From the Chapter President

The SA/NT Chapter has spent the past few months reconnecting with members and building momentum, following a period of change within the Chapter Committee. 

On 4 June, the Chapter hosted a Winter Warmer networking event, giving members an informal opportunity to connect after an earlier professional development session had to be cancelled. The evening drew a number of new faces from across the membership, alongside valued industry Partners and Sponsors, reinforcing the strength of the local educate+ community. 

The Chapter followed this up on 15 July with a combined Special Interest Group event at St Peter’s Girls’ School, titled “Understanding Today’s Families to Future-Proof Your School.” The Session featured presentations from McCrindle and Communicate et al, and attracted 50 attendees, including a strong contingent of first-time participants and schools new to Chapter activities. 

The Chapter also paused to recognise the contribution of Joanna Arvanitis, an active educate+ member for more than five years, who has hosted and presented to the Chapter and served most recently as Treasurer. Her expertise as a systems analyst, combined with her generosity with her time, gave SA members valuable insight into digital platforms in the education setting. Following Joanna’s departure, David Botha has stepped into the Treasurer role. 

Looking ahead, the SA/NT Chapter has commenced planning for the 2027 educate+ Summit, with early discussions underway to develop a program reflecting the evolving needs of members and the broader advancement profession. 

We Invite You to Join Our Committee

A number of long-standing Committee members will be stepping away at the end of the year, and the Chapter is now welcoming new members onto the Committee. All members are encouraged to reach out and get involved — if you’d like to know more about what the Committee does, click here. We’d love to hear from you! 

Join Us for a Coffee Catch-Up at the International Conference

For those attending the upcoming International Conference, the Chapter is hosting a coffee catch-up beforehand. The catch-up will be a relaxed opportunity to connect with the SA/NT Chapter, especially if it’s your first time attending. All are warmly welcome to come along.

Kind regards 

Belinda Mears
SA/NT Chapter President | educate+ 

Director of Marketing, Communications and Advancement
St Peter’s Girls’ School

Welcome to our Newest Members

We extend a very warm welcome to our latest Members, who have recently joined us since the last SA/NT CHAPTER eNewsletter.

We are thrilled to have you as part of our Chapter community!

Shortly you will receive details of the next online ‘New Member Meet-Up’ event, where you will have the opportunity to hear from the team at educate+, receive assistance in navigating the website and community portal, and meet with colleagues across the Network. We can’t wait to meet you!

Welcome to our newest Members:

Is This the Sign?

Is this the sign you’ve been waiting for… 

You’ve seen the exceptional line-up of Keynote and Session Speakers. You’ve explored the Program and maybe even earmarked some Sessions you’d like to attend. You’ve seen the incredible Social Program planned for beyond the Sessions… and you know some of the 750+ Delegates who’ve already Registered. 

Perhaps you’ve even hovered over the Registration button once or twice.

But you haven’t quite made the decision.

Well wait no more… we’re saving a seat for you!

We want you to be part of the Building Futures experience!

When hundreds of Advancement professionals are coming together in Brisbane… when the photos start appearing, colleagues are sharing ideas and connections are being made, we want you to be part of it too.

Why? Because as a community, we believe in the power of investing in your own professional development.

We want you to gain the ideas, expertise and connections that can strengthen your impact, contribute to your institution’s success and help advance our profession.

Because when our practitioners grow, our institutions grow and the Advancement industry as a whole grows too.

And the good news is… you can still be part of it.

There’s still time to Register and come home with a new idea, a valuable connection, a different perspective and renewed energy for the work you do. But hurry… registrations are closing very soon!

Experience Building Futures for Yourself.

If Building Futures has been sitting on your “maybe” list, now is the time to turn maybe into yes.

We’re saving a seat for you!

Event Details
Date: Tuesday 1 – Friday 4 September 2026

Venue: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

YES – I’M COMING TO BRISBANE! REGISTER HERE

A Few Last Minute To-Do’s

Chapter Dinners are on Wednesday evening of Day 1, offering you a special opportunity to connect with peers from your community. Chapter Dinner RSVP’s are closing soon! 
Book your Chapter Dinner seat ASAP!

