WeeksDaysHoursMinutesSecondsKANPAI!

ITALY IS CALLING

Seven nights of connection, adventure, clinical education and la dolce vita.

Join us for the ninth ACE Manual Therapy Retreat as we head to one of the most spectacular destinations in the world: Italy!

Get ready for an unforgettable experience!

There are some places that feel as though they were made for an ACE Retreat.

Italy is one of them.

Think sun drenched coastlines, colourful villages, long Italian lunches, incredible food, rich history and views that will make your heart sing.

Now add engaging clinical education, hands on workshops, new friendships, plenty of laughter and the unmistakable intangible ACE Retreat energy our attendees know and love.

This is more than a weekend workshop. This is seven unforgettable nights of learning, connection, culture and adventure – served with excellent food and a generous helping of Italian sunshine.

This is professional development ACE style.

EXPLORE, LEARN AND CONNECT

ACE Manual Therapy Retreats have earned a reputation for bringing together high-quality education and truly memorable travel experiences.

Across the week, you’ll take part in engaging and clinically relevant workshops designed to challenge your thinking, expand your skills and give you practical skills and knowledge you can take back into clinic.

Outside the workshops, there will be time to slow down, explore the region, enjoy incredible food and connect with an inspiring community of like-minded health professionals.

Come for the education. Stay for the people, the destination and the experience that you’ll be talking about for years to come.

YOUR HOME IN ITALY: The Grand Hotel Vesuvio

For seven nights, retreat attendees will stay at the beautiful Grand Hotel Vesuvio, overlooking the sparkling waters of the Bay of Naples and Mt Vesuvius.

The Grand Hotel Vesuvio combines classical Italian style with extraordinary bay views. There is an extensive citrus grove, fitness centre, seasonal outdoor pool, and a free shuttle bus to the nearby town of Sorrento.

Sorrento is an excellent base to take easy day trips to nearby highlights like Pompeii, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast.

  • Daily Breakfast

    Continental breakfast buffet with biscuits, toasts to be filled with honey, butter or jam, cheese, eggs, local cold cuts and fresh daily products such as brioches and hot croissants, seasonal fruit, bread and homemade cakes.

  • Gym

    Featuring modern cardio equipment and free weights to keep your training on track while on holiday.

  • Complimentary Shuttle Bus

    A free shuttle service to and from the township of Sorrento.

  • Citrus Grove

    Enjoy the countryside and relaxation by immersing yourself in the nature of the citrus grove.

  • Vesuvio Restaurant

    Enjoy a fantastic dinner with the typical Mediterranean flavors in our Restaurant Vesuvio. With a large and spacious room in a classic, refined style and access to the terrace, it is the ideal spot for a wonderful evening meal.

  • Vesuvio Bar

    The Vesuvio Bar is the best place to have, after a day at the pool or the beach, a good coffee or a fresh aperitif together with a view of the Vesuvius and the breath-taking landscape of the Gulf of Naples.

ITALIAN CULTURE, COASTAL ADVENTURE AND UNFORGETTABLE FUN

The ACE Manual Therapy Retreat has never been just about what happens in the workshops. It’s about the shared experiences, the laughter, the long lunches, the new friendships and the unexpected moments that really make each retreat unique.

Our Italy retreat program is currently being finalised, with more details about optional activities and opportunities to explore the Amalfi Coast coming soon.

There will be time built into the schedule to enjoy this beautiful destination at your own pace – whether it’s visiting nearby coastal towns, discovering the local food and culture, or just finding somewhere  beautiful to sit with an espresso (or a Spritz) and watch the world go by.

Because professional development should be education. But we think it should also be a lot of fun.

ELEVATE YOUR SKILLS: Manual Therapy Retreat Workshops

Clinical education sits at the heart of every Manual Therapy Retreat.

Across the week, attendees will participate in a series of practical workshops led by our experienced ACE educators.

You can expect evidence-informed, clinically relevant education with a strong focus on practical application, clinical reasoning and techniques you can confidently integrate into your practice.

Workshops Theme: ‘Progression in Manual Therapy’

Developing and implementing an effective treatment plan, requires us to identify where the patient and their presentation is currently, and to plot out a progressive path toward an improved outcome for them.

Quality health care requires a detailed and complex process of clinical reasoning to map out and deliver the best possible intervention for our patients. Clinical reasoning is perhaps the hardest skill to develop as a clinician. It requires an in depth understanding of anatomy, pathology, pathophysiology and of course, the individual and relevant contextual factors impacting the patient in front of you.

PROGRESSION in manual therapy requires us to understand the mechanisms of effect of the manual therapy and exercise interventions we use, how patient education plays a part, and how these approaches can influence our patient’s physiology and state of mind over time. Progression should also take into account regression, and consider the importance of dosage in the way we deliver our treatment plans.

