How will the Mayfield Project run in 2026 and 2027?

Our 2027 Mayfield Project will combine online elements with face to face workshops and presentations.

As our Mayfielders come from all over Australasia, LEA will financially support the face to face component of the program with a number of online workshops in the lead up to the 2027 LEA Conference (location announced in May 2026).

We want applicants to know what they’re signing up for, so the below information is an estimate of what the 2026 – 2027 program will likely look like, based on previous years. We’ll do our best to stick to these dates; however, there may be some minor movement if we encounter some unexpected challenges (such as another global pandemic…):  

LEA uses the TEAMs platform for online workshops and meetings

Early November 2026, Online

• 5.30pm AEDST (7.30pm NZDT/2.30pm AWST),approx duration 1.5hrs.
• This will be a start up session to meet one another and the facilitators, discuss the program, and get an understanding of what activities will be happening in the coming months.

Friday 20 November 2026, F2F, Hobart TAS Optional Activity

• 8.30am – 5.30pm local time.
• The Regional Day Out (RDO) is LEA’s one day conference, attendance it this event is at Mayfielders own cost.
• Early bird registration for the 2026 RDO will close on at 11.59pm Tuesday 11 August 2026.
  • As this will be before the announcement of our 2027 Mayfield cohort, all 2027 Mayfielders will be offered the early bird rate to attend the 2026 RDO, regardless of the date of booking to attend the 2026 RDO.
• We encourage Mayfielders to consider attending the RDO to connect with other Mayfielders and the wider LEA community, learn more about LEA, and enjoy professional learning in an informal and dynamic environment.
• View our 2025 RDO program, held in Sydney and our 2024 RDO program, held in Adelaide to get a taste of this event.

End November 2026 – End February 2027, Online and F2F, Case Study Activities

• Online: 5.30pm AEDST (7.30pm NZDT/2.30pm AWST), approx duration 2hrs.
• Mayfielders will be able to connect to undertake preliminary case study research as a foundation for the weekend workshop experience.
• We anticipate this would amount to approximately 10 hours across the three month period.

Late February/Early March 2027, F2F, Sydney NSW

• Arrival Thursday afternoon/evening, all day workshop Friday and Saturday, workshop until approximately 1pm Sunday local time.
• Mayfielders will arrive in Sydney on a Thursday afternoon to participate in a 2.5 day, face to face workshop held over the weekend.
• LEA will pay for economy flights from the Mayfielders home to Sydney, and accommodation, at a hotel sourced and booked by LEA.

Mid March – End April 2027, Online

• Online: 4.30pm AEST (6.30pm NZDT/2.30pm AWST), approx duration 2hrs.
• Participants will continue to drive the project through fortnightly online, self directed group collaboration in preparation for the 2027 LEA Conference presentation and project deliverables.
• The location of the Conference will be announced in May 2026.
• It is anticipated that these sessions would be approximately 2 hours; however, work to progress the project would continue between structured sessions.

Tuesday 4 – Friday 7 May 2027, F2F Conference Keynote Presentation

• Conference location announced in May 2027.
• 2.5 day face to face conference.
• Mayfielders will arrive by 10am local time, Tuesday 4 May 2027.
• LEA will pay for economy flights from the Mayfielders home to the conference location, and accommodation at a hotel sourced and booked by LEA.
• Mayfielders will spend Tuesday 4 May finalising the group’s conference presentation.
• Mayfielders will attend the conference from Wednesday to Friday and present their findings to the delegates in a dedicated keynote session.

May 2027 – June 2028, Online and F2F, Ongoing

• Mayfielders will be expected to engage with their local Chapter and will be given the opportunity to join Chapter Committees and Regional Subcommittees (such as DEI, Membership, Sponsorship, Partnerships + Advocacy, Research).
• Participants will be gifted a 24 month LEA membership from November 2026 to November 2028, enabling attendance at LEA events over the following twelve months, including running a dedicated session at a Chapter level discussing the activities and outcomes of their Mayfield experience.

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