Conference Social Functions Survey … We’d love to know who is joining us at the Marts&Lundy Welcome Event and the iDAT Celebration Event! Please complete this 2-minute survey to assist us before it closes! 
Conference Social Functions Survey

Leadership Exchange Initiative … Eligible Delegates (leaders of multiple Advancement functions) are encouraged to RSVP for this initiative being held on Thursday during the Building Futures International Conference. RSVPs are closing soon! 
RSVP to the Leadership Exchange Initiative

And finally, click below to discover the educate+ Excellence Awards Finalists … This year, we received an incredible 300+ submissions across multiple Award categories, showcasing the innovation, dedication and impact happening across our profession. 
Introducing the educate+ Excellence Awards Finalists

See you in Brisbane in just 1 week!

Upcoming Events

You Are Invited…

We invite you to join us at our upcoming events, where you can deepen your professional knowledge, exchange ideas and connect with peers across our community. Whether you are looking to build new skills or strengthen your network, there is an opportunity waiting for you to connect, learn and grow.

	IN-PERSON EVENTS WED 2 SEPT: SA/NT Chapter | International Conference Chapter Dinner (The Plough Inn)
	WEBINARS & ONLINE EVENTS WED 26 AUG: WEBINAR | St Hilda’s Approach to Safer School Social Media WED 9 SEP: WEBINAR | How Schools Win or Lose Prospective Families: Building Trust through Storytelling in the Inquiry Journey WED 16 SEP: WEBINAR | Unlocking Our Impact: The State of Advancement 2026
	ALL CHAPTER IN-PERSON EVENTS TUE 1-FRI 4 SEP: Building Futures International Conference (Brisbane, BCEC) To view Program, CLICK HERE Hurry – Just 1 Week to Go!

Connect. Learn. Grow. Post Event Wrap

Understanding Today’s Families to Future-Proof Your School  

On Wednesday 15 July, the SA/NT Chapter of educate + hosted its second professional development event of the year, Understanding Today’s Families to Future-Proof Your School, at St Peter’s Girls’ School.  

Bringing together Advancement professionals from across the sector, the Session explored the changing expectations of families, the evolving Enrolment landscape and how schools can better engage the next generation of parents through data-led insights and authentic brand storytelling. 

The afternoon featured two expert-led Sessions designed to move from understanding families to taking action. 

Understanding the Future Family and the Changing Enrolment Landscape 

Geoff Brailey from McCrindle drew on nationally recognised social research to unpack the forces shaping today’s school communities. Participants explored the factors influencing school choice, the changing expectations of next-generation parents and how demographic, social and generational trends are reshaping family engagement with schools.  

Geoff also highlighted five defining traits of today’s families: values-driven, time-poor, digital-first, partnership-minded and future-focused, and the implications these have for school engagement, communication and enrolment strategies. 

 Turning Insights into Action: Building Brands that Connect 

The second Session, led by Bec Tape and Melissa McCaig from Communikate et al, explored how educational institutions can translate research and insights into meaningful brand strategies. 

 Key themes included: 

• Using data to inform acquisition and retention strategies 

• Defining a clear point of difference in a crowded market 

• Delivering a consistent brand experience internally and externally 

• Harnessing the power of community advocacy to amplify a school’s story 

 A key takeaway from the Session was the distinction between marketing and brand: “Marketing is asking someone on a date, but the brand is why someone will say yes.” 

 The event provided valuable insights and practical strategies for Advancement professionals seeking to better understand their communities, strengthen engagement and adapt to the evolving needs and expectations of families. 

Sophia Saracino
Head of Marketing & Community Engagement
St Andrew’s School, Walkerville

The Enrolment Journey Problem Isn’t Process. It’s Visibility

This article has been submitted by the SA/NT Chapter Sponsor, EnrolHQ

Most Admissions teams don’t have a process problem. They have a visibility problem.

After working alongside hundreds of schools across Australia and New Zealand, we’ve noticed a pattern that shows up almost everywhere: the Enrolment journey exists, it’s just never in one place. Part of it lives in someone’s head. Part of it sits in a spreadsheet last updated three years ago. A few pieces are documented properly. The rest is institutional memory, passed along informally and is at risk every time someone leaves.

