The Koori Curriculum Leadership Retreat
The Koori Curriculum Leadership Retreat
An immersive 4-day experience for early childhood educators, leaders and consultants ready to deepen their practice and lead with cultural integrity.
Join us in 2027 for the next Koori Curriculum Leadership Retreat, a transformative experience designed for educators committed to embedding Aboriginal perspectives in meaningful, respectful, and practical ways.
Step away from the classroom and anchor your team at the spiritual heart of Australia. Towering over the ancient Red Centre, Uluru offers an unparalleled setting to reflect, strategise, and build vision.
Let the shifting colors of this 550-million-year-old monolith inspire resilient, grounded, and forward-thinking leadership in your organisation.
An immersive 4-day experience for early childhood educators, leaders and consultants ready to deepen their practice and lead with cultural integrity.
Join us in 2027 for the next Koori Curriculum Leadership Retreat, a transformative experience designed for educators committed to embedding Aboriginal perspectives in meaningful, respectful, and practical ways.
Step away from the classroom and anchor your team at the spiritual heart of Australia. Towering over the ancient Red Centre, Uluru offers an unparalleled setting to reflect, strategise, and build vision.
Let the shifting colors of this 550-million-year-old monolith inspire resilient, grounded, and forward-thinking leadership in your organisation.
Why Attend?
Why Attend?
This retreat is more than just professional development; it's your opportunity to build a supportive community of like-minded educators dedicated to making meaningful changes in their practice. The strategies we share are adaptable and can be tailored to various contexts, ensuring you leave with practical tools that empower you and your communities.
This retreat is more than just professional development; it's your opportunity to build a supportive community of like-minded educators dedicated to making meaningful changes in their practice. The strategies we share are adaptable and can be tailored to various contexts, ensuring you leave with practical tools that empower you and your communities.
Location: Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
Location: Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
Rising dramatically from the Central Australian desert, the huge red rock of Uluṟu is one of Australia’s most iconic attractions.
For Aṉangu peoples, Uluṟu is inseparable from Tjukurpa, or traditional law. The actions of the creation ancestors are still visible around the rock, and their stories are passed on from generation to generation, just as they have been for thousands of years.
Uluṟu is a spectacular panorama, but it’s real beauty can be found by looking closer. This ancient monolith is home to rare plants and animals, important spiritual sites and caves painted with remarkable rock art.
Your ticket includes lunch, tea & coffee, workshops, experiences/tours across the 4 days and dinner on the final evening. All other meals, accommodation and travel are not included.
Rising dramatically from the Central Australian desert, the huge red rock of Uluṟu is one of Australia’s most iconic attractions.
For Aṉangu peoples, Uluṟu is inseparable from Tjukurpa, or traditional law. The actions of the creation ancestors are still visible around the rock, and their stories are passed on from generation to generation, just as they have been for thousands of years.
Uluṟu is a spectacular panorama, but it’s real beauty can be found by looking closer. This ancient monolith is home to rare plants and animals, important spiritual sites and caves painted with remarkable rock art.
Your ticket includes lunch, tea & coffee, workshops, experiences/tours across the 4 days and dinner on the final evening. All other meals, accommodation and travel are not included.
What to Expect
What to Expect
Over four full days, you’ll experience a carefully curated program that balances deep cultural learning, collaborative professional discussions, and restorative time in nature and community.
Each element of the retreat is intentionally designed to nourish both your personal and professional growth. You'll walk alongside knowledge holders and cultural practitioners, engage in open and honest conversations with peers, and spend time on Country to connect with the land and its stories.
This unique blend of learning and reflection allows you to step away from the everyday demands of your role, reconnect with your vision, and return to your setting feeling re-energised, grounded, and equipped with practical tools to lead reconciliation work in your early learning service with integrity.
Over four full days, you’ll experience a carefully curated program that balances deep cultural learning, collaborative professional discussions, and restorative time in nature and community.
Each element of the retreat is intentionally designed to nourish both your personal and professional growth. You'll walk alongside knowledge holders and cultural practitioners, engage in open and honest conversations with peers, and spend time on Country to connect with the land and its stories.
This unique blend of learning and reflection allows you to step away from the everyday demands of your role, reconnect with your vision, and return to your setting feeling re-energised, grounded, and equipped with practical tools to lead reconciliation work in your early learning service with integrity.
Facilitated & Hosted by Jessica Staines
Facilitated & Hosted by Jessica Staines
Jessica Staines is an early childhood educator, professional speaker, author, advocate and advisor. As the founder and director of Koori Curriculum, Jessica is committed to helping educators embed Aboriginal perspectives into early childhood education.
She has played many significant roles nationally and internationally in building cultural understanding, reconciliation and harmony, including as an Indigenous advisor to ABC’s Playschool.
Jessica’s family are Wiradjuri and have lived off Country with Gadigal and Wangal Clans of the Dharug Nation for four generations. Her family originally came from Cowra, Molong, Parkes and Wellington, but due to displacement, they were disconnected from their family and communities.
Today, Jessica lives on Darkinjung Country with her two children on a peaceful bush block, and is proud to identify as a Wiradjuri woman, with connections to her local Darkinjung community.
Jessica Staines is an early childhood educator, professional speaker, author, advocate and advisor. As the founder and director of Koori Curriculum, Jessica is committed to helping educators embed Aboriginal perspectives into early childhood education.
She has played many significant roles nationally and internationally in building cultural understanding, reconciliation and harmony, including as an Indigenous advisor to ABC’s Playschool.