ACE will also draw on the deep and varied knowledge of our teaching team, providing an in-depth and specialised approach in each workshop.

WORKSHOP TOPICS AND DESCRIPTIONS

Progression in Manual Therapy

Moving Beyond a Technique Focus – Advancing patient outcomes

What does progression really mean in manual therapy, and how can we use it to achieve better outcomes for our patients? This opening workshop introduces the overarching theme of the retreat, challenging us to look beyond individual treatment techniques and consider how we can guide patients through a purposeful, adaptable and progressive approach to care.

Explore the key principles of treatment progression, from understanding where a patient is in their presentation and identifying meaningful goals, to selecting appropriate interventions, evaluating their effectiveness and recognising when and how to advance treatment. We’ll consider how changes in pain, movement, tolerance and functional capacity can inform our clinical decisions, and why progression is not always about doing more, but about doing what is most appropriate at each stage of recovery.


By bringing together contemporary evidence, clinical reasoning and practical
examples, this session will establish a framework for thinking more critically about the way we assess, treat and reassess our patients. More than simply refining our techniques, we’ll explore how embracing progression as a guiding principle can help us evolve our clinical practice, strengthen our professional identity and deliver more individualised, effective and meaningful patient care.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Assessing the Patient, Treating the Symptoms, Protecting the Nerve

Develop a more considered and confident approach to managing carpal tunnel syndrome, with an emphasis on recognising the factors influencing nerve function, identifying appropriate candidates for conservative care, and making informed treatment decisions. Drawing on contemporary evidence, practical assessment and clinical reasoning, this workshop will explore how manual therapists can contribute to effective symptom management while recognising the importance of protecting neural health.


Participants will examine how treatment strategies can be selected, monitored
and progressively adapted in response to changes in symptoms, nerve function and functional capacity. Explore how meaningful reassessment can inform each stage of care, from initial symptom management through to improved function and longer-term outcomes, while developing the confidence to recognise when conservative treatment should be reconsidered and further investigation or timely referral is required.

Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

Assessing the Shoulder, Challenging the Diagnosis, Guiding Treatment

Challenge traditional thinking around shoulder impingement syndrome and develop a more informed, adaptable approach to managing shoulder pain and dysfunction. Explore how our understanding of this common diagnosis has evolved, and how contemporary evidence can help us look beyond structural explanations to identify the factors influencing each patient’s presentation.

Through practical assessment, clinical reasoning and hands-on treatment, participants will explore ways to identify meaningful findings, select appropriate manual therapy and exercise interventions, and evaluate their effectiveness. Discover how ongoing reassessment can guide clinical decisions, allowing treatment strategies to evolve alongside the patient’s improvements, progressively restoring confidence, movement and function.

Plantar Fasciosis

Understanding the Condition, Progressing Treatment, Restoring Function

Develop a deeper understanding of plantar fasciosis and explore how contemporary knowledge of tissue pathology, biomechanics and load management can inform a more effective approach to treatment. Moving beyond traditional explanations of plantar heel pain, this workshop examines the factors contributing to symptoms and functional limitations, and how these can guide clinical decision-making and individualised management strategies.

Through practical application, participants will explore the role of manual therapy of the foot, ankle and lower limb, and targeted exercise interventions in managing plantar fasciosis. Discover how treatment strategies can be adapted and progressively advanced as pain, tissue tolerance and functional capacity improve, with consideration for the differing demands of sedentary and athletic populations. With an emphasis on patient education, reassessment and progressive loading, this session will help practitioners develop a more comprehensive approach to guiding patients from initial symptom management toward improved function and a confident return to activity.

Gluteal Teninopathies

Understanding Tendon Behaviour, Guiding Treatment, Progressing Recovery

Develop a more comprehensive approach to managing gluteal tendinopathies by exploring the relationship between tendon pathology, mechanical loading and the factors influencing pain and function. This practical workshop examines how contemporary evidence and clinical reasoning can inform treatment decisions, helping practitioners move beyond simply addressing painful structures toward a more purposeful approach to rehabilitation.

Through hands-on application, participants will explore appropriate manual therapy interventions, the importance of managing compressive and tensile  loads, and how to interpret patient responses to guide ongoing care. Discover how treatment strategies can be adapted and progressively advanced as symptoms, tendon load tolerance and functional capacity change, while recognising when modifications or alternative approaches may be required. With an emphasis on reassessment and individualised progression, this session will help practitioners develop the confidence to guide patients from initial symptom management toward improved strength, movement tolerance and a sustainable return to activity.

Four Lenses for Managing Mechanical Low Back Pain

Different Perspectives, Better Clinical Decisions

Effective management of mechanical low back pain requires more than a single treatment approach. It demands an appreciation of the many factors influencing a patient’s presentation, and the ability to adapt our clinical decisions as their needs and capabilities evolve.