The result is that it’s genuinely hard to improve something you can’t fully see.

What a Well-Designed Journey Actually Looks Like

When a school gets its Enrolment journey right, families barely notice it’s happening. An enquiry arrives, a tour follows, a thoughtful follow-up lands at the right moment. As the entry year approaches, the family stays loosely connected. By the time their child walks through the gate on day one, they already feel part of the community.

That experience is the result of dozens of small decisions, made well and made consistently. But when those decisions are scattered across inboxes, staff memories, and legacy documents, the journey is almost impossible to redesign, because no one can see the whole thing at once.

Two Patterns That Surface Every Time

When we help schools map their journeys end to end, two issues emerge almost without fail.

The first is duplication. Families receive the same information multiple times from different touchpoints at different stages. It feels scattered to them and wastes time for the school.

The second is silence. There are gaps in the journey where families hear nothing for weeks, or even years. Not because anyone decided to go quiet, but because no one could see the gap was there.

Both are fixable. But they have to be visible before they can be fixed.

Making the Journey Visible

One approach we’ve found effective is mapping the journey physically by spreading it out across a meeting room table, stage by stage, so the whole thing is visible at once. We developed the EnrolHQ Enrolment Journey Cards for exactly this purpose. Your team maps your Admissions process across six stages using task cards, date cards and blanks for activities unique to your school.

What happens next is usually the most useful part of the exercise. Side by side, the gaps and overlaps become obvious within minutes. The conversation turns practical: where does the birthday card sit? What goes out to accepted families over summer? Does the information evening land at the right point, or has it always just landed where it landed?

The cards don’t answer those questions. They make sure they get asked.

Once your journey is mapped, take a photo. Revisit it annually. You’ll see what’s improved and where the next conversation needs to happen.

To request an EnrolHQ Enrolment Journey deck, email hello@teamhq.com.au

Eddy Chan
General Manager

E:  hello@teamhq.com.au
W: EnrolHQ

Let’s Meet a Chapter Member

Each eNews, we introduce you to some of our wonderful Chapter Members, through a question-and-answer type interview article.

This week the first Member in the hotseat is:  David Botha, Director of Marketing and Communications, Westminster School

How long have you been in Educational Advancement?

I have experienced 6 years at Westminster School, Adelaide.  

What is the achievement or accomplishment you are most proud of?   

The achievement that I am most proud of is capturing the School’s strategic plan in a visually engaging way through print and video. And also, I am proud of creating a new set of creative materials based on the newly defined strategic positioning (Adventurous Education) which was authentically uncovered in the strategic planning for the School. The positioning is so true to the School’s fabric that its now also become the Brand Essence which will live on beyond the current strategic plan. 

What is your greatest moment of learning?   

I don’t think I have a greatest moment of learning. I am a firm believer in continuous learning and when I do make time to immerse myself in learning or professional development, I am always reminded that we can learn and improve, even in the areas we believe we are experts in. 

What is the most impactful book you have read, or podcast you have listened to>  

The most impactful book for me is The Laws of Simplicity by John Maeda. A very close second is Good to Great by Jim Collins. 

What are three tips or words of advice that you would give to new members or those who are new to Advancement?  

The three tips I would give are:

• Schools are uniquely complex environments
• Success lies in collaboration and making time to pause, reflect and revisit strategy
• And most importantly, take the time to celebrate success.  

What are three things you enjoy doing in your spare time ? 

• Riding motorcycles
• Spending time with family
• Going for hikes. 

Thank you David – it’s been wonderful getting to know you!

School Fundraising Is Becoming a Vocation. So Should the Way We Build It.

This article was written by Belinda Mears, Director of Marketing and Advancement, St Peter’s Girls’ School

Fundraising used to be something an educational institution did when it needed a new building. Increasingly, it’s something a school does because it understands what sustains it. That’s the real shift underway: from a function you activate to raise money, to one you build to keep the organisation strong for the long term.

That change, from occasional Fundraising to an emerging profession, is one of the more significant shifts in school leadership over the past decade, and one of the least talked about. Australia doesn’t yet have the clear career pathway into Advancement that more mature markets have established, and there is no established training pipeline. The work of educate+ in helping to shape this framework has been significant for the independent school sector.

