We are excited to again invite you join us for
Tabor Advance Professional Development Day 2026
Join us Saturday, 12 September 2026
At Tabor College’s Millswood Campus
The Tabor Advance PD Day has been developed as a reflection of Tabor’s commitment to the ongoing growth and development of those serving within the community professions and is offered free of charge as our gift to you. While this Professional Development Day seeks to equip and encourage teachers, ministry workers, and other not-for-profit staff, it is open to anyone interested in relevant, informative, and engaging professional development sessions.
The program covers a vast array of topics which have been thoughtfully developed through community consultation to ensure real world application. More specifically, the day will include 13 different professional development sessions from which attendees will be able to select four of greatest interest to them.
All attendees receive a professional learning certificate for sessions attended.
Limited spots are available! Register TODAY!
Full Program Details:
Big Motor, Big Brain, Big HeartThe Three Ingredients of Effective Leadership
– Professor Johan Roux | Effective leadership requires more than hard work, intelligence, or care on their own. This session explores Steve Graves’ memorable triad of big motor, big brain, and big heart as three essential ingredients of strong leadership. A “big motor” brings initiative, drive, follow-through, and the capacity to get important work done. A “big brain” brings curiosity, learning, problem-solving, and the wisdom to move in the right direction. A “big heart” brings empathy, collaboration, and genuine attentiveness to the people with whom and through whom the work is done. Participants will be invited to reflect on which of these qualities comes most naturally to them, which may be underdeveloped, and how integrating all three can strengthen leadership, teamwork, and institutional flourishing. |
Faith in a Divided WorldResponding Faithfully in a Polarised World – Dr Matthew James Gray Head of Undergraduate Studies Ministry Practice | Jesus prayed directly to the Father about us — those who would follow after the disciples — only once. He prayed that we would be unified, “so that the world will know that You have sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me” (John 17:22–23). Yet there are many sources of tension within the Church. By God’s grace, many of these are no longer primarily denominational, though some of those issues still linger. Increasingly, the divisions we face are political and social, drawn into the Church from a deeply polarised society. How do we navigate these differences in ways that help us serve Christ, abide together in His love, and bring His love and reconciliation to the divided world around us? How can we ensure our churches are not overcome by the divisions of the world, but are instead equipped to help heal them? These are the kinds of questions this session will explore. |
Relating Interculturally with RespectDeveloping Cultural Intelligence for Everyday Relationships – Dr Ian Dicks Dean of Ministry Practice | We live, work, and serve in culturally diverse contexts. In our schools, churches, workplaces, and social settings, we encounter people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. This diversity brings both opportunities and challenges as we learn to work, serve, and relate interculturally. This session will explore the ways people may experience disrespect across cultural differences, and, more importantly, how we can foster and encourage respectful intercultural relationships. Drawing on theories of cultural intelligence, this session will consider practical ways to apply these insights in everyday relationships, congregational life, and workplace settings. |
Seasonal EvangelismRecognising and Responding to a New Openness to Faith
-Dr Matthew James Gray Head of Undergraduate Studies Ministry Practice | When we’re gardening, we approach winter crops very differently from spring crops — and the same can be said of evangelism. In winter, we are less ambitious, less assertive and more cautious; we expect the work to be hard. In spring, we plant with expectation and enthusiasm, ready for seeds to come alive in prepared soil and the warmth of the sun. This session considers the possibility that we have moved from a winter season in society into a new time of receptivity to the gospel. Designed for ministry workers, church leaders and anyone wanting to share faith wisely, this session offers encouragement for engaging mission with fresh hope, joy and expectation. |
Conversations That Don’t Shut People DownConflict Styles, Listening and Emotional Safety in Difficult Moments
– Sam Smith Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences | Difficult conversations are part of everyday life, whether in families, workplaces, classrooms, churches or helping roles. This session explores how to stay grounded when conversations become tense, emotional or complex. Drawing on conflict resolution skills, counselling wisdom and effective listening practice, participants will consider common conflict styles, unhelpful listening habits and emotional safety. Designed for counsellors, educators, ministry workers, leaders, parents and anyone who wants to relate with greater care and clarity, this session offers practical tools for navigating hard conversations without shutting people down. |
Seen, Heard, SafeEveryday Connection, Counselling Wisdom, and the God Who Relates
– Brian Gabriels
