A Restorative Pause is a Circle of Trust ® Retreat for anyone wanting to take the time and space to renew and/or re-imagine their inner and outer lives.  It is based on the approach to reflective inquiry of sociologist, educator, author and activist, Parker J. Palmer and The Center for Courage & Renewal. Led by highly experienced and skilled facilitators, these Circles are a space for honest dialogue and non-judgmental listening, providing opportunities to learn and practice ways of relating that help us to be more present with ourselves and others. Prompted by evocative texts, imagery and insights from the natural world,  there will be time for individual reflection and journaling as well as large and small-group dialogues in which our own stories can be shared. These processes offer the opportunity to gain a new depth of self-knowledge and clarity around the questions we are holding, and build our courage to respond in life-giving ways.

Your facilitators:

Kirsty McGeoch (PhD, MEd, LLB, B.Com, Grad Cert. Professional Supervision) has a few different hats: engaging with schools to embed the 4Cs - creativity, communication, collaboration, critical reflection - in their teaching and leadership practices through her role with 4C Transformative Learning; facilitating courses for women leaders in education with the National Excellence in School Leadership Institute: and offering Professional Supervision to school leaders. A common thread is her deep interest in reflective practice, which led her to becoming a Courage & Renewal facilitator.  In this role, she derives great joy in offering people the safe and welcoming space to tune into their own wisdom for living and leading well. In her free time she enjoys family camping trips, playing in a band and singing in an acapella group.  If she had more time, she’d like to do more dancing outside her own living room.

Noela Maletz (M Soc Sc BA Dip Ed) is an educator, psychotherapist and Courage & Renewal Facilitator. More than thirty years ago she joined with others to establish a Waldorf School and then a Social Therapy Centre for people with disabilities, in Adelaide, and worked in both of these places. Most of her current work is in private practice, as a psychotherapist and supervisor, and in growing Courage & Renewal work in SA and Australasia. She is awed by the possibilities and necessities of a life lived as mindfully, wholeheartedly and as kindly as she can manage and is grateful to enjoy the complexities of a large and loving family and a treasury of friends.

Kirsty and Noela value working together to craft retreats and bring them into being. They share a love of literature and the excuse to be creative, as well as the joy of working together in community with others.

Venue:

A Restorative Pause will be held at The Hermitage - 843 Old South Road, Mittagong NSW. It is a 1.5-hour drive from Sydney and 2-hour drive from Canberra. From Sydney Domestic airport, it is approximately a 2-hour train ride with a change at Campbelltown Station to the Southern Highlands Line. From Mittagong Station it is a 7-minute drive to the Hermitage. The extensive grounds of The Hermitage provide a beautiful environment for contemplation.

Cost:

A deposit of $100 is payable upon registration.

Early Bird - $850 (incl. GST) payable by 12 April, 2024.

Full fee - $950 (incl. GST) payable by 24 May, 2024.

The price includes all materials, nourishing meals and comfortable accommodation in a single-occupancy room with an ensuite.

Please feel welcome to inquire about payment plans.

Cancellations:

We understand that life challenges emerge and changes happen. You will receive a refund less the $100 non-refundable deposit when you notify us in writing at least 3 weeks before the program begins. No refund will be given if we receive your cancellation less than two weeks before the program start date. If you need to cancel due to testing positive to COVID-19, you will receive a full refund. If the program is cancelled due to low enrolment or other circumstances, you will receive a full refund. Please note travel costs are solely the responsibility of participant.

Whatever our flaws, it is indeed encouraging to know that we are actually designed for joy.  But what is joy?  And how can we live into it more fully, intentionally and courageously?  Join us for Living into Joy to begin exploring these questions.

Living into Joy  is a Circle of Trust ® Retreat based on the approach to reflective inquiry of sociologist, educator, author and activist, Parker J. Palmer and the Center for Courage & Renewal. Led by highly experienced and skilled facilitators, these Circles are a space for honest dialogue and non-judgmental listening, providing opportunities to learn and practice ways of relating that help us to be more present with ourselves and others. Prompted by evocative texts, imagery and insights from the natural world,  there will be time for individual reflection and journaling as well as large and small-group dialogues in which our own stories can be shared. These processes offer the opportunity to gain a new depth of self-knowledge and clarity around the questions we are holding, and build our courage to respond in life-giving ways.