From Ask to Expertise

A generation ago, “development” in schools often meant a part-time role: usually reactive, tied to a capital campaign and staffed by whoever was willing and available. Increasingly, it looks like a genuine profession. Fundraising practitioners are building real expertise in donor relationships, Alumni engagement, data and stewardship, and they understand that philanthropy in a school runs on trust and relationships long before it runs on an ask.

That professionalisation matters. Fundraising done well isn’t simply about securing gifts. It’s about staying close to the people who’ve shaped the school: Alumni, past parents and staff who gave decades of service, so that when the moment for generosity arrives, it feels like a continuation of the relationship, not a solicitation.

Why This is a Sector Issue, Not a Back-Office One

Schools that resource Fundraising like any other senior function build something sustainable: a culture of giving that outlasts any single campaign. Too many schools across the sector still treat it as a task bolted onto someone’s existing role, and keep rediscovering, campaign after campaign, that relationships can’t be built at speed.

With intergenerational wealth transfer in Australia set to reshape philanthropic giving over the next two decades, the schools that build the function now will be the ones ready when that shift arrives.

Three things this asks of us as leaders:

• Invest in the profession, not just the project. Skilled Fundraising leaders build relationships and pipelines years before a campaign needs them.
• Tell the story continuously. Alumni and past families stay connected to a school that keeps them informed, not just invoiced.
• Measure relationships, not only revenue. The health of a Fundraising program shows up in engagement long before it shows up in a gift.

The schools getting this right aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest asks. They’re the ones building the relationships, capability and culture that will sustain their institutions for the long term, and setting a standard the rest of the sector is still catching up to.

Belinda Mears
Director of Marketing and Advancement
St Peter’s Girls’ School

Is a Virtual School Tour Now An Essential for Your Website?

Article supplied by SA/NT Chapter Principal Sponsr, AdvancedlLife

Choosing the right school is a big decision for families. With today’s busy schedules and digital first lifestyles, does a handful of static photos cut it? Is a virtual school tour now a minimum requirement? We believe the answer is YES! To truly stand out, schools must offer an immersive window into their daily life. A virtual tour is no longer a nice extra. It is an absolute must have.

Explore world-class facilities and your entire campus from a bird’s-eye view.

Think of a virtual tour as your 24/7 digital open house. Whether families are relocating from interstate, juggling hectic work weeks, or searching from overseas, they can explore your campus from the comfort of their couch. Viewers can wander through science labs, check out performing arts spaces, and stroll across sporting grounds at their own pace. Plus, it is a wonderful way for nervous new students to get familiar with their surroundings before day one.

Wander through modern learning spaces and classrooms at your own pace.

Keeping this experience fresh is also key. Schools are vibrant places that change constantly! If you have added new buildings, upgraded STEM labs, or updated uniforms, a three year old tour does not do you justice. Your digital doorstep must reflect your campus’s growth to keep credibility high and ensure your school remains the top choice.

A 24/7 digital open house that perfectly reflects your school’s unique environment.

That is where partnering with advancedlife makes all the difference. As Australia’s trusted name in school photography, we make capturing your best assets seamless. We combine cutting edge tech with a deep understanding of what makes schools special. Let our specialists design an updated virtual tour that bridges the gap between a first click and final enrolment.

Reach out today to see how we can open your digital doors to the world!

AdvancedLife

T:   1300 728 972
W:  AdvancedLife

Introducing … Sophia Saracino!

Each eNews, we introduce you to some of our wonderful Chapter Members, through a question-and-answer type interview article.

This week the second Member in the hotseat is: Sophia Saracino, Marketing and Community Engagement Manager, St Andrew’s School Walkerville. 

What is the length of time working in educational advancement, including any prior industry experience?  

 I’ve been working in educational Advancement for the past five years. Before that, I was in the not-for-profit sector with The Hospital Research Foundation Group, and earlier in my career I worked in media and advertising at News Corp and Clemenger BBDO. 

 What is the achievement or accomplishment you are most proud of?
 
