DATES: Monday 16 March – Tuesday 17 March 2026

VENUE: Cliftons Melbourne, Level 2, 440 Collins St, Melbourne 3000

GETTING THERE: Cliftons is located on Collins Street between William and Queen Street’s. A Tram stop is located out the front of the building and is within the Free Tram Zone. If possible, we would strongly suggest commuting via public transport to get to the venue.

FORMAT: Each session would be 1.5 hours (incl. Q&A) with 4 sessions per day with breaks for morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.

NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES: We have morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea with participants from all the 5 Courses so take advantage of this opportunity to interact with your fellow peers in Advancement across Australasia.

We will also have networking drinks on Monday 16 March from 4.45 -5.45 pm.

2026 Course Content

The Admissions Course covers the following topics:

Strategy & Planning

• Admissions Drivers & Leading Practices: Understand what influences school choice and identify the key challenges and opportunities in today’s market.
• Implementing & Managing an Admissions Plan: Build a comprehensive plan that aligns with your school’s mission, marketing, and enrolment goals.

Data & Insights

• Admissions Data Collation, Reporting & Interpretation: Learn how to capture, segment, and analyse data to inform decision-making and drive enrolment growth.
• Admissions Current Challenges & Solutions: A collaborative session that gives you the opportunity to discuss current challenges and leave with peer-tested practical insights and share solutions.

Marketing & Engagement

• Admissions Marketing: Explore the role of websites, tours, enrolment funnels, and collateral in shaping parent decision-making.
• Reviewing & Strengthening Your Processes: Turn insights from a self-audit into actionable improvement.

Compliance & Operations

• Legal Considerations in Admissions: Navigate expectations, key legal issues, and reputational risk with confidence.
• Admissions Structures & Resources: Review department structures, workload management and resource allocation to optimise performance.

2026 Learning Hours & Assessment

• A self-audit survey will need to be completed prior to attending the face-to-face training (30 minutes to complete).
• The Course is a 2-Day face-to-face training event, with all participants to be in attendance. This equates to 12 hours of face-to-face training.

To view the Admissions Course Outline click here

Every Enrolments/Admissions team needs to prioritise the time and finance to attend this Program. Networking with other Schools and hearing from other professionals in this field, has either challenged or refined our current processes. Thank You!

Kate Bulfin. Enrolments Officer, King’s Baptist Grammar School, Adelaide Hills Campus (2025 Participant)

The Educate+ Admissions Course I attended over the past two days has truly been life-changing! I’ve gained invaluable insights on how to better communicate with potential clients, equipping me with the skills to effectively engage and connect with families.

The Course also provided a comprehensive understanding of the legal aspects surrounding Admissions, ensuring we stay compliant and informed. One of the most rewarding aspects was the opportunity to network with other Enrolment Officers. Sharing experiences and learning from each other’s practices was incredible and incredibly valuable. The knowledge I gained will not only enhance my professional approach but also benefit the department as a whole.

I highly recommend any Admissions Department to send their staff for this training—it’s a must for anyone looking to elevate their Admissions strategy and improve overall effectiveness!

Emma Lombard, Director of Enrolments, TGS 

2026 Course Content

The Alumni & Community Engagement Course will cover the following topics:

Strategy & Planning

• Segmentation & Strategy: Develop targeted engagement strategies tailored to different audience segments.
• Alumni Boards & Councils: Understand the role of advisory groups and governance structures in building sustainable engagement.
• Alumni Portal & Software: Understand integration requirements to avoid double-handling data and learn how to build a thriving online community for alumni-led connection.
• Current Alumni & Community Engagement Challenges: A collaborative, interactive session that gives you the opportunity to discuss your current challenges and practical solutions.

Engagement & Connection

• Alumni Activities: Explore diverse activity models and events that build loyalty and strengthen your community.
• Generational Alumni Engagement: Learn techniques to connect with and retain engagement from recent graduates and how to build messaging that remains relevant across age cohorts.
• Effective Community Engagement: Learn about strategies for building strong relationships and a holistic institution-wide approach to alumni and community relationships.
• Effective Events Planning: Apply best-practice event management to create purposeful and memorable alumni and community events.

2026 Learning Hours & Assessment

• A self-audit survey will need to be completed prior to attending the face-to-face training (30 minutes to complete).
• The Course is a 2-Day face-to-face training event, with all participants to be in attendance. This equates to 12 hours of face-to-face training.

To view the Alumni & Community Engagement Course Outline click here

2026 Course Content

The Fundraising Course will cover the following topics:

Strategy & Planning

• Mindset & Psychology of Giving: Learn how to feel confident about asking and how to be an affective Fundraiser in your institution.
• Purpose, Visions & Case for Support: Understand why you need a case for support and its essential ingredients.
• Governance Foundations: Understand how to get your board on board and how to effectively work with your institutions Foundation.
• Current Challenges & Planning: An interactive session to apply what you’ve learned and discuss current challenges and practical solutions.

