Q: When does it start?
A: The retreat starts on Friday, October 24, 2:00pm. The Friday afternoon is an important part of the team building activity and is not optional.
Q: When does it end?
A: The retreat ends on Sunday, October 26, 2pm.The venue is approximately 1 hour from Sydney airport, so please allow ample time for your return flight if you are travelling from interstate.
Q: Why is there no detailed program for the retreat?
A: Retreats are different from conferences. There is a rough flow of how we will spend Fri-Sun together (see Program) but as there are no presentations/workshops, there is no agenda. We will create the agenda together on Friday. You work on the problems that are close to your heart and you are passionate about. You define your own agenda.
Q: So, what do we do in a Coaching Retreat?
A: It is two days of deep dive into problems that you want to work on. It is a working weekend. You will work with a team of your choice. See What’s Coaching Retreat and Program for details.
Q: What artefacts do we produce in venue for the retreat?
A: In the past retreats, the teams have created agile games, product canvases, leadership assessment toolkits, canvases and a book to name a few. Some participants take on the work past the retreat and continue to evolve it. Some have even presented the work in conferences as well. See the outcomes from the Queensland 2023 and South Australia 2024 retreats can be found here: https://agilecoachretreat.wordpress.com/
Q: What’s the venue for the retreat?
A: In the true spirit of having an immersive retreat experience for our attendees, we have selected Crowne Plaza, Hawkesbury Valley, NSW.
Q: Are you providing transport to/from the venue?
A: Yes. We will have a bus starting from Sydney Airport to transport people on Friday 24th at 12pm and then back on Sunday 26th, departing the venue at 2pm. Bus details will be provided in the weeks leading up to the event.
Q: Is there parking available on-site?
A: Yes, free on-site parking is available for attendees.
Q: Is accommodation included in the ticket price?
A: Yes. A Scrum Alliance Retreat principle is “Two Sleeps” to allow for creativity and immersion. It is an expectation that you stay for two nights.
Q: How much does the ticket cost?
A: $1089 AUD and no, there are no additional hidden costs here. If you hold a current Scrum Alliance certificate, you are eligible for a 10% discount. Reach out to us for the code.
Q: Can I get a tax invoice?
A: You should receive a “transaction receipt” from Eventbrite as part of registration. However, since there is no GST included/collected for this retreat, there is no Tax Invoice to be provided.
Q: What’s your refund policy?
A: Due to small number of attendees, we are unable to offer refunds. We are maintaining a waitlist up until 30th September. If you are unable to make it, please let us know by then and we can ask someone on the waitlist if they want your ticket. It will then be up to you to arrange a transfer of funds and ticket with that person.
Q: What else is included in the ticket price?
A: Everything from when you land (or leave Sydney) to arriving back at the airport (or leaving the venue). It is great value and not possible without the sponsorship from Scrum Alliance.
Your accommodation and all meals are included in the ticket price. If you are travelling from interstate, the bus transfer to and from the airport is also included in the ticket price.
Q: Can I just attend the event in the day and not take the accommodation?
A: Short answer, No. The unique experience provided by agile coaching retreats is deeply embedded in the fact that the attendees disconnect from their daily hustle and bustle and focus on themselves and the problem that they are working on with their teams. Being at the venue, staying in the accommodation and participating in the meals together is all part of the “retreat” experience. Therefore, day-scholar options aren’t available. Please see Coaching Retreat for more information.
Q: How big is my room? Can I bring my partner along?
A: The price quoted is for single occupancy in a king room. What makes these retreats unique is the immersive experience that continues throughout the 2 days of your stay. This includes breakfast, lunch and dinner meal time together and conversations that often run late into the evening. There will be no time to spend with non-attendees (see Coaching Retreat for details).
Q: Who is organising the retreat?
A: The event is organised by Renae Craven, David Clifford and Soma Mazumder. Read more about your hosts at our About Us page.
Q: Who is sponsoring the retreat?
A: The event is not possible without generous contributions by event sponsor, Scrum Alliance. See Sponsors for more details.
Q: Is this event being photographed?
A: Not at this stage.
Q: How many Scrum Education Units (SEUs) do I get from attending this?
A: You can claim 16 SEUs in the “Event” category by attending this retreat.
Q: Does this help me in retaining my CSP/CTC/CEC/…?
A: The event itself doesn’t refresh your certification but the SEUs available from this event (see question above) can provide you a major chunk of SEUs that you will need for renewal. More importantly, the learning and experience will go a long way in continuing on your journey.
If you want to learn more about the CSP/CTC/CEC journey, our hosts hold these certifications and can answer any questions during the retreat.
Q: Is there a designated hashtag for the event?
A: Yes, use #acrnsw2025. Please tweet, post on LinkedIn and other social networks to your heart’s content. Let’s create a buzz, go crazy 😉
Q: I have a question, who should I contact?
A: Please DM one of the hosts and we will get back to you as soon as possible.