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You work for a big company, you receive a nice salary and benefits, but you’ve been there a while now and are considering a move. A change is as good as a holiday right?

Yes, but Christmas is a few months away and so is the annual family day which your kids have been looking forward to ever since you started in the job five years ago. Not to mention the incentive trip to Fiji that you’ve almost qualified for. Leave now and you’re kids (and partner) are going to be peeved off. And if you do change jobs how do you know that you’re going to have it this good again? Sound familiar? This isn’t make-believe. This is how one corporate executive describes the reasons behind their decision to stay with the same company for more than 10 years.

“On the whole the work is good and the things they do for the staff, like the end-of-year family day, is something that we as a family really look forward to,” the executive explains.
“It sounds silly – one day out of 365 – but it really does make you feel special, and it makes my family feel special too.”
And they do! One of the least publicised event niches in the corporate world are family fun days - those mega-events where companies book out entire venues to thank employees and their families for their ongoing commitment. These events often take on a carnival-type atmosphere and range in size from 1000 mum and dad employees and their children to tens of thousands. To many venue operators they are a valuable segment of their event mix, and clearly are enjoyable to host considering they are all about fun and togetherness. The AJC Convention Centre in Sydney is one venue that has tapped into the corporate family day market. Located in the famous grounds of Royal Randwick Racecourse, the AJC Convention Centre has the facilities to ensure family days are a resounding success. Stunning gardens, manicured lawns and stately Moreton Bay fig trees provide the ideal setting for a relaxed family fun day. Guests can and have created a village-style atmosphere by incorporating marquees, flags, bars, sun umbrellas and garden furniture. And when it comes to kids, the AJC Convention Centre can organise it all. Pony rides, face painting, an animal-petting farm, balloon sculptures, fairy floss, sideshow games, jumping castles, roaming entertainers, children’s bands, team sports and traditional events such as egg-and-spoon races and sack races bring smiles to the faces of all participants. And when the kids are having fun, mums and dad can enjoy a barista brew cappuccino, or retreat to a pampering marquee for massages and body-revitalising treatments. When it comes to food the AJC’s premium in-house event catering offers menu options for all ages. You can even transform your event within hours to suit your varied requirements. Where else can a space that entertained hundreds of excitable children with giant inflatable rides, carnival games and colourful performers be transformed into a perfect setting for pre-dinner drinks boasting candlelit walkways, silk flags and a string quartet?

Rosehill Gardens
Rosehill Gardens in Sydney’s greater west is another popular venue for family days. They offer Christmas party packages starting at just $39.50 per child (under 12) and $49.50 for adults. The beauty of this super-sized venue is that the events team does the lot. Live music, carnival rides and delicious food can all be arranged, and groups can hold their events during the day or at night - whatever suits.
And, with 5000 free parking spaces and a train station right at the door, getting to and from the venue is a piece of cake. For details telephone (02) 9930 4000 today.

Just for laughs
Another popular venue for corporate family days is Luna Park on the north side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The revitalized Luna Park can cater for groups from 100 to 7000, according to group sales manager, John Spencer. He says the three main ingredients for a successful family day are good food, excellent organization and fun.
“We have 19 rides at Luna Park including our famous Coney Island, but can compliment that with face painting, clowns and various other entertainment we can source for any occasion, including some seriously fun team building exercises,” he said.
“Every family day is fun and I guess the one [example that illustrates this] is when a company CEO who was larger than life went on the Tango Train and just about squashed the kids with him. The look on his face was priceless! This was watched by the whole company who really never saw this side of him. Everyone was in hysterics!”

The Dreamworld experience
Dreamworld on Queensland’s Gold Coast is one of the most popular destination for family days.
The Brisbane Lions, Brisbane Bullets and The Queensland Reds all celebrate their family fun days at Dreamworld each year, attracting hundreds of fans, high profile players and their families. The largest union in Australia representing workers in retail, fast food and distribution areas, Shop Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA) has offered all members and their families a family fun day at Dreamworld for the past three years.
Coles/Myer, Suncorp, Westpac, ANZ, National Australia Bank, Energex, Mincom and Smiths Snack Foods are just some of the other high profile companies who have combined quality time with high speed thrills, spills and animal encounters at the Gold Coast theme park. According to Dreamworld’s special events manager, Sue Gribble, the park has developed new packages in response to increasing enquiries from companies wanting to give their staff and their families something special.
“With so many rides and attractions, there’s lots of interactive hands-on action for big kids and little kids. A family fun day at Dreamworld offers a rare chance to slime your workmates, bond over brekky with the big cats, or blast your boss on the tallest, vertical free fall ride in the world.”
On June 26 Dreamworld opened FlowRider, Australia’s first perpetual wave and a new generation of attractions set to capture the Aussie culture like never before. For details call (07) 5588 1111 or email sales@dreamworld.com.au.

Super supplier
The largest supplier of amusement rides in Sydney is Better Amusement Hire which has been established for 40 years and is a gold accredited supplier. Manager Jenene Morgan says the company not only provides rides and services to all the state agricultural shows but regularly hires to corporate family days – “everything from portaloos to hotdog stands,” she says.
“We have over 35 rides, which we own, plus amusements like sideshow alley, and food stands. We do the Mounties family day every year. Our quality of rides is very high, and we have on-shore insurance.”
For details visit www.joylands.com.au