How to organise a work farewell
To organise a work farewell, choose one organiser, start the card and an optional group collection as soon as the leaving date is known, and book a morning or afternoon tea in their last week where everyone brings a plate. On the day, give a short speech and hand over the card and the gift.
Step-by-step farewell timeline
Most office farewells in Australia follow the same shape: a card that goes around the office, a collection for a gift, and a gathering where the card and gift are presented. One person running all three keeps it from falling through the cracks.
- Pick one organiser. Agree who is running the farewell, then give them a list of who to invite and a deadline for signing the card.
- Start the collection. Set up one online collection and share the link in the team chat or the farewell email, rather than passing round an envelope or sharing your own bank details. Say clearly that chipping in is optional.
- Pass the card around. The big office card circulates desk to desk, or sits on a table near the kitchen. Set a signing deadline a day or two before the last day so the card is ready in time.
- Book the morning or afternoon tea. Choose a time in their last week when most of the team is in, book a room, and ask everyone to bring a plate. A team lunch or after-work drinks also work.
- Buy the gift. Close the collection a few days before you need to buy the gift, because card contributions arrive after the registry closes. You then know the budget and nobody is left out of pocket.
- Say a few words. Keep the speech short: a story or two, a thank you, and good wishes for what comes next. Then present the card and the gift.
Farewell card messages and gift ideas
Morning tea, lunch or drinks
| Format | Works well when | What to organise |
|---|---|---|
| Morning or afternoon tea | Most of the team is in the office during work hours | A room, a bring-a-plate roster, and a table for the card |
| Team lunch | The team is small or the person leaving wants something quieter | A booking, and whether everyone pays their own way |
| After-work drinks | People can stay late and the venue suits everyone | A venue near work, and a non-drinking option so nobody feels left out |
Farewell party and decoration ideas
An office farewell has limits: furniture you cannot move, lighting you cannot change, and a room that has to be clear for the next meeting. Pick ideas that set up in minutes and pack away just as fast.
- A banner with their name and a message from the team.
- A memory wall of photos from work events, or ask everyone to bring a photo.
- A small photo corner with a few props for team photos.
- Centrepieces built from mementos of their time in the team.
- String lights to make a meeting room feel less like a meeting room.
- A theme drawn from their interests, such as their footy team or their next travel destination.
Farewell morning tea ideas
A bring-a-plate morning tea is the classic Australian work farewell. A little planning stops it turning into six packets of the same biscuits.
- Run a simple roster so people sign up for sweet, savoury or drinks.
- Put the card on a table at the entrance so late signers can add a message.
- Lamingtons, a fruit platter and a tray of Tim Tams are easy crowd pleasers.
- Ask about dietary needs so everyone can eat something.
- Keep the speech to a few minutes, then present the card and gift.
Farewells for a teacher, a retiree or someone moving away
For a teacher or school staff member, the class pools the money and the organiser buys one gift, such as a book for the classroom, a booked experience or, for a teacher, a store gift card. Never hand over cash or a prepaid debit card: Victorian and WA government school staff cannot accept cash vouchers such as prepaid debit cards. In Victoria a store gift card is allowed only as a gift of appreciation to a teacher or other member of the teaching service. Rules differ by state and school, so check your school's gift policy before you collect.
For a retirement, the send-off is often bigger and the gift can be too. The retirement wishing well guide covers collecting for a retirement gift.
For a friend or colleague moving away, a gift card for their new home or a hobby travels better than anything bulky.
If your employer is paying for the gift, ask payroll about the rules first.
Make the farewell gift a group gift
A farewell collection works best when nobody has to carry cash or chase people. Set up one online collection, share the link with the team, and let people chip in privately before the last day.
Need words to send with the link? Try the wishing well wording generator, or start a wishing well registry now.
- Create a free registry for the occasion.
- Add a wishing well.
- Share one link with everyone who wants to chip in.
- Buy the gift once you know the total.
Setting up a registry with a wishing well is free. Guests can chip in by bank transfer, in cash or in store with no EasyRegistry fee. Card and PayPal contributions are a Premium feature ($39 one time), and card funds are released when the registry closes.
How a group gift wishing well works, and how much to ask each person for
If you have been asked to chip in or sign the card
In the card, mention something specific you worked on together, say thank you, and wish them well for what comes next. If you did not work closely with them, a short and warm line is enough.
Chipping in is optional and any amount is welcome. The group gift wishing well guide explains how organisers suggest a soft range rather than a fixed amount.
Work farewell FAQ
Choose one organiser, start the card and an optional collection as soon as the leaving date is known, book a morning or afternoon tea in their last week, and ask everyone to bring a plate. On the day, give a short speech and present the card and the gift.
No. A farewell collection should always be optional. A good organiser keeps contributions private and never follows up with people who choose not to give.
Mention something specific you worked on together, thank them, and wish them well in what comes next. If you did not know them well, a short and warm line is enough.
Usually, but check the school's gift policy first. The organiser should use the pooled money to buy one gift, such as a book for the classroom or a store gift card, never hand over cash. Victorian and WA government school staff cannot accept cash vouchers such as prepaid debit cards, and in both states a gift worth more than $100 must be declared. In Victoria a store gift card is allowed only as a gift of appreciation to a teacher or other member of the teaching service.
Start the farewell collection
Create a free registry, add a wishing well, and share one link with the team so everyone can chip in before the last day.