The future of remote work in Australia: What EAs and office managers need to know

As we move further away from the COVID days, we’re entering a deeper phase of hybrid work models. 2025 is coming to a close, and what we do know about remote work is that it’s not going anywhere in Australia, but neither is the office.

For EAs and office managers, the real challenge (and opportunity) is designing environments, culture, and rhythms that supports both flexibility and human connection.

Hybrid is here to stay (but tweaked)

Peaking during the pandemic, remote work became somewhat of the norm. However, Australian workplaces gradually began to reintroduce office days, with most roles adopting a hybrid model that blends both home and office time. Most teams are now expected to go to the office 2-3 days per week. The argument being team collaboration, productivity, and well-being.

For those in charge of running offices, this means rethinking everything. Desk ratios and meeting rhythms will depend on who’s in on what day. Hot desking, high-tech equipment that can manage Zoom calls, and digital-first processes are essential for office spaces to run smoothly.

But here’s the key insight: people still crave connection, and businesses still need moments where everyone can come together with clarity, intention, and alignment.

Before booking a venue, ask these questions.

Justifying the commute

Employees aren’t coming into the office just to sit on a laptop with their headphones it. That can be done from anywhere. What they are coming in for is shifting:

• Team collaboration
• Culture-building moments
• Creativity and problem solving
• Social connection

Your workplace now needs a sense of purpose, one that extends beyond a 9-to-5 workday. For those commuting, they want to justify the time and spend that comes with the commute. And when the office isn’t the ideal place to gather anymore, it’s about looking outwards to external venues.

The importance of off-sites and strategy days

It used to be a nice-to-have. A team day away from the office to bond, collaborate, and plan for the months ahead. But what used to be optional is becoming more business-critical. 

Across Australia, businesses are booking:

• Quarterly strategy sessions
• Team bonding days
• Hybrid-friendly workshops
• Annual retreats
• Celebratory events that reward and retain staff

These structured, high-quality touchpoints are designed to reconnect teams and allow them to reset. Why offsite? Neutrality and focus.

Venues report a steady rise in midweek corporate bookings as businesses try to create memorable experiences without relying on everyone being on-site 9–5, Monday to Friday.

Why venues matter

Even for those businesses that pride themselves on remote work, culture can suffer when entirely online. External venues play a valuable role in building (or rebuilding) culture.

Why book external?

• Break employees out of routine and refresh creative thinking
• Provide hybrid-ready AV setups for mixed in-person/remote attendance
• Offer catered, comfortable spaces where people can actually focus
• Help teams celebrate wins and milestones
• Boost morale — especially when staff are only onsite part-time

For EAs and office managers, choosing the right venue has become a strategic decision. Location, accessibility, hybrid tech, catering flexibility, and atmosphere all influence the success of your team connection outputs.

Hybrid work for a connected world

The future of remote work in Australia won’t be all-in or all-out. It’s a flexible, human-first model where employees choose when and how they work — but employers still invest in high-quality moments of togetherness.

And that’s where EAs and office managers shine: ensuring the days we do come together, whether in the office or at an offsite venue, are meaningful, well-run, and worth the effort.