This four-part workshop brings together different members of the ACE teaching team, each offering a unique perspective on the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of low back pain. Through four complementary approaches, participants will broaden their clinical understanding, expand their practical toolkit and explore how different interventions can be integrated into a purposeful, individualised treatment plan.

Discover how looking at the same condition through different clinical lenses can help you better understand where your patient is today, identify what they need next, and progressively guide them toward improved movement, confidence and function.

Four perspectives. Four approaches. One goal: better patient outcomes.

RETREAT DATE

9th May, 2027 – 16th May, 2027

SINGLE OCCUPANCY ROOMS

DOUBLE OCCUPANCY ROOMS

DOUBLE OCCUPANCY ROOMS

TRIPLE OCCUPANCY ROOMS

RETREAT BROCHURE

Check out our 2027 Retreat Brochure

MTR Italy 2027 Brochure

PAYMENT PLANS

YOUR RETREAT PACKAGE INCLUDES

  • 7 Nights Accommodation

    Enjoy seven amazing nights at the Grand Hotel Vesuvio, in Sorrento Italy.

  • 15+ Hours of Professional Development

    Over 15 hours of expert-led training from the ACE Education Team.

  • Exclusive Retreat Events
    • Welcome Reception & Networking Drinks: Begin your retreat by connecting with your fellow attendees and the ACE Team over welcome drinks
    • Farewell Dinner: Celebrate an incredible week of learning and connection at our farewell dinner – it’s not to be missed
  • Daily Comfort and Convenience
    • Start each day with a delicious buffet breakfast.

    • Stay refreshed with coffee, pastries, water and lunch provided on workshop days.

    • Receive all necessary learning materials and a certificate of completion to recognise your professional development.

  • Memorable Experiences and Gifts
    • Engage in fun and laughter with our signature group activities, including the ACE RACE and Retreat Games

    • Take home a limited edition Manual Therapy Retreat Italy 2027 t-shirt as a memento of your trip

    • Build new friendships and create memories that will last a lifetime!

RETREAT PACKAGE EXCLUSIONS

The following costs are not included in the retreat package and are the responsibility of the attendee:

  • Travel and Insurance
    • Airfares & Transportation: Your flights to/from Italy and any personal travel during your stay (e.g., taxis, trains, etc).

    • Comprehensive Travel Insurance: All attendees are strongly encouraged to arrange their own travel and medical insurance for the duration of their trip.

  • Meals and Personal Expenses
    • Food and Beverages: Any meals and drinks that are not specifically listed as an inclusion.

    • Personal Activities: Any sightseeing, tours, or activities undertaken outside of the scheduled retreat program.

  • Hotel Services and Amenities
    • Other Incidental Charges: Personal services such as room service, laundry, dry cleaning, exclusive lounge access, and vehicle parking/charging are not included.

ACE 2027 RETREAT TEAM

  • SHAUN BREWSTER

    EVENT COORDINATOR / LEAD EDUCATOR

  • DALTON YATES

    ASSISTANT EDUCATOR

  • AMANDA KILMINSTER

    ASSISTANT EDUCATOR

  • CAREY GIDDENS

    ASSISTANT EDUCATOR

    Carey Giddens
  • OLIVIA CRAPPER

    ASSISTANT EDUCATOR

  • ERIN BAKER

    EVENT COORDINATOR

Retreat Brochure

Cancellation Policy

Retreat Schedule

Workshop Outlines & Schedule

If you have any questions, concerns or trouble registering please email admin@advancedclinicaled.com

or please call 0450 473 680

PLACES ARE LIMITED

The ACE Manual Therapy Retreat has become one of our most anticipated events on our calendar.

Italy will be our ninth retreat, following the stellar line up of our past retreats across Bali, Hawaii, Australia, Thailand, Mexico, the South Pacific, the Greek Islands and Japan.

Places are limited, and interest in the Italy retreat has already been strong.

Book your ticket now. Payment plans available.

Want to bring a friend or your family with you? We have double rooms and family rooms available. You can choose to purchase a ‘social events’ ticket for your guest/s when purchasing your ticket.

SALUTE! See you in Italy!

© Copyright 2026 - Advanced Clinical Education,

ACE acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connections of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to lands, waters, cultures and communities. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We extend this respect to the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the Countries on which our courses and events are held.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, we acknowledge Māori as tangata whenua and recognise Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the enduring relationships of Māori with whenua, wai and community. As an education provider, ACE recognises the rich and enduring traditions of knowledge-sharing, teaching and learning within Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori cultures. We honour the knowledge, cultures and histories that have been shared and sustained across generations.