Encounter The Heart
Looking for Single session to a full days
SESSION 1- Free to Become
-Breaking free from the limitations of our self-limiting beliefs
- The power of togetherness - ‘UBUNTU’
- Unleash the potential of social connection
- Engaging with active listening
“ People of strong character create easy times.”
The Character Project
SESSION 2- Free to Connect
- We Rise by lifting others
- How to strengthen our connections
- How to respond instead of react
- Seek first to understand, then to be understood
“It is clear to me now that what has most shaped my character is my education and understanding of mercy. I have been instructed in lessons of the heart.”
Catherine McAuley
SESSION 3- Free to Encounter
- The culture of character
- The power of perspective
- Small group Discussions & Activity
- A story of Character ( real stories of real people)
“ The places we go to seek the highest, there we will find holy ground. ”
Br. Damian Price
‘Encounter The Heart’
Outline
Our staff workshop provides a meaningful opportunity for reflection, growth, and a deeper understanding of self, others, and spirituality. Focused on developing character today for a stronger tomorrow, this experience invites staff to reconnect with their purpose and revisit the reasons they chose to teach in the first place.
The workshop is aimed at helping staff break free from self-limiting beliefs and recognizing that true fulfillment comes not from personal gain, but from the value they contribute to others and the world around them. It also explores the role spirituality can play in living a holistic life, drawing inspiration from the lives of everyday saints and applying these lessons in their own context.
Beyond personal growth, the workshop fosters connection and unity within the staff cohort, strengthening both existing and new relationships. It encourages staff to recognize that what brings them together is far greater than what might divide them.
All retreats have been expertly designed by Pete McAuliffe and Luke McKenna.
Pete McAuliffe is the Head of The Character Project. He is an edutrainer with over a decade of experience working with schools, communities, and church groups. He is passionate about helping individuals develop both their inner character and outer contribution, Pete empowers them to lead, influence, and serve with authenticity and purpose. His journey began as a college captain, sparking his commitment to inspiring students and staff to find meaning in faith and spirituality, and to lead through influence rather than power. Pete has been working with UPP since 2016, and has delivered UPP workshops to more than 100,000 students across Australia and more recently, Ireland.
Luke McKenna is the Founder and Director of Unleashing Personal Potential (UPP). Previously, he was an Assistant Principal at a Catholic School in Brisbane. He taught Religious Education for years, before starting UPP. Luke holds degrees in Business and Education, a Masters of Educational Leadership, a Graduate Certificate in Religious Education and a Professional Certificate in Positive Education. He has also presented at State-wide Catholic Principals and Deputy Principals conferences.
The Character Project Retreats are delivered by our team of hand-picked, highly trained specialists from the UPP team. All of our workshops are tried and tested to be practical, engaging, positive, interactive and age appropriate. UPP workshops have had a positive impact on more than 400,000 Australian students since commencing in 2015 and are highly trusted by Teachers and Principals across Australia.
We use our learning, action, reflection process for all workshops, which ensures that all students are engaged through a variety of different modes (video, stories, activities, reflection, partner sharing, etc). For more about that, check out our guarantee.
The Character Project Retreats are authentic and inclusive of students who are at different parts of their faith journey. The aim is that after a Character Project Retreat, each student will be more open to exploring their spirituality, and that the whole cohort will be more connected.
RETREAT DESIGN AND DELIVERY
Details and Pricing
For more information on this engaging and transformative staff retreat, including session details, costs (minimums may apply), and availability, please let us know your specific requirements. Sharing the number of sessions and expected group size will help us provide an accurate quote. This retreat is delivered by The Character Project team, either at your school or an alternative venue, with your full staff group.
“ Dynamic, powerful, engaging, relevant.”
“Engaged the whole group and developed a great rapport.”
“Effective and yet highly humorous.”
“We were extremely impressed with the presentation. The students were highly engaged and I felt that the session was a valuable one with a message that the students needed to hear. I don’t think it would hurt for the whole school to hear a similar message delivered that well every term. A great presentation. I was in agreement with all points. It was one of the most significant moments of the year. Empathy, consideration, social skills, emotional intelligence. I loved it! He was a character I could relate to.”
“Really strikes a chord with students. Presenters use the best of teaching techniques to leave a lasting, practical and positive impact on young people. Real strategies. Real world. Real life.””
“Meets students where they are at.”
“The session was brilliant.”