Types of Giving

• Annual Giving & Giving Days: Explore strategies and tools to strengthen regular giving and inspire broad-based support.
• Major Gifts & Bequests: How to develop relationships and approaches to engage major donors and build long-term legacy giving.

Stewardship & Donor Relations

• Donor Relations & Stewardship: Build authentic relationships through effective communication, recognition, and reporting.
• Pipelines, Moves Management & Making the Ask: Plan confidently and effectively for making the ask and understand the ins and outs of a donor pipeline.

2026 Learning Hours & Assessment

• A self-audit survey will need to be completed prior to attending the face-to-face training (30 minutes to complete).
• The Course is a 2-Day face-to-face training event, with all participants to be in attendance. This equates to 12 hours of face-to-face training.

To view the Fundraising Course Outline click here

The Educate+ Fundraising Course was a full and engaging program run by very experienced and generous Fundraisers. The insights and practical examples were of great value and the input from participants complimented the presentations. Very interactive and highly recommended. Kate Abrahm, St Hilda’s College, University of Melbourne (2025 participant) 

I learned so many practical and essential Fundraising skills through the Advancement Practitioner Training Program by Educate+. As a one-man team, it really helped me streamline my efforts and understand what to focus on. I honestly wouldn’t know where else to find this kind of insight if I hadn’t taken the course. On top of that, the supportive community and ongoing coaching after the course have been such a gift—it’s encouraging to know I’m not alone in this journey. (2025 Participant)  

2026 Course Content

The Marketing & Communications Course will cover the following topics:

Strategy & Planning

• Developing a Successful Marketing Plan: Build a comprehensive and measurable plan aligned with your institution’s mission and goals.
• Managing Your Brand: Understand how to strengthen and protect your brand across touch points.
• Customer Journey Mapping: Map key audience journeys and design meaningful, tailored experiences for families, alumni, and stakeholders.
• Marketing Strategy: Learn how to apply long-term strategic thinking into marketing decisions and align ongoing work with the institution’s strategic direction.

Storytelling & Engagement

• Effective Communications Writing: Craft clear, compelling messages across multiple platforms.
• Social Media Marketing: Develop platform-specific strategies that drive engagement and showcase your institution’s unique identity.

Digital & Reputational Management

• Digital Marketing: Explore online tools, analytics, and campaigns that convert awareness into action.
• Reputation & Crisis Management: Learn proactive and responsive strategies to safeguard trust and credibility.

2026 Learning Hours & Assessment

• A self-audit survey will need to be completed prior to attending the face-to-face training (30 minutes to complete).
• The Course is a 2-Day face-to-face training event, with all participants to be in attendance. This equates to 12 hours of face-to-face training.

To view the Marketing & Communications Course Outline click here

I absolutely recommend attending the Advancement Practitioner Training program. The Marketing & Comms stream was incredibly informative and it was great to mingle with others in the field. The ability to learn more about Marketing and Comms, including what others are doing, in an education specific context is invaluable. (2025 Participant)  

2026 Course Content

The People & Culture Course will cover the following topics: 

• Australian Labour Law 
• Investigations, Termination and Litigation Process
• Contracts and Enterprise Bargaining 
• Discriminations, Harassment, Work Health & Safety and Bullying 

2026 Learning Hours & Assessment

• A self-audit survey will need to be completed prior to attending the face-to-face training (30 minutes to complete).
• The Course is a 1-Day face-to-face training event, with all participants to be in attendance. This equates to 6 hours of face-to-face training.

To view the People & Culture Course Outline click here

We have contracted with Oaks Melbourne on Market Street, which is diagonally opposite Cliftons, an agreed rate for those attending the Advancement Practitioner Training. The rate is $225.00 per room. per night, room only in one of their Studio rooms. To book please follow the bellow instructions:

We are pleased to offer special accommodation rates for attendees of Educate Plus in March at Oaks Melbourne on Market Street:

• Room Only: $225 per night
• Room with Breakfast: $250 per night

To book, please email Avinash Pagadala at fommarket@theoaksgroup.com.au, and CC AMMarket@theoaksgroup.com.au and EV1Market@theoaksgroup.com.au.

To process your booking, we require the following information in your email: 

1. The rate you are booking (Room Only or Room with Breakfast)
2. The event you are attending (Educate Plus in March)

Please note: Bookings can only be made via email, online booking is not available for this offer.

If you would like more rigorous and recognised training, then the Advancement Practitioner Training is perfect for you!

• Offers greater recognition from peers and improves your professional profile.
• Grants you more credibility as an Advancement Professional
• Improves career opportunities and gives you the edge when being considered for a promotion or other career opportunities
• Prepares you for greater on-the-job responsibilities.
• Improves skills and knowledge
• Demonstrates your commitment to the profession
• Broadens your connections to other practitioners
• Reflects personal achievement and builds self esteem