Industry Newsletter

SUMMIT LATE BOOKING FEE STARTS 12 JUNE SUMMIT LATE BOOKING FEE STARTS 12 JUNE

May 2025 Wrap Up

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 turn the page on May, it’s clear that the outdoor industry is on the move—and so are we. This past month has been packed with critical discussions, powerful advocacy, and new opportunities to strengthen our industry.

Our Connect & Share forums delivered real value, from unlocking new tender opportunities to sparking important dialogue on the AAAS Review. We dove into the latest research on education trends and what they mean for outdoor learning, while also representing the industry in the NSW National Parks camping fee review—ensuring your voice was heard where it matters most.

Behind the scenes, the ONSWACT team has been working hard: supporting career pathway events, collaborating with the Outdoor Council of Australia on the national strategy, and leading the charge towards reinstating roping skills in TAFE's Outdoor Leadership Course—a fight we’re determined to win for the future of our workforce.

And if you’ve missed any of this? That’s why being part of Outdoors NSW & ACT matters. Our fortnightly updates to members keep them informed and involved. We’re not just talking—we’re doing.

Looking ahead, the 2025 Outdoor Industry Summit is shaping up to be a defining moment for our community. With bold sessions on climate resilience, leadership, policy reform, and more, this is your chance to connect, learn, and lead. Book now before the late fee kicks in on 12 June—you won’t want to miss it.

Let’s keep the momentum going.

Lori Modde

More News

Summary of Topics included in this newsletter below

LAUNCH of the ONSWACT Strategic Plan 2025-2028
Outdoor Industry Summit Contents
NatCORR Risk & Resilience Symposium
Roping Skills Advocacy Update
NSW National Parks Camping Fees
ACT Tidbinbilla Management Review
2025 Census Data
AAAS Review Update
VET Review Update
Child Safe Workshops in June
New Staff Member for ONSWACT
OCA Strategy Day
MTB Merimbula Manifesto
Cultural Awareness Program
Applications opening for Pinnacle Leadership Program #2
Outdoor Learning Mini Conference

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.

ONLY 5 WEEKS TO GO!

Outdoor Industry Summit

Featuring the NatCORR Outdoor Risk & Resilience Symposium

(N.B Price increases on 12 June, by $45 per day)

$295 per day *

* Members rate is $245 per day

Information from May...

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead

🍃 ONSWACT Strategic Plan 2025-2028 Launch

Members have the opportunity to attend the launch of the ONSWACT Strategic Plan and partake in a discussion about the Constitution of ONSWACT on 6 June at our weekly Connect & Share.

In 2024, as a matter of good governance, the Board of Directors undertook a review of the Outdoors NSW & ACT Constitution to improve compliance with current company legislation, remove legacy-based terminology no longer fit for purpose, improve operationalisation and address ambiguities that had arisen in the first few years as a Company Limited by guarantee. At the 2023/24 AGM the recommended changes to the Constitution were voted upon by members and accepted unanimously. These changes have been reviewed by the lawyers and an updated copy of the Constitution is now available in the portal.

As part of the review, it was recommended that the "objects for which the company is established" contained in the Constitution (pg. 4 &5) were noted as needing review and that broader stakeholder engagement was required. This process begins with Member feedback on the 6th June Connect and Share, come along and join the discussion.

Also hear first-hand about what is important for the leadership of the industry in NSW and the ACT and how we will take action for industry benefit. If you have not yet subscribed to the ONSWACT Connect & Share's, register here.

🖐 Outdoor Industry Summit 2025

Held only every 2 years, this event is orchestrated to bring you all the areas of need you have as organisations and individuals leading outdoor activities or associated with such.

Every sector of the industry will benefit from the topics on offer at this event, including the NatCORR Risk & Resilience Symposium, to discussions on leadership, technology, safe work, Duke of Edinburgh Award, land manager updates and more.

From the program, to the supporters and exhibitors... you can now get all the information on this important event from the website: www.outdoorsnswact.org/2025Summit

ONSWACT Members get free skin checks courtesy of Medibank Private, and also receive $150 off the price of the Summit by using your code in your membership portal.

