31 March 2024
Outdoor News
This monthly newsletter is shared with the broader outdoor industry, members and non-members of Outdoor NSW & ACT in the Outdoor Industry. To receive more regular and informative news, become a member today.
From the CEO's Desk
As we mark my fourth year as CEO of Outdoors NSW & ACT, I'm immensely proud to reflect on the journey we've undertaken together.
It's been a period of significant growth and achievement, driven by the unwavering support of our industry partners and stakeholders. Since assuming this role, our organisation has matured exponentially, thanks to the collective efforts of our dedicated team and the invaluable support of our community. Together, we've navigated challenges, seized opportunities, and propelled the outdoor industry forward in ways we could only have imagined.
I'm particularly thrilled to highlight some of our major wins for the industry over the past four years. The intensified advocacy efforts have amplified the awareness of the outdoor industry and championed its importance in promoting health, well-being, and environmental stewardship. Our persistent advocacy has yielded tangible results, including securing government-funded grants for camps, crucial in our collective bounce back from the challenging times wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moreover, our signature industry events, such as the National Outdoor Education Conference 2022 (NOEC), the Biennial Summit, and our members' masterclasses, have not only fostered collaboration and knowledge exchange but have also served as pivotal platforms for innovation and growth within our community.
At the heart of our mission lies our unwavering commitment to supporting and guiding our members. Much like in the medical and trade industries, peak bodies like ours play a vital role in clearing obstacles and providing the necessary resources and expertise to enable our members to thrive. Whether it's navigating regulatory landscapes, accessing funding opportunities, or fostering professional development, we are here to empower you to do what you do best: getting people outdoors.
And looking forward, I am incredibly excited about this year and beyond as we venture into supporting the industry with specialised PD training (see Roping Skills Refresher article as our first session) and also our forthcoming Outdoor Industry MasterClass, Outdoor Learning Mini-Conference and the MTB Symposium (see article on this for the scoop on its location).
As we celebrate this milestone, I extend my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for your continued dedication and support. Together, let's continue to blaze trails, push boundaries, and inspire countless others to embrace the transformative power of the great outdoors.
Enjoy the newsletter and have a fabulous April!
Lori Modde
CEO, Outdoors NSW & ACT Limited &
The Australian Outdoor Industry
SKILLS IQ NEWS
The SkillsIQ NSW ITAB Sport, Fitness & Recreation Industry Advisory Committee (IAC) of which Outdoors NSW/ACT is a member, met on 22 March and Lori Modde was welcomed as the new incoming Chair.
The IAC acts as the voice for stakeholders across the industry focussing on skill priorities & shortages and emerging workforce needs. This is then fed back by the ITAB to the government to help prioritise funding for training at the state level.
The IAC hosted Meredyth Wendel from the Department of Education to provide an overview of the School Based Apprenticeship and Traineeships (SBAT) program and Sharon Locker-Lloyd to speak to the Regional Industry Education Partnership (RIEP) program. IAC members provided updates on current activities and challenges facing their sub-sectors. If you would like to discuss skill and workforce issues, or opportunities for funded training specific to your business or sector, please contact Jackie Zelinsky on nswitab@skillsiq.com.au.
ROPING SKILLS REFRESHER 31st May 2024
Need to refresh your roping skills? Well this is the event for you. A whole day on the 'rock' with Blue Mountains Climbing School at a reduced rate will give you the refresher you need PLUS one-year subscriber membership with ONSWACT for free. For more information go to https://outdoors.kartra.com/page/PDSessions
YOUTH OCEAN CARNIVAL 5th June 2024
Youth Ocean Carnival SYD24 (YOC SYD24) celebrates World Ocean Day at Luna Park “Big Top” on the 5th June 2024
A FREE event for students Yr 7-11 FROM 9AM - 2PM that is created to champion youth-led leadership in ocean and nature conservation with schools. Students will have access to a hub of dynamic ‘thought leaders’, artists, athletes and scientists.
Through our ‘Four Key Nature Pillars’, the event will introduce them to the United Nations 30x30 Goal. It targets protecting and restoring 30% of land and ocean by 2030.
School Registration Opens 3rd April 2024 for the event on 5th June at Luna Park Sydney, 9am - 2pm
Go to youthoceancarrnival.com or view on Instagram @youthoceancarnival
OUTDOOR LEARNING Mini Conference 20th July 2024
Outdoors NSW & ACT invites all outdoor educators, carers and facilitators to share practice, learn new ways and be inspired to get more of our youth outdoors for their health and well-being.
THE NATURE SCHOOL,
PORT MACQUARIE, NSW
20th July 2024
8:30am - 4:00pm
SUBMIT AN EOI TO PRESENT AT
NATCORR WORKSHOPS August 2024
Join NATCORR's immersive incident response workshop that will equip you with the knowledge and skills to navigate high-stress situations with confidence and expertise. Presenter: Dr Clare Dallat from Risk Resolve with support from Natcorr team members who are seasoned outdoor educators, and managers of risk and safety.