Your facilitators:

Kirsty McGeoch (PhD, MEd, LLB, B.Com, Grad Cert. Professional Supervision) has a few different hats: engaging with schools to embed the 4Cs - creativity, communication, collaboration, critical reflection - in their teaching and leadership practices through her role with 4C Transformative Learning; working at the University of Sydney in pre-service teacher education; and facilitating courses for women leaders in education with the National Excellence in School Leadership Institute.   A common thread is her deep interest in reflective practice, which led her to becoming a Courage & Renewal facilitator.  In this role, she derives great joy in offering people the safe and welcoming space to tune into their own wisdom for living and leading well. In her free time she enjoys family camping trips, playing in a band and singing in an acapella group.  If she had more time, she’d like to do more dancing outside her own living room.

Noela Maletz (M Soc Sc BA Dip Ed) is an educator, psychotherapist and Courage & Renewal Facilitator. More than thirty years ago she joined with others to establish a Waldorf School and then a Social Therapy Centre for people with disabilities, in Adelaide, and worked in both of these places. Most of her current work is in private practice, as a psychotherapist and supervisor, and in growing Courage & Renewal work in SA and Australasia. She is awed by the possibilities and necessities of a life lived as mindfully, wholeheartedly and as kindly as she can manage and is grateful to enjoy the complexities of a large and loving family and a treasury of friends.

Kirsty and Noela value working together to craft retreats and bring them into being. They share a love of literature and the excuse to be creative, as well as the joy of working together in community with others.

Venue:

Living into Joy will be held at The Monastery Conference Centre, 15 Cross Road, Glen Osmond, South Australia. The Monastery, home to the Passionist Community, is a 10-minute drive from the Adelaide CBD.

Cost:

A deposit of $100 is payable upon registration.

Early Bird - $825 (incl. GST) payable by 31 August, 2023.

Full fee - $925 (incl. GST) payable by 30 September, 2023.

The price includes all materials, nourishing meals and comfortable accommodation in a single-occupancy room with shared bathrooms and toilets.

Feel welcome to inquire about payment plans.

Cancellations:

We understand that life challenges emerge and changes happen. You will receive a refund less the $100 non-refundable deposit when you notify us in writing at least 3 weeks before the program begins. No refund will be given if we receive your cancellation less than two weeks before the program start date. If you need to cancel due to testing positive to COVID-19 or being a close contact, you will receive a full refund. If the program is cancelled due to low enrolment or other circumstances, you will receive a full refund. Please note travel costs are solely the responsibility of participant.

Inquiries: Feel welcome to contact Noela at noelamaletz99@gmail.com.

Whatever our flaws, it is indeed encouraging to know that we are actually designed for joy.  But what is joy?  And how can we live into it more fully, intentionally and courageously?  Join us for Living into Joy to begin exploring these questions.

Living into Joy  is a Circle of Trust ® Retreat based on the approach to reflective inquiry of sociologist, educator, author and activist, Parker J. Palmer and the Center for Courage & Renewal. Led by highly experienced and skilled facilitators, these Circles are a space for honest dialogue and non-judgmental listening, providing opportunities to learn and practice ways of relating that help us to be more present with ourselves and others. Prompted by evocative texts, imagery and insights from the natural world,  there will be time for individual reflection and journaling as well as large and small-group dialogues in which our own stories can be shared. These processes offer the opportunity to gain a new depth of self-knowledge and clarity around the questions we are holding, and build our courage to respond in life-giving ways.

Your facilitators:

Kirsty McGeoch (PhD, MEd, LLB, B.Com, Grad Cert. Professional Supervision) has a few different hats: engaging with schools to embed the 4Cs - creativity, communication, collaboration, critical reflection - in their teaching and leadership practices through her role with 4C Transformative Learning; working at the University of Sydney in pre-service teacher education; and facilitating courses for women leaders in education with the National Excellence in School Leadership Institute.   A common thread is her deep interest in reflective practice, which led her to becoming a Courage & Renewal facilitator.  In this role, she derives great joy in offering people the safe and welcoming space to tune into their own wisdom for living and leading well. In her free time she enjoys family camping trips, playing in a band and singing in an acapella group.  If she had more time, she’d like to do more dancing outside her own living room.

Noela Maletz (M Soc Sc BA Dip Ed) is an educator, psychotherapist and visual artist who also loves to write. More than thirty years ago she joined with others to establish a Waldorf School and then a Social Therapy Centre for people with disabilities, in Adelaide, and worked in both of these places. Most of her current work is in private practice, as a psychotherapist, and in growing Courage & Renewal work in South Australia. She is awed by the possibilities and necessities of a life lived as mindfully, wholeheartedly and as kindly as she can manage and is challenged by remembering her many grandchildren’s birthdays.

