10 top team building activities for Aussie small businesses

Jun 26, 2025 2 min read

The Brooklyn 99 cast compete in team building activities — Image: Brooklyn Nine-Nine NBC Studios

In the world of small business, a tight-knit team can be your secret weapon. Research shows that socialising among team members can improve communication patterns by over 50 per cent. So, let’s explore some team-building activities that can help your team thrive.

10 team building activities to try

Cook-off challenge

Does your team like to cook? Why not organise a mystery box of ingredients and then split into teams for a Masterchef-style cook off? The best part is you get to eat all the spoils at the end. It’s creative and collaborative and ends in yum!

Volunteer day

A lot of corporate businesses offer volunteer days, but there is no reason why your small biz can’t participate in a volunteer day too. Start by getting your employees involved in choosing the charity – you’ll not only build team bonds you’ll score some good will as well. It’s a win-win.

Escape room adventure

Test your team’s problem solving skills with an escape room challenge. Working together to solve puzzles can enhance communication and teamwork.

Trivia night

Maybe you have a staff member who’s a movie buff, another who loves sport or a third who gets their kicks cosplaying historical reenactments. A trivia night could be a great way for them to show off their knowledge.

Outdoor adventure

Paintball, hiking, kayaking, a mud run or a ropes course – some teams thrive on physical activity, so why not harness this passion. There’s nothing quite like engaging in physical challenges together to build a sense of teamwork and trust.

The Workshop movie stilll — The Workshop. Photograph: Jérôme Prébois

Team workshops

Team building activities don’t have to be physical. Workshops that develop new skills and nurture communication can be valuable too. Organise workshops focused on skills like communication, leadership, or time management and watch your team dynamics improve.

Office Olympics

Who doesn’t love an office chair race? Unleash your imagination and create an Office Olympics. Think paper toss, office chair races, rubber band archery and more. There’s something about silly office games that brings out your inner kid and helps break the ice.

Storytelling sessions

Encourage team members to share personal stories or experiences. This can foster empathy and deeper connections within the team.

Book club

Do you have some avid readers in your team? Then why not start a book club? Even if people have nothing in common, they’ve all read the same book. Books can be for social enjoyment or kick things up a notch and choose a book for skills development. It’s an excellent way to promote continuous learning and open dialogue.

Team lunches

Regular team lunches, whether held in the office or at a local café, offer opportunities for informal conversations and relationship-building.

As leadership expert and business consultant Ken Blanchard says, none of us is as smart as all of us, so why not invest in some team building activities and embrace the benefits for your business.

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About the author

Cec Busby

Editor

Cec has been telling stories and chasing headlines for more than 25 years. These days, she’s editor of Private Media’s Business Builders and Flying Solo, and the voice behind the Flying Solo and First Act podcasts. She kicked off her editing career as the founding editor of Sydney street press The Brag and has since worn the editor’s hat across a stack of titles – from SX and CULT to Better Pictures, Total Rock, MTV, fasterlouder, mynikonlife and Fantastic Living. Cec’s reporting runs the gamut. She’s covered small business, politics, health and LGBTQIA+ issues with equal passion. And when she’s not in print or online, you might have caught her behind the mic at FBi Radio or in front of the camera on OutTV.

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