Finding a healthy work-life balance has become exceedingly important for business in retaining staff, and for staff to remain loyal.
For many modern day corporate executives it’s not unusual to work weekends and late nights, and in some positions you are expected to work long hours in order to get a decent end-of-year review. The downside is that if you’re constantly missing little Johnnie’s soccer game or your partner doesn’t recognise you any more it’s often comforting to know that a corporate family day may just be around the corner.
Typically, a lot of businesses save corporate family days for the end of the year, and in true Christmas spirit lay on the festivities, sometimes to keep employees coming back in the New Year, but also to reward staff (and families) for their hard work. Corporate family days have become an important tool for retaining staff – you may be thinking how can one day make up for all of those long hours and weekends spent in the office? The answer is simple: If the fun day is spectacular enough it will have employees counting down the days until the next event where their kids can have fun and partners can relax and socialise.
And, much like Christmas events, bigger companies are getting more competitive about hosting memorable family fun days and the all important ‘brag factor’.
Dreamworld’s CEO Stephen Gregg, who has been host to many corporate family days, says the end-of-year function has become an important date on the calendar.
“Twenty years ago it was enough to reward staff at the end of the year with a leg of ham and a sausage sizzle at the local park,” he says.
“Today, the end-of-year function is a glittering dot on the calendar with expectations that it will be bigger, better and bolder than ever before.”
This viewpoint shouldn’t be lost on event planners charged with organising these events. Forget about rolling out the barbeque and booking a jumping castle, corporate family days are now becoming more important than ever.
“More and more staff want their company to cap off a busy year with a memorable event,” Mr Gregg says.
“Combine this with generation Y’s emphasis on corporate culture over a job for life, and organisations feel the pinch to create a wow experience as a reward.”
In an effort to inspire event planners out there who have the task of organising this year’s corporate family day we have included case studies, venue profiles and a host of activities to create a memorable event - the whole family can enjoy.
Rosehill Gardens Event Centre must be doing something right because for the third year in a row more than 1000 of Johnson & Johnson Medical employees and their families will congregate at the venue in November for a day of Christmas celebrations.
Johnson & Johnson Medical utilises the Rosehill Gardens Event Centre Christmas Carnival Package, which includes four hours of unlimited rides, entertainment, venue hire with free parking and a gourmet barbeque meal. The rides, about ten (10) in total, include dodgem cars, jumping castle, merry go round and the Ranger.
The Christmas Carnival Package caters for all ages and is the perfect way to reward the dedication and performance of employees and give their families the opportunity to be involved in the celebrations.
Rosehill Gardens Event Centre plays host to some of Sydney’s most prestigious exhibitions, functions and special events. It is centrally located only minutes from Parramatta and is easily accessible via the M4. It also offers the convenience of ample free parking and train station only metres from the front door.
The Rosehill Gardens Events Team strive to provide a personalised service that exceeds expectation and will also assist with sourcing those extra little things to give your celebration that personal touch.
Rosehill Gardens Event Centre
T: 02 9930 4000
F: 02 9760 6205
E: events@stc.com.au
W: www.rosehillgardens.com.au
 Getting a first-hand experience with a roaring lion is bound to leave a long lasting impression, and any event at the Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve will have families being enthralled by some of the resident animals which include bears, lions and hippos. The Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve accommodates the largest pride of lions in Australia and this park offers a ‘dining on the edge’ package where guests can literally have dinner with the lions. The reserve also has a lot of family friendly options. Kids – and big kids - can take an educational tour with park rangers as their guides. Take an adventure to Cairns for a wildlife safari and for more information go to www.cairnswildlifesafari.com.au.
 With horse riding, quad biking and camping just some of the exciting things on offer at Glenworth Valley, this centre is the perfect destination for corporate family days. Located just one hour’s drive north from Sydney, Glenworth Valley boasts of being Australia’s largest and most spectacular horse riding centre and is home to 200 horses with trails over 3000 acres. The centre offers both free trail horse rides for those more experienced, or guided tours for beginners as well as kayaking, laser skirmish and abseiling. For more information go to www.glenworth.com.au.
