of the Arts, and has trained with the John Bolton Theatre School (New Zealand) and the Beijing International Arts School (China) and many masters of their creative or transformative craft. Felicity is currently completing certifications in Holistic Psychotherapy with Connection Culture and Shakti Yoga.
At the heart of Felicity’s work is a belief that creativity, embodiment and connection (to nature and each other) is the medicine the world needs.​