A massive thank you to our supporters of the Summit:

ACT Government and the Canberra Convention Bureau
NatCORR & Outward Bound Australia
Equipped Outdoors
Skills IQ
Affinity Insurance Brokers
Paddy Pallin &
Cycle Canberra

For those that book for the whole package and get the Tuesday activities at no extra cost, you will be given 2 choices: site visits to some of Canberra's Outdoor Education and Recreation facilities or join Cycle Canberra on a ride around Canberra's key attractions. More information will be sent to ticket holders.

⛈ NatCORR Risk & Resilience Symposium

Your front-row seat to the future of Outdoor Risk and Resilience Symposium – July 9, Canberra (Thoroughbred Park, Lyneham ACT)

Join us at the NatCORR Outdoor Risk & Resilience Symposium for a powerful day of insights, tools, and collaboration designed to future-proof the outdoor sector.

Highlights include:

Heat Stress in the Outdoors - Keynote from Dr Grant Lynch

Dr Grant Lynch, from the University of Sydney, unpacks why heat is one of the most urgent risks for outdoor programs, and what evidence-based, scalable solutions look like in practice.

Practical Micro Workshops

Two hands-on workshops, helping you to:

a) build a Weather Ready toolkit to manage extreme weather

b) lead through climate uncertainty by building financial and operational resilience.

State of Outdoor Readiness Panel

Hear from top voices at Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience, the National Emergency Management Agency, the Bureau of Meteorology, Outdoors NSW/ACT, and Risk Resolve as they share their organisation’s climate readiness strategies, the biggest risks facing our sector, and what’s needed next.

If you're working in school leadership, outdoor education, recreation or program leadership, this is a must-attend event for 2025. With speeches, discussions and presentations from all the key players in Australia's Outdoor sector, plus plenty of networking opportunities, this is not something you want to miss!

Secure your tickets

Together, let’s build a more resilient future for the Australian outdoors.

👨‍🏫 TAFE's Decision on Roping Units

In April, ONSWACT was provided with written notice from TAFE NSW to permanently remove the roping courses from their scope. This not only limits the skills being provided to entrants to the industry, but undermines the reliance on these skills in our industry. Especially noting that one of TAFE's locations is the Blue Mountains (BM) where the adventure tourism industry in this area relies on rock climbing, abseiling and canyoning, which ALL require roping skills.

Since then, a meeting with the BM adventure industry confirmed the detrimental effect this decision will have now and in the long term on a vital economy. A meeting with the Minister for Skills in NSW opened up the dialogue on potential funding increases to assist other RTOs fill the gap, and various media channels have supported our perspective and its detrimental effects on the industry.

We continue to work with NSW Government on finding solutions to this issue in haste as effects on the industry are evident already.

🌿 NSW National Parks Camping Fees

In May, Outdoors NSW & ACT submitted a comprehensive response to the proposed NSW National Parks camping fee restructure. While we support improvements to systems and maintenance funding, we raised key concerns about equity, regional fairness, and the risk of pricing out small groups and low-impact users. Our submission recommended a simpler, service-based tiering model, flexible pricing options, and better recognition of low-use remote sites to maintain access for all Australians.

We’ll continue working with NPWS to ensure our natural spaces remain open, affordable, and inclusive.

🏞 ACT Tidbinbilla Management Review

Outdoors NSW & ACT provided a strong submission to the ACT Government on the review of the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Plan of Management. We advocated for continued inclusive access, improved infrastructure for outdoor programs, and recognition of shared management responsibilities—particularly around the Birrigai Outdoor School and adjacent cultural sites.

We also supported climbing and other adventure activities as vital to youth development and nature connection. We’ve requested ongoing consultation as the new plan is developed to ensure the voices of educators, facilitators, and outdoor leaders are heard.

📈 2025 Census Data

The introduction of the 2024 Census was a key time to understand the depths and breadths of the outdoor industry in NSW & ACT. This data is worth its weight in gold as the opportunity to quantify our needs speaks volumes and shows what we know in real numbers. So now it's even more impactful as we get close to releasing our 2025 Census data, which tells more of a story from year to year and the growing needs of our industry.

Thank you to all the members and non-members who contributed their data to this important project as we are able to support you more now! Census data will be released at the Outdoor Industry Summit in July.

