3 day, 2 night residential retreat on the land of the Peramangk people in the Adelaide Hills
heart matters
connecting with self, others, and what matters most
Friday 17 October 5 pm – Sunday 19 October 2pm, 2025
‘Heart Matters’ is a Circle of Trust ® Retreat based on the approach to reflective inquiry of sociologist, educator, author and activist, Parker J. Palmer and the Centre for Courage & Renewal.
In a poem called ”in a Dangerous Time”, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer wrote “I want … to make a safe space for love. I want to be … flexible, committed to what’s vital, unwilling to yield”.
Hearts matter! What do you have the heart for?
And there are matters of the heart, for each of us, that call us to attention and intention and action. In answer to “what matters” you can sense your engaged heart, and hear the hearts of others.
In this retreat we will invite you to consider the spirals and layers of heart matters through interaction with the natural world, poetry, images, and sound, and to listen to your soul’s knowing through contemplation, writing, creative arts, and movement.
Led by highly experienced and skilled facilitators, these Circles offer space for deep listening to self, others and country, and provide opportunities to practice active enquiry into matters of the heart.
It is our hope that your heart will be strengthened and that you will be nourished deeply and re-sourced by this retreat.
listening
Listen deeply to self, others, and country: receive the gifts of their wisdom
sensing
Come into your senses as a pathway to presence
connecting
Create trustworthy spaces to enable connections
caring
Contribute to a culture of care as you discover your expression of care in the world
this retreat could be for you if
… you are yearning for time and space
… you long to bring meaning to life
… you are in a time of transition and want to welcome what is
… you seek to live fully into the possibilities of this new year
your facilitators:
Clare Raffety (BSc, Level 3 Yoga Teacher) is a Courage & Renewal Faciliatator and is qualified in various body-mind-heart integrative practices. Clare has developed and facilitated numerous workshops, retreats, and trainings over the last 35 years, is a Lecturer at the University of Tasmania in Health and Human Services Leadership, co-facilitator of trainings with Adventure Works Australia and consults with organisations in wellness and team development. Clare has trained in Non-Violent Communication, is a certified Map of Meaning practitioner Clare’s passion is to hold safe and trustworthy space for individuals, groups, and teams inviting connection with the ground of being and the guidance, joy, and nourishment such connection makes accessible.
Noela Maletz (M Soc Sc BA Dip Ed) is an educator, psychotherapist and Courage & Renewal Facilitator. More than thirty years ago she joined with others to establish a Waldorf School and then a Social Therapy Centre for people with disabilities, in Adelaide, and worked in both of these places. Most of her current work is in private practice, as a psychotherapist and supervisor, and in growing Courage & Renewal work in SA and Australasia. She is awed by the possibilities and necessities of a life lived as mindfully, wholeheartedly and as kindly as she can manage and is grateful to enjoy the complexities of a large and loving family and a treasury of friends.
Location:
Twin Peaks, Williams Rd, Mt Barker Summit SA 5251
The Twin Peaks property (adjacent to the Mount Barker Summit) is associated with UKARIA Cultural Centre. A five minute drive from the centre, it is a place of quiet contemplation, offering clear unobstructed views that stretch as far and as wide as the eye can see. Twin Peaks is a newly refurbished house and cottage which sits aloft the Mt Barker Summit, a place where the gatherings, rituals and songs of the Peramangk people have been heard for many centuries. Nothing disturbs the tranquility; one gets the impression it has been like this for thousands of years. We are delighted to be held by this place for our time together and grateful to Ulrike Klien and the team at Ukaria for welcoming us.
Cost:
Residential retreat includes two nights stay in either single occupancy or twin share room (bathroom facilities will be shared), nourishing food and all materials.
A deposit of $100 is payable upon registration.
Early Bird
- Twin Share: $900 payable by 1 September 2025
- Single Occupancy Room: $1150 payable by 1 September 2025
Full fee
- Twin Share: $1100 payable by 10 October 2025
- Single Occupancy: $1375 payable by 10 October 2025
Feel welcome to inquire about payment plans.
Cancellation Policy:
We understand that life challenges emerge and changes happen. You will receive a refund less the $100 non-refundable deposit when you notify us in writing at least 3 weeks before the program begins. No refund will be given if we receive your cancellation less than two weeks before the program start date. If you need to cancel due to testing positive to COVID-19, you will receive a full refund. If the program is cancelled due to low enrolment or other circumstances, you will receive a full refund. Please note travel costs are solely the responsibility of participant.
