We’re now calling for Expressions of Interest to present at the 2026 Outdoor Learning Conference (OLC) — and we’d love to hear from educators, practitioners and outdoor learning professionals who have practical ideas, proven approaches or bold thinking to share. 

In its 3rd year the OLC has built a reputation for being hands-on, relevant and grounded in real experience, so we’re particularly encouraging interactive workshops that pass on tools, techniques and insights others can take straight back to their students and programs. If you’ve trialled something that works, refined a method, or are exploring new approaches in outdoor learning, this is your opportunity to contribute to the collective practice of our sector.

https://outdoors.kartra.com/survey/OLMC2026 

The Outdoor Industry Awards for NSW & ACT are about more than trophies — they’re about recognising the people, programs and businesses who are quietly lifting standards, creating impact and shaping the future of our industry. 

If you’ve invested in sustainability, strengthened your team, built community partnerships, championed inclusion, or simply worked incredibly hard to deliver quality outdoor experiences — this is your moment to be acknowledged. Entering is also a powerful way to reflect on your achievements and benchmark your growth. 

And importantly, ONSWACT members enter for free — another practical benefit of being part of our community. We genuinely encourage you to take a look and consider putting your name forward.

The timeline is below:

• 27 Feb - Applications Open 

• 10 May - Applications Close 

• May - Judging 

• June - Announcement of Finalists 

• 16 July - Awards Evening 

• Outdoor Education Awards go to nationals for judging 

• NOEC 26 - Awarding of National Outdoor Education Awards 

Go to https://outdoors.kartra.com/page/2026AwardsInformation for all the details and to download the questions. 

The NSW Top Tour Guide Awards recognise outstanding guides who bring destinations to life through knowledge, storytelling and exceptional visitor experiences. Delivered in partnership with Destination NSW, these awards shine a spotlight on the individuals who set the benchmark for professionalism, interpretation and customer care across the state.

For those working in outdoor and nature-based experiences, it’s a powerful opportunity to gain industry recognition, elevate your profile, and demonstrate the depth of expertise within our sector. If you or someone in your team consistently delivers memorable, high-quality guiding experiences, this is worth exploring. Apply before 10 April 2026.

https://nswtourismassociation.com.au/top-tour-guide-2026 

Calling all trail bike riders! The Outdoors NSW & ACT Trail Bike Committee wants to hear from you. Our 2026 Trail Bike Riders Contribution to Community Survey is live: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2026TrailBike

Your feedback will help shape priorities for 2026–2028 — including trail access, health & wellbeing outcomes, community connection and advocacy efforts. Trail bike riding isn’t just a hobby: it builds social connection, nature connection and mental wellbeing.

Tell us where you ride, what matters most to you, and what changes you want to see.

The HumanAbility Outdoor Recreation and Leadership Qualification Review is progressing, with the technical committee established, functional analysis completed, and national consultation workshops held across late 2025. 

The review covers four qualifications and 195 units of competency, with input also being provided by a large subject matter expert pool through to May 2026. At this stage, the project appears to be between consultation and final drafting, with finalisation, submission and endorsement still to come.

To keep up to speed on this project go to https://humanability.com.au/projects/outdoor-recreation-qualification-review-.aspx 

The ONE PLANET Pro Deal program is designed to support

outdoor professionals and students who are actively involved in education, guiding or adventure activities. It offers exclusive access to discounted pricing on a wide range of gear. Get all the details and to apply in the ONSWACT member's portal.