- Melbourne Friday August 16
- Adelaide Monday August 19
- Sydney Tuesday August 20
- Hobart Wednesday August 21
https://events.humanitix.com/natcorr-incident-response-workshop
SAVE THE DATE
Back Country Summit 14 Oct
Following the first snow season where the Snow Guidance Note will be provided to industry, this summit is designed to bring the industry together to discuss the feedback on the Guidance Note as well as any other areas that need attention for more successful and safe operations in the Back Country in NSW & ACT. It will be held online and open to all stakeholders in the Alpine areas of NSW, ACT, VIC & TAS to ensure changes support the integration to a AAAS Good Practice Guide.
MTB SYMPOSIUM 25/26 October 2024
We are very excited to announce the MTB Symposium will take place in Merimbula NSW, 25/26 October 2024!
EOIs to present at this event are now open with tickets going on sale in May 2024. Apply to present or to receive regular updates go to https://outdoors.kartra.com/page/mtbsymposium
NOEC 2024 ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN
The National Outdoor Education Conference is being held in Gippsland, Victoria on 4-6 December 2024.
EOI to present are NOW open and will close COB 5 pm AEST, Monday 8 April 2024. GO TO
https://www.outdoorsvictoria.org.au/news-events/noec-2024/info-for-presenters/
Ticket Sales will be released on April 18th, follow on Socials for all updated information.
CONCERNED ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE?
If you are wanting to support the Outdoor Industry through Climate Change, join the ONSWACT Climate Change Committee where we are looking at ways we can better be prepared and adapt to climate change. EOIs to join the committee are open now.
CHILD SAFE CORNER
A key part of being a child safe organisation is giving effect to the rights of children and young persons and involving them in decisions that affect them. The application of this to an outdoor education provider will depend on the services provided. However a key aspect is to consider how to achieve this. Further, what is your staff members' understanding of this , can you develop materials to guide how this is achieved and how is this consistent with your clientele? If you would like assistance with this important aspect, please contact Child Safety Network, Jon Sleeman, Director/Senior Investigator
Email: jsconsulting14@bigpond.com
Phone: 0409 002 598
Membership Options
for non-members
You can now pay by the month for your membership to help with cash flow and if you are not a member yet, you can commence a 7-day trial period and access the membership portal before paying to join. This enables you to see if you can benefit from your Outdoors NSW & ACT Membership.
NSW VET REVIEW INTERIM REPORT RELEASED
The independent VET Review Panel made 7 recommendations to the government in its Interim Report. These recommendations focus on TAFE NSW at the centre of the vocational education system and VET delivery in NSW. A high-level summary of these recommendations can be found in the link below, but perhaps the most pleasing recommendation is
"TAFE NSW should develop a revised operating model that aligns educational delivery with industry needs, prioritises local and community engagement and enhances support for teachers."
Important High Ropes Updates
As per our Connect & Share with SafeWork NSW on 8th March, there are a few key requirements for owners of challenge and ropes courses that need attention to be compliant. Every course needs to be registered for its 'design', but not every course needs to be registered as an 'item'. Here is a summary of what was discussed with key links for ease of access. Members can watch back this episode in their membership portal.
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Outdoor Careers Promotions
ONSWACT Members are invited to take part in the many expo's / careers days where we are showcasing the Outdoors to potential career entrants.
ALL options are FREE to ONSWACT Members, just let us know which ones you would like to come along too.
Email us at contact@outdoorsnswact.com.au
14 / 15 May
CHATSWOOD NSW
22 May
GOULBURN NSW
Albury, Bowral, Orange & Tamworth
MAY / JUNE
Gosford, Newcastle, Port Macquarie & Byron Bay MAY / JUNE
What happened in March?
Another busy month saw the members of Outdoors NSW & ACT being represented at the OCA Board Meeting, the Cancer Prevention Committee for Sport & Recreation, the Australian Climate Change Education Summit, Western Sydney Moving Community of Practice, Service and Creative Skills Australia Tourism Deep Dive Workshop and Round Table Discussion in Darwin, Humanability Sport & Recreation Industry Advisory Committee Meeting, Talking Tourism Business Forum, the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards & the Skills IQ NSW ITAB Forum. Not to forget to mention our wonderful committee meetings and this month we hosted the first Senior Leaders Forum, the second RTO/VET Forum and the second Land Managers Forum for the year.
