NSW/ACT Chapter Special Interest Group (SIG): People & Culture, Admissions, Marketing & Communications
The NSW/ACT Chapter invites you to join us for our second educate+ Special Interest Group (SIG) for 2026.
Following our Alumni, Leadership and Fundraising SIG earlier in the year, this event will host sessions on People & Culture, Admissions, Marketing & Communications across the education landscape. It is designed for professionals seeking to develop connected and productive workforces/places, firm up your enrolment pipeline, and ensure you are presenting your brand in the best possible way.
Please join us from 3.45pm with a welcome from our hosts at International Grammar School before breaking out into individual streams.
Following the welcome, participants will transition into three SIG sessions:
- People & Culture
- Admissions
- Marketing & Communications
Key Takeaways:
- How to stand apart as an employer in a competitive staffing environment
- What attracts staff to an employer, and what makes them stay
- Recognising the strategic impact of Admissions
- Rethinking resourcing and support for Admissions teams
- Learning best practice in generative AI prompt creation
- Preserving your school’s voice and brand in the age of generative AI
People & Culture
Attracting and keeping the right people: Staffing in a competitive market
In today’s environment, schools are competing for talent in ways we haven’t seen before. Finding the right staff and keeping them has become one of the most significant challenges facing school leaders.
In this People & Culture panel, we will explore how schools are responding to an increasingly competitive market. Beyond recruitment, we will examine what attracts staff to a school, what keeps them engaged and how culture, leadership and clarity of purpose play a defining role in retention.
Admissions
The invisible work of Admissions teams: Challenges, impact, and advocacy
Admissions teams sit at the heart of every school, yet much of their work remains unseen, under-recognised, and often under-resourced.
This session brings together admissions and school operations leaders to explore the real, day-to-day realities of admissions work, and how we can better advocate for its strategic value within our schools.
Through panel-style discussion, we will unpack the challenges admissions teams face, the impact of their work, and practical ways to strengthen support, particularly during peak enrolment periods.
This session will cover:
- The “invisible” work of Admissions teams and why it matters more than we think.
- The reality of peak enrolment pressure and resourcing challenges.
- Where disconnects can occur between admissions, finance and leadership.
- Practical ways to better recognise, resource, and advocate for Admissions teams.
Panel:
- Sarah Barker, Director of Enrolments – Wenona School
- Mark Elkington, Business Manager – Norwest Christian College
- Richard Arkell, Business Manager – Meriden
Marketing & Communications
There’s no AI in Team: Using AI tools and maintaining your identity
A bring-your-laptop session designed to bolster your AI toolkit, preserve your voice, and stand out in your market. Led by marketing practitioners and a guest facilitator, discover how to use generative AI tools in writing and communications, and learn powerful tips to make your processes more streamlined yet as dynamic as ever.
This session, facilitated by Brad Entwistle, Founding Partner at imageseven, will cover:
- How to recognise and ameliorate the hallmarks of AI use in text and other media.
- Building a bespoke GPT for your school and developing a written and visual prompt deck.
- Learning how to harness generative AI tools to do the admin, not the judgement or strategy.
Please note: the interactive portion of this session will use ChatGPT/OpenAI as the demonstration model.
Events Details:
Date: Thursday 21 May 2026
Time: 4:00 – 6:00pm
3:45pm – Arrival
4:00pm – Welcome
4:15 – 5:30pm – Stream Sessions
5:30 – 6:00pm – Refreshments & Networking
Venue: The Renaissance Centre, International Grammar School,
36 Mountain Street (Corner Smail St & Mountain St), Ultimo NSW 2007
Parking: Limited Street Parking/Broadway Shopping Centre nearby (0–2 hours free)
Cost: Free for Members, $75.00 +GST for Non-Members
When registering, please select which stream you will be attending
Registrations for this event are limited so please register before Friday 15 May 2026
Members are encouraged to attend the full program to gain maximum value from both the feature conversation and SIG discussions.
