Education Focussed (EF) Retreat

The EF Retreat is an annual event held since 2017, bringing together the UNSW Education Focused (EF) community to explore shared goals, address challenges, and collaborate on innovative solutions. Attendees participate in interactive sessions aimed at enhancing educational skills and career development, while fostering deeper personal and professional connections within the EF community.

In 2025, the EF Retreat took place from 10 to 12 August in Magenta Shores NSW, under the theme Reimagining the status quo: Nurturing the person, time, and place in learning. The event encouraged the community to step back from immediate pressures and explore the broader landscape of learning and teaching, particularly in the evolving educational environment. Attendees engaged in discussions aimed at reframing and reimagining the future of education at UNSW, with a focus on holistic, collaborative approaches designed to benefit students.

Two highlights of this year’s retreat were UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Attila Brungs, reinforcing the university's deepened commitment to the EF program, and first-time attendance of Pro-Vice Chancellor Education, Christine (Tini) Mathies. The event began with a warm Welcome to Country by Tina West, a respected Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council Chairperson. Strong support from university leadership, including Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education & Student Experience, Professor Sarah Maddison, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Quality, Professor Merlin Crossley, underscored the retreat’s focus on community, inclusivity, and fostering impactful change across UNSW education.

The EF Retreat continues to be organised by the EF Career Development team within the Portfolio of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Education.

UNSW staff can access resources from the 2025 EF Retreat here.

UNSW Education Focussed Retreat 2025 | Day 1 Highlights

UNSW Education Focussed Retreat 2025 | Day 2 Highlights

From Little Things, Big Things Grow: Stories from the UNSW Education Focussed Retreat

What First-time attendees have said:

AMAZING!! It was my first year so everything was brilliant. Everyone was friendly and knowledgeable, the activities were challenging, clever, and engaging. I loved every minute. Thank you.

Connecting with positive educators from UNSW, stopping to reflect more on how I can improve my teaching, having some really enjoyable conversations with colleagues in different disciplines about their work. What a welcoming group the EF community is. It was a very stimulating and meaningful Retreat ( my first EF Retreat).

Biggest takeaways from the EF Community following the EF Retreat:

How lucky I am to be an EF at UNSW, with feelings of deep inclusion due to the service and joyousness of the main team, which trickles into every part of the experience. The EF community is imbued with compassion and a genuine interest in collaboration.

A great experience to reflect on teaching practices. Reflection on the idea of community as a dialogue. This ideology helps guide my teaching philosophy and practices.