| What does it mean to help another person feel truly seen, heard, understood and safe? Drawing on counselling wisdom, Christian theology and everyday relational practice, this session explores how principles such as empathic listening, attunement, emotional safety and respectful curiosity can strengthen connection in ordinary life. Participants will consider how these skills can reduce defensiveness, deepen trust and help others become more open, reflective and receptive. Designed for parents, educators, ministry workers, helpers and anyone seeking to relate with greater care, this session offers practical tools for building connection without turning everyday relationships into therapy. |
Calm, Connected Classrooms (EDU Specific)Making Sense of Behaviour in Today’s Classrooms – Chey Clinton Director – STOA Education | Classrooms can feel harder than they used to, with shifts in student behaviour, adolescent distress and teacher workload creating conditions that simple behaviour checklists cannot solve. This session offers a different kind of conversation, exploring what may be driving the behaviour teachers are seeing and what helps create calm, connected learning environments. Drawing on current research and practical experience, participants will consider the role of student relationships, teacher regulation, belonging and classroom culture. Designed for teachers seeking realistic and relational approaches, this session offers insight into why the room feels the way it does and practical grounding to respond with clarity, confidence and care. |
Critical Thinking in the Classroom (EDU Specific)Teaching for Understanding and Discernment
– Associate Professor Tracey Price | In a world of constant information, students need more than content knowledge; they need the skills to question, reflect, evaluate and make meaning. This session explores how teachers can foster critical thinking through purposeful learning design, reflective practice and thoughtful classroom dialogue. Drawing on critical pedagogy, participants will plan practical ways to employ critical thinking skills in their classroom. Designed for educators seeking to lead students into deeper understanding and stronger discernment, this session offers practical strategies for learning that forms the whole person. |
Discovering Wellbeing Through Expressive Art TherapiesCreative approaches to self-awareness and growth – Deanne Gray Head of Program – Diploma of Applied Social Science | Explore the theory and practice of Expressive Art Therapies, including their foundations in neurobiology, trauma-informed practice, and wellbeing research. Through guided, hands-on activities using a variety of creative mediums, participants will gain practical tools for emotional regulation, decision-making, and self-reflection. Suitable for helping professionals, students, and anyone interested in personal growth through creative expression. Note: this is a hands-on session – expect creativity, colour, and a little mess. |
Beauty as RevelationDeepening Our Attunement to God’s Beauty – Logan Watt | In a world often marked by distraction and noise, how might we become more attentive to God’s presence? This session explores beauty as a reflection of divine order, goodness, and love. Drawing on music, Scripture, and the patterns woven throughout creation, discover how you can cultivate a deeper awareness of God’s presence through beauty and creative expression. Together, we will consider how beauty can awaken worship, shape spiritual formation, and help us recognise the fingerprints of God in everyday life. Join us as we explore how attuning ourselves to beauty can become a pathway to a richer experience of faith. |
Messages That Move PeopleUsing Story to Communicate with Clarity, Connection and Impact – Dr Peter Court | Some messages inform, while others stay with us, shape us and move us to respond. This session explores how story can help us communicate ideas with greater clarity, connection and impact. Drawing on creative writing principles and practical storytelling techniques, participants will consider what makes a message engaging, memorable and meaningful. Whether you are teaching, preaching, writing, marketing, leading or advocating for a cause, this interactive session will offer practical tools for shaping messages that resonate with audiences and inspire action. |
Worship When it Hurts
– Verity Riessen | Is it okay to not always be happy in our worship? What does it mean to be real with God, others and ourselves when life isn’t going so well? In this session Verity offers an experience of worship for the times when we, or others, feel the heaviness of grief, brokenness, and suffering. Through song, liturgy, prayer and spaces for reflection we explore how God meets us in the depths of our lament, in the eye of the storm. |
Making Every Minute MatterTime Management Strategies to Avoid Wasting Your Most Valuable Resource
– Professor Johan Roux | In a world where every minute counts, many of us wish for more hours in the day to accomplish our goals and responsibilities. Unfortunately, as our greatest non-renewable resource, time can neither be manufactured nor recovered. This makes understanding and managing it all the more crucial for achieving a balanced and fulfilling life. This session will explore practical strategies for managing your time more effectively, including identifying priorities, eliminating distractions, and enhancing focus. Join us to discover powerful techniques for boosting your productivity and safeguarding your most valuable resource. |