That’s a hard one. Over the past five years, I’ve been fortunate to lead a number of projects that have shaped how our school tells its story and connects with its community.  

What I’m most proud of is the work I led as part of our School’s recent 175th anniversary celebrations. Two particular highlights were delivering a commemorative book and children’s book that captured the stories and history of our community and leading my first Day of Giving campaign in support of the refurbishment of our School Hall. Both projects brought together storytelling, community engagement and philanthropy in a way that was both meaningful and impactful. 

What is a significant moment of learning or a challenge you have overcome?

The biggest challenge for me was navigating COVID restrictions while being relatively new to working in schools. The traditional ways we engaged with our community were no longer possible, so we had to quickly rethink how we connected, finding new and more creative ways to bring people together without being physically together. 

What is a book you have found particularly impactful, or a podcast you regularly listen to  ?

I regularly listen to The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett. I enjoy the diversity of guests and topics discussed, but what I find most interesting is Steven’s intentional approach to building trust with his audience. 

A few months ago, he shared that more than 20 episodes are cut each year because they don’t meet the standard his audience expects. That’s a difficult decision to make when you consider the time, money and relationships involved, but it’s also a powerful example of putting your audience first and protecting the trust you’ve built. It’s a reminder that quality, authenticity and audience focus should always guide our work – something I think is highly relevant in Advancement and communications. 

What are three tips or words of advice for members new to Educate Plus or new to Advancement? 

• Connect with other advancement professionals or seek out a mentor – the Educate Plus community is incredibly generous, supportive and collaborative. 

• Take every opportunity to engage in professional learning. Advancement is always evolving and there’s so much value in learning from others across the sector. 

• If you’re new to working in schools give yourself grace in your first year. Every school has its own rhythm, culture and way of doing things, and it takes time to find your feet. 

That are three things you enjoy doing in your spare time?  

I don’t have a lot of spare time these days, and when I’m not working, I’m usually running my two children around to their sporting and extra-curricular commitments. When I do get a quiet moment, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, being with my two-year-old cavoodle Ollie, and unwinding with a good book, TV series, or scrolling through Pinterest to feed my love of home interiors. 

Social Media in Schools

This article is a summary of a LinkedIn post, originally written by Nick Johnstone, Principal, Toowoomba Anglican School

The way schools use social media is changing. Growing expectations around children’s privacy, consent and digital agency, combined with the increasing risks posed by AI-generated content and deepfakes, are prompting schools to reconsider not only what they post, but why it needs to be public at all.

From less identifiable student imagery and more purposeful posting, to stronger consent practices, image governance and preparedness for AI misuse, Marketing and Communications teams are entering a new era of digital responsibility. The emerging model is clear: fewer posts, clearer purpose, less identifiable data, stronger consent and greater student agency.

To read the full article to explore 12 predictions for the future of school social media, then join us on Wednesday to see how one school is already putting this thinking into practice.

Read the Full Article 

So, what could this look like in practice?

At the beginning of 2026, St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls took a significant step, reviewing its public social media strategy and moving away from clearly identifiable, front-facing images of students.

In an upcoming Webinar, hosted by educate+, Kellie Hasluck, Director of Advancement & Growth, and Hope Barr, Head of Marketing and Communications, will take us behind that decision in our upcoming webinar, St Hilda’s Approach to Safer School Social Media. They’ll share what prompted the change, how their Community responded, the impact on workflow and practical ways they are continuing to tell authentic, engaging school stories while reducing identifiable imagery.

Webinar Details
Date: Wednesday 26 August 2026
Time: 1:00pm-2:00pm AEST
Venue: Online via Zoom
Cost: Free for Members; $75 (+gst) for Non-Members

Register Here/ Find Out More

Thank You to our Valued Sponsors

Thank You …

We’d like to extend a huge ‘Thank You’ to our valuable Strategic Partners and Chapter Sponsors, who support educate+ and the SA/NT Chapter in our activities and enable us to provide wonderful opportunities to our members and non-members. We ask that you please consider supporting them, so that in turn, they can continue to support us. 

Thank You to our SA/NT Chapter Sponsors

 

Thank You to our 2026 educate+ Strategic Partners