Fancy spending a day in the sunshine, splishing and splashing in the water at Jamberoo Action Park? This park is the perfect place for everyone to be entertained. Whether it’s sliding through the Taipan ride or soaking up the sun, Jamberoo offers a lot for corporate events. The team can cater for corporate events of up to 8000 and can tailor packages according to the size of your group. Located just over one hour’s drive from Sydney, groups can make the most of corporate packages that include water or land-based rides. For more information go to www.jamberoo.net.
Located on the sunny Gold Coast, Dreamworld and White Water World have everything an event planner could possibly need for a corporate family day. With a huge range of rides and attractions for kids of all ages as well as venues to accommodate lunch and dinner functions, it’s a one-stop-shop. As well as being home to a host of exciting rides, Dreamworld is also home to the Big Brother house. With the most recent Big Brother residents recently being evicted, the house is now open for corporate events. For more information about the packages available go to www.dreamworld.com.au.
When you think of Rosehill the elegant Golden Slipper comes to mind. However, this venue can host functions of all types - from indoor Christmas parties to outdoor family fun day barbeques. The Rosehill Gardens Event Centre has spectacular views over the racecourse and can cater for up to 2000 seated guests with a diverse range of menu options. Outside, the Christmas Carnival Package may be just the ticket. It includes a gourmet barbeque, rides and entertainment. Guests can also make the most of their surrounds and enjoy horse races over a long lunch or night racing at nearby Canterbury Park. For more information go to www.rosehillgardens.com.au.
Home to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, event planners can host a corporate family day on an Olympic scale at this superb precinct. SOPA have put together a range of creative team-building style activities that make the most of the onsite facilities and range of creative suppliers. The activities are suitable for all ages and have themes such as wellbeing, interactive entertainment, outdoor sporting activities, creative minds, adventure challenges and experiential learning. For more information about the bountiful options at SOPA go to www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au.
 
As one of the Sydney’s trademark attractions, Taronga Zoo needs no introduction. This zoo is more than just a home for exotic animals. Planning a corporate family day is easy at Taronga Zoo. Guests can have exclusive access to a large lawn area which makes the most of the spectacular views, and animal encounters can be arranged for groups so that guests can get up close and personal with some of the zoo’s inhabitants. Organisers can also arrange a private bird or seal show as well as all-day access to the Sky Safari, barbeque packages and entertainment. Visit www.tarongacentre.com.au.
Formerly known as Fox Studios, Sydney’s Entertainment Quarter offers a lot for event planners who have family fun days in their sights. The Entertainment Quarter’s Showring, EQ Showring Marquee and Heritage Park are all suitable venues for corporate family days with enough room to feed and entertain the masses. The marquee can cater for up to 900 cocktail-style, the showring can accommodate 15,000 people (it is currently hosting Cirque du Soleil), and the Heritage Park has room for 500 in a leafy green setting. For more information go to www.eqmoorepark.com.au.
 
The Melbourne Showgrounds is the ideal venue for corporate family days as it offers a wide range of entertainment as well as indoor and outdoor function spaces. A fun day at the showgrounds can include roving entertainment, face painting, a private catering area and unlimited use of all carnival rides including the Crazy Coaster, dodgem cars, train rides, cup and saucer rides, merry-go-round and the giant slide. And if your event has a Christmas theme, Santa can also make an appearance. The showgrounds offers 12 different venues, the largest of which can cater for up to 9000 guests. For more information about hosting your next corporate family day here go to www.melbourneshowgrounds.com.
The Australian Jockey Club was recently host to almost half a million pilgrims for World Youth Day, and even if your corporate family day isn’t this size, the team can still make it a spectacular event. The Australian Jockey Club’s Convention Centre is located on the famous grounds of Royal Randwick and is home to a range of large-scale indoor and outdoor venues. With 14 diverse function areas that make the most of manicured gardens and majestic fig trees it’s easy to envisage a corporate family day here. With the all-important children’s entertainment covered, such as pony rides, clowns and face painting, the adults will be able to make the most of fresh cappuccinos made by baristas, and spend some time in the pamper marquee which can be equipped with a masseur and beauty or fashion specialists. For more information go to www.ajc.com.au.
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