Don’t forget to secure your spot for the 2026 Connect & Share and Happy Hour events! These are fantastic weekly online opportunities to network, collaborate, and celebrate with industry peers — and you won’t want to miss out. Head over to the registration page in your membership portal to grab the links and join any Friday you can: https://outdoors.kartra.com/page/2026IndustryEvents

The Outdoor Council of Australia has written to government urging the Outdoor Industry not be overlooked in Australia’s fuel response, warning that the impacts are already being felt across education, tourism and regional communities. The open letter outlines growing concern about rising transport and operating costs, reduced travel confidence, and the pressure this is placing on outdoor providers, many of which are small businesses and community organisations with limited capacity to absorb or pass on these increases. It is a timely reminder that our industry is not simply discretionary — it supports regional economies, local jobs, youth development, wellbeing, preventative health and meaningful connection to nature.

https://www.outdoorcouncilaustralia.com/post/open-letter-australia-s-11-billion-outdoor-industry-cannot-be-overlooked-in-the-nation-s-fuel-resp

Want some free marketing? Cancer Council NSW are looking for outdoor adventure photos that show sun-safe practices and your activities could be showcased as a result.

We’re proud to support the Cancer Council Sun Safe Photo Competition, celebrating organisations and individuals who are leading the way in practical sun safety across outdoor settings. Whether it’s innovative smart scheduling, protective clothing, sunscreen stations or strong role modelling, this competition shines a light on the everyday actions that help protect participants and staff. It’s a great opportunity to showcase your commitment to health and wellbeing in the outdoors — and to inspire others across the industry to embed sun safety as standard practice.

Win some great prizes too... enter today at https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/cancer-prevention/sun-protection/sports-groups-sun-protection/#outdoors 

The 2026 Industry Forum was held at Business NSW offices with over 80 people in attendance.  The theme this year was Disability, Disadvantage and Opportunity and brought together a diverse range of perspectives, beginning with Isaiah Dawe, who shared a powerful personal account of the challenges he has faced and the resilience and determination that enabled him to overcome them. Complementing these insights, Andrea Comastri presented the successes of the Italian initiative Hotel Etico, showcasing an inclusive model that supports people with disability through training pathways into meaningful employment with real wages, demonstrating the impact of purpose-driven workforce development.

The Hon Steve Whan MP, NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education and Suzie Matthews, Executive Director, Skills & Workforce Programs, Department of Education outlined the NSW Government’s priorities and strategic direction for the sectors. 

The delegates we also treated to 2 interactive panels focusing on the threads of the theme where the discussion highlighted the critical importance of creating clear and accessible pathways in education and employment for people with a disability and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. It emphasised the role of inclusive and equitable workplaces in fostering participation, alongside the need for accessible training that leads to meaningful and sustainable employment outcomes.

A strong focus was placed on identifying and removing systemic and practical barriers that limit opportunity, while recognising the significant value, skills and perspectives that individuals from these cohorts contribute when given the opportunity to fully participate in the workforce.

The Office of Sport NSW is seeking responses from a diverse range of organisations and market segments to submit proposals for facility use at its Sport and Recreation Centres, including but not limited to:

• Traditional education organisations (schools, TAFEs and Universities)

• Local, state and federal government authorities

• Not-for-profit organisations

• Private enterprises

• Social assistance organisations and disability service providers

Four Sport and Recreation Centres are the focus of this scope:

• Borambola Sport and Recreation Centre

• Broken Bay Sport and Recreation Centre

• Lake Burrendong Sport and Recreation Centre

• Lake Keepit Sport and Recreation Centre

In addition, proposals may also be submitted for the following six centres:

• Berry Sport and Recreation Centre

• Lake Ainsworth Sport and Recreation Centre

• Milson Island Sport and Recreation Centre

• Point Wolstoncroft Sport and Recreation Centre

• Jindabyne Sport and Recreation Centre

• Sydney Academy of Sport

Seasonal Periods

• Low demand months of June, July and August for the four focus centres

• School holidays and weekends across all ten centres

Please refer to https://buy.nsw.gov.au/prcOpportunity/456DD3D9-710E-4CD0-9A074EB2BD1B0139 for more details, submissions close 13 April 2026.