Venue:

Living into Joy will be held at St Joseph’s Spirituality and Education Centre, 8 Humphreys Rd, Kincumber South. The centre is approximately 1.5 hours by car from both Sydney and Newcastle. For those coming by train, it is a 20-minute taxi ride from Woy Woy station. St Joseph's historic sandstone buildings and expansive grounds are set in bushland right on Kincumber Broadwater, creating a tranquil environment for reflection.

Cost:

A deposit of $100 is payable upon registration.

Early Bird - $825 (incl. GST) payable by 5 April, 2023.

Full fee - $925 (incl. GST) payable by 5 May, 2023.

The price includes all materials, nourishing meals and comfortable accommodation in a single-occupancy en-suited room.

Feel welcome to inquire about payment plans.

Cancellations:

We understand that life challenges emerge and changes happen. You will receive a refund less the $100 non-refundable deposit when you notify us in writing at least 3 weeks before the program begins. No refund will be given if we receive your cancellation less than two weeks before the program start date. If you need to cancel due to testing positive to COVID-19 or being a close contact, you will receive a full refund. If the program is cancelled due to low enrolment or other circumstances, you will receive a full refund. Please note travel costs are solely the responsibility of participant.

How might we begin to live into these questions? Join us for The World We Make - a Circle of Trust ® Retreat based on the approach to reflective inquiry of sociologist, educator, author and activist, Parker J. Palmer and the Center for Courage & Renewal. This retreat will offer practices to help you to:

Strengthen your resilience and vitality by taking time to reflect on the world you long to make.

Build your capacity for asking honest, open questions and deep listening so that you can be more present with yourself and others.

Learn to hold the tensions between what you hope for and what is, and to renew your willingness to work courageously toward what could be.

Your facilitators:

Kirsty McGeoch (PhD, MEd, LLB, B.Com) has a few different hats: engaging with schools to embed the 4Cs - creativity, communication, collaboration, critical reflection - in their teaching and leadership practices through her role with 4C Transformative Learning; working at the University of Sydney in pre-service teacher education; and facilitating courses for women leaders in education with the National Excellence in School Leadership Institute.   A common thread is her deep interest in reflective practice, which led her to becoming a Courage & Renewal facilitator.  In this role, she derives great joy in offering people the safe and welcoming space to tune into their own wisdom for living and leading well, and loves the insights the natural world can bring to this exploration.

Noela Maletz (M Soc Sc BA Dip Ed) is an educator, psychotherapist and visual artist who also loves to write. More than thirty years ago she joined with others to establish a Waldorf School and then a Social Therapy Centre for people with disabilities, in Adelaide, and worked in both of these places. Most of her current work is in private practice, as a psychotherapist, and in growing Courage & Renewal work in South Australia. She is awed by the possibilities and necessities of a life lived as mindfully, wholeheartedly and as kindly as she can manage and is challenged by remembering her many grandchildren’s birthdays.

Venue:

The World We Make will be held at St Joseph’s Spirituality and Education Centre, 8 Humphreys Rd, Kincumber South. The centre is approximately 1.5 hours by car from both Sydney and Newcastle. For those coming by train, it is a 20-minute taxi ride from Woy Woy station. St Joseph's historic sandstone buildings and expansive grounds are set in bushland right on Kincumber Broadwater, creating a tranquil environment for reflection.

Cost:

Early Bird - $650 (incl. GST) payable by March 11, 2022.

Full fee - $750 (incl. GST) payable by April 1, 2022.

The price includes all materials, nourishing meals and comfortable accommodation in a single-occupancy en-suited room.

Feel welcome to inquire about payment plans.

Covid safety:

There will be a COVID safe plan in place for this retreat. It is also a requirement of the venue that all guests be double or triple vaccinated and not attend if they have any symptoms. We also request that all participants take a Rapid Antigen Test before arriving.

Cancellations:

We understand that life challenges emerge and changes happen, particularly during the current pandemic. If you need to cancel due to testing positive or being a close contact of someone with COVID-19, you will receive a full refund. If the program is cancelled due to low enrolment or other circumstances, you will receive a full refund. Please note travel costs are solely the responsibility of participant.

In a Circle of Trust ® (and in life) The Touchstones help to create and hold safe spaces where people can risk being themselves.  They are reminders of ways of engaging with self and others with generosity, compassion, harmlessness, service, reverence for life and courage. 