In addition, Lori Modde and Ky Furneaux, ONSWACT Ambassador, met with Tourism Australia staff to help them in showcasing adventure tourism opportunities across NSW & the ACT. ONSWACT also met with the Dept of Workforce and Employment to discuss federal trainee subsidies, advocated for changes to the Adventurous Spaced Guidelines released by NSW Department of Planning and met with the team from Catholic Schools office about SBATs in Outdoor Recreation. Lori also caught up with the CEO of Australian Camps Association, Peter McDougall to collaborate on the areas of need in NSW & ACT.
Perhaps the most exciting of all the connections this month was with NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and the curriculum review committee, of which Lori Modde and ONSWACT Board Member Catherine Oehlman, representing the needs of the industry to improve the 'outdoor' connections for students in the various syllabuses. After our submission late last year, we were pleased to see the change in the K-6 syllabuses, but before our meeting we were expressing our dissatisfaction with the 7–10 syllabuses. We are pleased to report that NESA have acknowledged our feedback and confirmed it was an oversight and would be fixed in the next reiteration.
Thank you NESA for your partnership and collaboration.
More Important News
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FEE FREE TRAINING to Remain
Fee-Free training has been extended in NSW for a further three (3) years. This extension will deliver 147,400 fee-free places from January 1, 2024, to December 2026.
Funding allocated for the first 6 months of 2024 will only be for full qualifications, but there is also a new set of eligible courses that align with national and state priorities and reflects the available places. Places have been split between TAFE NSW and other Smart & Skilled providers. Arrangements for the remaining time will be announced soon. Click here for more information. -
2024 Senior Leaders Forums
These professional development webinars have been designed with you in mind, and we invite all to participate in these discussions that will help to support you in your day-to-day work. We understand the pressures and the squeeze that occurs in the middle ranks, and we are here to help.
Senior Leaders Forums (held quarterly, on the 4th Tuesday at 9am, in June, Sept)
Check your membership portal under Industry Events for registration links.
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EOI to join the Climate Change Committee
If you are concerned about the impact of climate change on the outdoor industry, and want to do something about it, we would love you to join our climate change committee. Complete your details below and we will be in touch soon.
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Outdoor Industry MasterClass
OPENS FOR REGISTRATIONS
With thanks to Destination NSW, the MasterClass is confirmed for Port Macquarie, NSW, from 18-19 July, followed by an Outdoor Learning Mini Conference on 20 July (see below). The MasterClass is ideally suited for middle to senior management in the Outdoor Industry.
Platinum, Gold, Silver & Bronze tickets are now open. If you have qualified for either of these options, you will have received an invitation by email from us already. Make sure you claim your ticket, if you haven't already. General admission tickets will be open from 15 April 2024.
More information can be found at https://outdoors.kartra.com/page/2024MasterClass
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2024 Outdoor Learning Mini Conference
Confirmed to be held in Port Macquarie, NSW, it will follow the Outdoor Industry MasterClass, and be held on Saturday 20th July at The Nature School.
All outdoor educators from pre-school to high-school are invited to the Educators Forum. Apply to Present at the Mini-Conference.
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Resources for members
Everything you need to know about the new IR laws, legislation that impacts our industry and more are available on the member's portal. Members can login into the membership portal to access over 350 different resources available for your use. We add to this portal every week with content.
You can also search for all the topics presented at the Connect & Share forums last year. Members can access it via this link:
https://outdoors.kartra.com/portal/login/index.
Or non-members can join us here and you will get immediate access to the portal:
THE NATURE SCHOOL &
The Youth Ocean Carnival
Well done to The Nature School for getting involved in the Youth Ocean Carnival's Regional Schools 30/30 Workshops in Port Macquarie. The first-of-its-kind World Ocean Day school workshops were delivered to students in the regional NSW towns of Dubbo and
Port Macquarie with Youth Ocean Carnival founder’s artist Timothy Johnston, Olympic Diver Sam Fricker and co-founder polo player Kal Glanznig and Workshop Co-Founder Australian Surf Champion and Mental Health advocate Cooper Chapman. See image below.
SAVE THE DATE
DESTINATION NSW WORKSHOPS
Experience Development Workshop:
Find out how you can create, tailor and deliver world-class, bookable visitor experiences that showcase the strengths of your destination.
Cruise Ready Workshop:
Join a panel of cruise industry experts to find out about the cruise tourism opportunity at your destination, and how to make the most of the opportunity for your business.
- Eden (04 April)
To register go to www.destinationnsw.com.au
FRIDAY
CONNECT & SHARE FORUMS
Open to only members or subscribers of Outdoors NSW & ACT, every week at 10am, keep up to date with all you need to know as well as hear from guest speakers on various topics of interest for the outdoor industry.
FRIDAY
HAPPY HOUR
CHATS
Open to anyone in the industry to connect and debrief the week that was, brainstorm ideas, download on challenging situations or just simply connect with like minds across the industry.
What's new in the
Outdoors NSW & ACT Membership Portal
Click here to login and see what's been added for your use
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