The Outdoor Industry shone brightly at the 2025 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, celebrated in Fremantle in March 2026, with outdoor and adventure operators strongly represented across the national results. In Adventure Tourism, Go Adventure Nagambie (VIC) took Gold, Woodhouse Adventure Park (SA) earned Silver, Blue Derby Pods Ride (TAS) took Bronze, and Oz Jet Boating (NSW) was named a Finalist. In other outdoor-aligned categories, our very own member, Blue Mountains Climbing School (NSW) was a Finalist in Excellence in Accessible Tourism, Better by Bike (NSW) was a Finalist in Tourism Retail, and Vision Walks – Eco Tours (NSW) was a Finalist in Tour & Transport Operators and Northern Rivers Rail Trail (NSW) won Silver in Tourism Attractions — a strong reminder of the depth, diversity and national quality of Australia’s outdoor experiences. 

For this and more from the awards go to https://australiantourismawards.com.au/finalists-winners/

Our professional development sessions at Outdoors NSW & ACT are designed to strengthen your team's skills, broaden their knowledge and connect you with practical tools you can use straight away. Hard skills and soft skills, canoeing, abseiling, leadership, facilitation and more...

They’re delivered by experienced practitioners and focused on real-world application — whether you’re building your career or up-skilling your team. You can explore the full 2026 PD program and register here: https://outdoors.kartra.com/page/2026PDSessions — there’s something for everyone, at every stage of their professional journey.

The Outdoor Industry MasterClass on 15–16 July 2026, an immersive professional development experience focused on the businesses within the outdoor industry. Through expert-led sessions, practical workshops and peer networking, the MasterClass empowers participants to grow their capacity and organisations results.

Following the MasterClass, the Outdoor Industry Awards on 16 July 2026 will celebrate and recognise outstanding achievement across the sector. This flagship awards program highlights excellence in outdoor education, recreation, adventure tourism and related fields, providing a platform for organisations and individuals to benchmark their impact and be acknowledged for their contribution to the industry’s growth and sustainability.

Rounding out the week, the Outdoor Learning Mini Conference on 17–18 July 2026 offers a dedicated forum for educators, facilitators and outdoor learning advocates to share ideas, deepen practice and explore evidence-based approaches for bringing learning into nature. The Mini Conference features practical sessions, panel discussions and opportunities for professional growth that are tailored to those working to integrate outdoor experiences into formal and informal educational settings. 

Together, these events create a vibrant and impactful week that supports career development, fosters community, and amplifies the value of outdoor engagement across NSW and the ACT. More information on these will be released very soon.

The AAAS Review is in its final stage of reviewing industry feedback for the writing of the draft AAAS. The proposed refinements will influence how capability and risk are understood across our sector for years to come. These include clearer articulation of Knowledge, Skills and Experience (KSE) — shifting the focus toward demonstrated capability rather than a single prescribed pathway — a tighter and more consistent definition of “dependency” to better guide supervision and leader responsibility, and the inclusion of Benefit-Risk Assessment principles to more accurately reflect how we balance positive developmental outcomes with managed risk in outdoor settings. 

Thank you to everyone that completed the survey and is now helping to shape the outcomes to make this a better tool for industry. 

DRAFTS will be ready for final industry feedback from 30 June 2026, for the finals to be released in August 2026.

The Destination NSW Nature-Based Tourism support under the NSW First Program highlights the strength of nature and outdoor experiences across this state and offers insights, tools and guidance for visitor economy businesses to create, develop and promote high-quality nature-based offerings. NSW’s natural landscape — from national parks to forests, coastlines and wildlife attractions — is a major drawcard, and nature-based tourism is a key driver of visitation and regional prosperity.

The resources provide practical tips and considerations on building memorable, immersive experiences that connect visitors with the environment, along with best-practice examples and marketing guidance tailored for tourism operators looking to grow their nature-focused products. https://www.destinationnsw.com.au/destination-nsw-business-support/nsw-first-program/nature-based-tourism