Jessica’s family are Wiradjuri and have lived off Country with Gadigal and Wangal Clans of the Dharug Nation for four generations. Her family originally came from Cowra, Molong, Parkes and Wellington, but due to displacement, they were disconnected from their family and communities.
Today, Jessica lives on Darkinjung Country with her two children on a peaceful bush block, and is proud to identify as a Wiradjuri woman, with connections to her local Darkinjung community.
Testimonials from Retreat Attendees
Testimonials from Retreat Attendees
"The whole experience has shifted something deeply within me. Its beyond what I ever thought it would be."
Jenn - Director, Urban Discovery
"The whole experience has shifted something deeply within me. Its beyond what I ever thought it would be."
Jenn - Director, Urban Discovery
"Its hard to pick a highlight. The smoking ceremony definitely. That was very spiritual for me and I got allot out of that."
Sharon - Educator, Happy Turtle Childcare
"Its hard to pick a highlight. The smoking ceremony definitely. That was very spiritual for me and I got allot out of that."
Sharon - Educator, Happy Turtle Childcare
"To listen to somebody talk from their personal experience in a group like we had last night, that were really engaged and willing to listen, it broadened your perspective a little bit more."
Emma - Regional Mobile Playgroup Mobile Facilitator
"To listen to somebody talk from their personal experience in a group like we had last night, that were really engaged and willing to listen, it broadened your perspective a little bit more."
Emma - Regional Mobile Playgroup Mobile Facilitator
Travel & Accomodation
Travel & Accomodation
Please note that airfares and accommodation are NOT included in your ticket.
Flights into and out of Uluru are limited, we recommend you travel into Uluru on Sunday the 10th of October 2027 and depart on Friday the 15th of October 2027 to ensure you arrive and depart to participate on the 4 days of the retreat. You are of course welcome to extend those dates to enjoy more time at this stunning location.
We have been provided with discounted rates for Sails In the Desert, Desert Gardens Hotel, The Lost Camel and the Outback Hotel & Lodge for the 10th of October 2027 through to Friday the 15th of October 2027 for retreat attendees, details on how to book will be sent via email after you purchase your ticket.
All accommodation is within 10 minutes walking distance of each other with retreat workshops, experiences and meals held at different locations across the resort and National park.
Please note that airfares and accommodation are NOT included in your ticket.
Flights into and out of Uluru are limited, we recommend you travel into Uluru on Sunday the 10th of October 2027 and depart on Friday the 15th of October 2027 to ensure you arrive and depart to participate on the 4 days of the retreat. You are of course welcome to extend those dates to enjoy more time at this stunning location.
We have been provided with discounted rates for Sails In the Desert, Desert Gardens Hotel, The Lost Camel and the Outback Hotel & Lodge for the 10th of October 2027 through to Friday the 15th of October 2027 for retreat attendees, details on how to book will be sent via email after you purchase your ticket.
All accommodation is within 10 minutes walking distance of each other with retreat workshops, experiences and meals held at different locations across the resort and National park.
Investment in Your Future
Investment in Your Future
Early Bird: $2,420.00 Inc GST (Ended)
Early Bird 6-Month Payment Plan*: $403.34 Inc GST x 6 (Ended)
General: $2,750.00 Inc GST
General 6-Month Payment Plan*: $453.34 Inc GST x 6
Limited to 40 attendees.
Note: Your ticket includes breakfast, lunch, tea & coffee, workshops, experiences/tours across the 4 days and dinner on the final evening. All other meals, accommodation and travel are not included. We have worked with local accommodation providers for discounted pricing and will provide links to these offers after retreat tickets have been purchased and paid for.
Our retreats sold out in 2024, 2025 & 2026 — secure your place to be part of this powerful learning experience.
Tickets are non-refundable.
Early Bird: $2,420.00 Inc GST (Ended)
Early Bird 6-Month Payment Plan*: $403.34 Inc GST x 6 (Ended)
General: $2,750.00 Inc GST
General 6-Month Payment Plan*: $453.34 Inc GST x 6
Limited to 40 attendees.
Note: Your ticket includes breakfast, lunch, tea & coffee, workshops, experiences/tours across the 4 days and dinner on the final evening. All other meals, accommodation and travel are not included. We have worked with local accommodation providers for discounted pricing and will provide links to these offers after retreat tickets have been purchased and paid for.
Our retreats sold out in 2024, 2025 & 2026 — secure your place to be part of this powerful learning experience.
Tickets are non-refundable.
*6-Month Payment Plans:
- Payments are processed monthly on the anniversary date of the original purchase date for 6 equal payments
- Payment plans can only be offered via automatic processing on credit cards, invoice payments are not supported
- Payments can not be paused or deferred in any given month during the payment plan period
- Failed payments must be resolved within 7 days or a $15.00 late payment fee will be applied
- Failed payments not resolved within 30-days may result in cancellation of your payment plan
- In the event your payment plan is cancelled, a 50% cancellation fee based on the full cost of the ticket will be charged, any additional monies will be returned as a store credit
- Payment plans will no longer be offered within 6 months of the start of the event
*6-Month Payment Plans:
- Payments are processed monthly on the anniversary date of the original purchase date for 6 equal payments
- Payment plans can only be offered via automatic processing on credit cards, invoice payments are not supported
- Payments can not be paused or deferred in any given month during the payment plan period
- Failed payments must be resolved within 7 days or a $15.00 late payment fee will be applied
- Failed payments not resolved within 30-days may result in cancellation of your payment plan
- In the event your payment plan is cancelled, a 50% cancellation fee based on the full cost of the ticket will be charged, any additional monies will be returned as a store credit
- Payment plans will no longer be offered within 6 months of the start of the event