If you would like to spend time exploring each of the touchstones and the quality of presence they can bring to the way you live, work and lead, join Courage & Renewal facilitators Kirsty McGeoch and Noela Maletz for Following the Touchstones Home. This series of reflective online retreats began in 2021, and the following touchstones remain:

#8 Inner teacher: Sunday 31 July, 10am - 1pm AEST

#9 Trust the silence: Sunday 21 August, 10am - 1pm AEST

#10 Observe deep confidentiality: Sunday 18 September, 10am - 1pm AEST

#11 Know that it’s possible: Sunday 30 October, 10am - 1pm AEDT

Each 3-hour retreat will welcome a maximum of 16 participants at a cost of $50 per person per session. It is not necessary to have attended any or all of the previous retreats in the series in order to participate. Similarly, participants are invited to register for any of the upcoming retreats without the requirement of having to attend them all. Registrations are now open for all retreats:

Your facilitators:

Kirsty McGeoch (PhD, MEd, LLB, B.Com) has a few different hats: engaging with schools to embed the 4Cs - creativity, communication, collaboration, critical reflection - in their teaching and leadership practices through her role with 4C Transformative Learning; working at the University of Sydney in pre-service teacher education; and facilitating courses for women leaders in education with the National Excellence in School Leadership Institute.   A common thread is her deep interest in reflective practice, which led her to becoming a Courage & Renewal facilitator.  In this role, she derives great joy in offering people the safe and welcoming space to tune into their own wisdom for living and leading well, and loves the insights the natural world can bring to this exploration.

Noela Maletz (M Soc Sc BA Dip Ed) is an educator, psychotherapist and visual artist who also loves to write. More than thirty years ago she joined with others to establish a Waldorf School and then a Social Therapy Centre for people with disabilities, in Adelaide, and worked in both of these places. Most of her current work is in private practice, as a psychotherapist, and in growing Courage & Renewal work in South Australia. She is awed by the possibilities and necessities of a life lived as mindfully, wholeheartedly and as kindly as she can manage and is challenged by remembering her many grandchildren’s birthdays.

“It isn't the changes that do you in, it's the transitions. Change is not the same as transition. Change is situational: the new site, the new boss, the new team roles, the new policy. Transition is the psychological process people go through to come to terms with the new situation. Change is external, transition is internal.”   William Bridges

This retreat will provide an opportunity to recognise and explore ways to help you navigate transitions in your own life and/or leadership context.  This involves cultivating the courage required to let go of what has been, consider what can be done to step into and occupy the in-between, and to be curious about what it takes to venture into new beginnings.   It is for anyone experiencing or contemplating change in their personal or professional lives.  You could:

• Be changing jobs or career direction, moving into retirement, or steering an organisation through a time of re-imagining.

• Be dealing with life changes brought about by relationships beginning and ending, children being born or leaving the nest, or other experiences of reorientation or loss.

• Have simply outlived some of your old ways of being or doing.

What to expect:

‘Living Transitions’ is a retreat based on the approach to reflective inquiry of sociologist, educator, author and activist, Parker Palmer and the Center for Courage & Renewal.   It will be co-faciliated by accredited and experienced Courage & Renewal ® facilitators, Kirsty McGeoch and Noela Maletz. Together with around 20 other people, we will create a space for honest dialogue and non-judgmental listening, practicing ways of relating that will help us be more present with ourselves and others. Prompted by evocative texts, imagery and insights from the natural world,  there will be time for individual reflection and journaling as well as large- and small-group dialogues in which our own stories can be shared. These processes offer the opportunity to gain a new depth of self-knowledge and clarity around the questions we are holding, and build our resilience for life’s changes and transitions.

Cost:

$650 - Early Bird price until June 28, 2018.

$750 including GST for including all materials, nourishing meals and comfortable accommodation in a single-occupancy en-suited room.

Venue:

Living Transitions will be held at St Joseph’s Spirituality and Education Centre, 8 Humphreys Rd, Kincumber South. The centre is approximately 1.5 hours by car from both Sydney and Newcastle. For those coming by train, it is a 20 minute taxi rider from Woy Woy station. St Joseph's historic sandstone buildings and expansive grounds are set in bush land right on Kincumber Broadwater, creating a tranquil environment for reflection.

To register, please click on the button below. If you have further inquiries, please feel welcome to contact Kirsty at kirsty@kirstymcgeoch.com.