Why we’re doing an off-site in Tasmania, in the off season

Hitherto the sole Tasmanian employee of Private Media, today all my colleagues are leaving Australia’s mainland to join me in the Tassie wilds for our annual off-site, at Ratho Farm in the Central Highlands.

Why are we gathering for an off-site?

We’re a hybrid crew, headquartered in Melbourne but with a team in Sydney, an office in Canberra’s press gallery, and employees working at points in between.

And culture is integral to our employee value proposition, which states that “we are flexible-first, whilst investing in-person connection”. So our c-suite has carved out time in our calendars to gather in person for the first time in two years.

Are we excited?! Well, I am. As previously documented – and as someone who spent the first 20 years of my career working in busy newsrooms with my team – I really miss sitting with colleagues every day, and am thus really looking forward to 48 hours in their company.

What are we doing in Tassie?

Well, hopefully a bit of golf (Ratho Farm has Australia’s oldest course, and I dusted my clubs down).

But more importantly, strategising, team-building, and, yep, “having fun”.

We’re out of our comfort zone in that most of our employees work from home more days than they don’t, but we’re not in the wilderness, our location has comfy beds and furnace-like heating.

We have some great guest speakers, some fantastic (fun, optional) activities, and some cozy fires to sit around – AND we are being joined by the chief distiller of Tassie trailblazer Lark for a whisky tasting.

Tasmania is a terrific place for an offsite, mainlanders have to get on a plane (or an 11-hour ferry if they’re afraid of flying). It feels exotic, even in the winter, which we (well, Tourism Tasmania) call the off season.

Why is Tasmania so good for corporate retreats?

“Tasmania provides an opportunity to slow down and escape the stress and routine of everyday life,” says Lindene Cleary, Tourism Tasmania CMO.

“Whether you’re looking to add a little creative stimulation or outdoor exhilaration, or want to gather in the company of animals, artisans, or absolutely no one, Tasmania is a perfect backdrop to reconnect and feel human again.”

“With charming cities and towns that have world heritage wilderness on their doorstep, and a focus on luxury and quality, Tasmania really delivers on the ‘retreat’ part of corporate retreats.”

My family and I recently joined a Chill & Thrill weekend at Spring Bay Mill, a refurbished timber processing facility on Tasmania’s east coast overlooking Maria Island that is popular with organisations having off-sites (including Tourism Tasmania apparently).

They offer a range of experiences for corporate groups, ranging from Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremonies, to a gin tasting masterclass hosted by Spring Bay Gin, the Elsewhere Sauna mobile sauna, a sea salt sommelier class, and breath-work and yoga sessions.

The owner/operator of the venue Private Media is staying in this week, Greg Ramsay says off-sites are all about “getting people comfortable together, out of their comfort zones. At Ratho Farm, away from day-to-day distractions and familiarity, creativity is stimulated by vibrant scenery and rich history”.

As someone who has been poring over the antique books in Ratho’s library, I’m feeling pretty creative!

Ratho Farm hosts groups of up to 60 people. They have hosted teams from Google in Sydney and Palo Alto, and from KPMG, Lion Nathan, and Qantas, but also lots of SMEs (like Private Media).

It’s pretty idyllic.

Culture eats strategy for brekkie

Everyone has a view of off-sites – mine is borrowed from management consultant oracle Peter Drucker, who said: “culture eats strategy for breakfast”.

In today’s special edition, Startmate’s Michael Batko explains why he took his team to Bali, PatientNotes COO Sarah Moran recalls how an offsite in a Spiegeltent was a creative escape from the corporate circus, and our news editor Eloise Keating asked you how you off-site. Communal bathing?! Steady on.

And Don McKenzie, the co-founder of Tribe Global Ventures, argues that most off-sites don’t work, and shares some really useful tips for successful ones.

For me, that’s breaking the course record at Ratho Farm, but for Private Media, I imagine it will be creating a positive wave that we keep on riding right through this next financial year.

Would love to hear your view on off-sites, and any insights/funny stories: email me here!

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