🧗‍♂️ AAAS Review Update

Members heard from Dr David Marsden on the 30th May about what the project is, where it is up to, as well as the opportunities for people to get involved.

If you havent already join the forum on the engagement platform under "Have Your Say"

The recording of this session is available for members in their member portal here

👤 New Staff Member at ONSWACT

Outdoors NSW & ACT is excited to announce the launch of a new trial program focused on enhancing training pathways and professional development within the outdoor industry. Leading this initiative is Nitin Bangalore, who joined the team in a part-time capacity on 18 May 2025. This program aligns with the forthcoming 2025–2028 Strategic Plan, emphasising the importance of building industry capacity and creating clear career pathways.

Nitin's role involves engaging stakeholders across education, recreation, tourism, and therapy sectors to identify needs, address gaps, and develop sustainable workforce development solutions. His appointment is part of a collaborative trial partnership with Southbound Adventures, reflecting a shared commitment to skills development in the sector.

Attendees of the upcoming 2025 Outdoor Industry Summit in Canberra this July will have the opportunity to meet Nitin and discuss how this program can support their organisational and workforce goals.

🧒 Child Safe Workshops

CHILD SAFE Workshops brought to you by Office of the Children's Guardian

Shellharbour 4 – 5 June OR

Penrith 1 - 2 July

A range of workshops will be available for people at different stages of their child-safe journey:

✅️ Beginner-friendly workshops

✅️ Skill-builder sessions

✅️ One-on-one support with our Child Safe Engagement Officers.

✅️ Special sessions for early childhood educators

OCG Events webpage to book.

⛷ VET Review of Outdoor Leadership

The review of the Outdoor Recreation and Leadership Training Package is progressing, with efforts focused on aligning competencies across Certificate II to Diploma levels to better reflect real-world industry needs and current VET reform principles.

HumanAbility has announced that initial analysis has revealed significant duplication in tasks and assessments, prompting consultation with stakeholders and subject-matter experts to explore ways to consolidate content while maintaining quality and rigour.

Over the next 4–6 weeks, the team will compile feedback, update the Functional Analysis Report, and continue refining qualifications to ensure a more streamlined and effective training package.

🌏 OCA Strategy Day

The newly revised structure of the Outdoor Council of Australia has been a turning point to progressing the strategic vision for the industry in Australia. The Board of Directors got together in May to solidify a clear strategy that will support the industry in Australia and its collaborations internationally.

More news on this will be forthcoming from the OCA very soon.

🚵‍♂️ MTB Symposium Legacy to be released at the Summit

In October 2024, ONSWACT held the MTB Symposium in the beautiful town of Merimbula NSW. This event brought together 134 stakeholders from across the MTB sector to talk about the challenges and opportunities that could path the way of the future of MTB in NSW & the ACT. The discussions were recorded and culminated in the MTB Manifesto.

This document will be released to the industry at the Outdoor Industry Summit in July.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cultural Awareness Training Program

Released in April, the ONSWACT Cultural Awareness Training Program has had over 30 completions so far.

The program features five modules covering Indian, Muslim, Chinese, LGBTIQ+, and Aboriginal cultures. Upon successful completion, participants receive a certificate of completion. Priced affordably at just $65, the program provides essential insights into cultural differences that should be considered when planning and delivering outdoor activities. Members of ONSWACT get a 50% discount by using the code in your portal, under Professional Development programs.

To register or know more, go to https://outdoors.kartra.com/page/culturalawareness

🏅 Pinnacle Leadership Program #2 Opening Soon

25 outdoor women leaders will be concluding their journey with the Pinnacle Leadership Program at the Summit in July. These Pinnacle Leaders have gone on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, which is the basis for a great leader.

The conclusion of this program means that EOI's will launch for the next cohort and this will take place at the Outdoor Industry Summit, with limited places available.

So reach out to the women in your organisation that want to move to the next level in their career to get them ready to submit their application. More information will be available at the Summit.

🗓 Outdoor Learning Mini Conference SAVE THE DATE

This year's Outdoor Learning Mini Conference follows the successful Port Macquarie event in 2024. Brought to you by the ONSWACT Outdoor Learning Committee, this event is hands-on and practical. This is an event where teachers, facilitators and educators share practice in taking the curriculum outdoors.

The event will be held 26-28 September in Canberra, at Birrigai Outdoor School.

Tickets will be available in July, information can be found here.

📣 Membership returns bigger than investment

Join now and get your membership price back in discounts to attend the Outdoor Industry Summit. Individuals can join for $125, and get $150 back on your ticket to the Summit! Now that's a great deal! For Small businesses ($500 membership) you can register 5 people for the Summit saving $750.

Supporting your peak body in advocacy for your industry
Gain access to information and resources
Meeting with ONSWACT to discuss your strategy / your needs
Businesses and events are promoted
Businesses are considered for optional opportunities
Free job listings on Outdoors Job Board
Promotion of the industry & careers
Membership discounts on events / conferences
Access to Connect & Share Forums
Access to JOEE Articles & New Research

Join today at https://www.outdoorsnswact.org/membershiplevels

👩‍💼 Looking for Work?

The ONSWACT Job portal has had a surge of new jobs posted, so keep an eye out for the opportunities available. - https://outdoor-work-australia.jobboardly.com/

In addition, we are approached by people wanting to enter the industry or find work in the outdoors where positions advertised may not suit their skills. So a new option has been added to our website to capture those people's details, skills and experience and share with our members - https://outdoors.kartra.com/page/workwanted

You can find these people's contacts under Member Resources/Looking for work on the ONSWACT Member Portal.

Reminders

In Case You Missed It...

From our previous newsletters, reminding you about what is happening

Professional Development Opportunities

See what's on offer for our industry brought to you by ONSWACT, Abseiling, canoeing, outdoor education for non-outdoor educators and lots more...

Workplace Laws have changed

From 26 February 2025, eligible casuals can provide written notice to their employer to change to full-time or part-time employment under the new employee choice pathway. An employer can only refuse the notice for certain reasons. We have new templates available to help you meet the new rules.

More information can be found here

Connect & Share's discuss big issues

The May Connect & Share episodes are on the members portal and covered NPWS Camping Fees, AAAS Review, Education research and industry news. If you haven't yet registered for the 2025 events, register to get the links via the members portal or non-members can subscribe to the Connect & Shares 2025 via this link.

https://outdoors.kartra.com/page/2025industryevents

Skin Cancer Action for Outdoor Workers

The CEOs of Office of Sport, Cancer Institute of NSW, Sports Medicine Australia, Cancer Council NSW, Melanoma Institute & ONSWACT have combined forces in a joint letter to bring the Sport & Recreation together on the AIS Sun Safe position. Whilst we may not be able to look at all levels of protection, like elimination of the outdoors, it is important to review your administration, operational and PPE measures to protect your staff and attendees from skin cancer.

View the full letter to Outdoor Operators here.

Job Classifications have changed

ANZSCO, Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, was a joint system used by both Australia and New Zealand to categorise occupations, but it has been replaced by OSCA (Occupation Standard Classification for Australia) as Australia now has its own tailored occupation classification system to better reflect its unique labor market needs, while maintaining comparability with New Zealand's classification. A majority of our workforce will now fit under one area - 4624 Sports Coaches and Outdoor Adventure Guides thanks to the advocacy that took place in 2023-2024.

Outdoor worker risks- JEV

Japanese encephalitis is a rare but serious illness caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). It is spread to humans by infected mosquitoes.

In NSW, a free Japanese encephalitis virus vaccination is available for people aged 2 months or older who regularly spend time outdoors placing them at risk of mosquito bites.

NSW Tourism Awards are now open

Each year the NSW Tourism Association holds the NSW Tourism Awards and applications opened on 28 April 2025. To read all about the awards and how you can nominate your business go to www.nswtourismassociation.com.au

Partnership Prospectus 2025

If you are interested in partnering with Outdoors NSW & ACT in 2025, get in touch as the 2025 Prospectus is now available and limited opportunities are available to get involved in some key strategic activities. Leverage our successes by coming on board and working together for a more resilient, sustainable and thriving industry.

Email contact@outdoorsnswact.com.au - 2025 Prospectus

Resources for Members

Everything you need to know about the psychosocial hazards, 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:

https://www.outdoorsnswact.org/membershiplevels

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