Outdoor Industry Connect & Share Forums

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Outdoor participation is climbing, but is the outdoor workforce keeping pace? We record this Connect and Share live from a careers advisor conference to talk about what is changing across the NSW and ACT outdoor industry, what members need to know right now, and how we can build a stronger pipeline into real outdoor jobs.

We start with important community news: my upcoming resignation and the final stretch of member meetups where we want to hear directly from you. We also run through practical industry actions, from ACIA training opportunities to the current review of Cert III tourism and guiding qualifications, plus key events touching the visitor economy, ATDW listings, accessibility and inclusive experiences, Child Safe standards workshops, and where to plug in across conferences and councils. We also share why the Nature Play NSW and Nature Play ACT launch matters for long-term participation and future talent.

Then we zoom in on outdoor careers and workforce development. A Macquarie University research project puts numbers around the challenge and offers clear recommendations: early career exposure for students, a centralised outdoor careers guide with pathways and pay clarity, skills-first recruitment that recognises transferable capability, and targeted entry routes for transitioning Australian Defence Force personnel. We also talk with Sam Tooley from Eeger about how the platform connects job seekers with tourism and hospitality employers and why adding the outdoors sector improves career visibility at scale, with job advertising that can be far more affordable than traditional channels.

If you care about outdoor careers, adventure guiding, workforce shortages, and sustainable growth for outdoor businesses in NSW and the ACT, this is a must-listen. Subscribe, share this with someone hiring or job hunting, and leave a review with the biggest barrier you see to bringing new people into the outdoors.

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Google increasingly gives people one answer, not a page of options, and that single shift is changing how outdoor operators win bookings. We share a fast, practical briefing for the NSW and ACT outdoor industry, recorded live with our professional community, with updates you can act on immediately plus a clear signal on what’s coming next.

We start with what’s happening inside the Pinnacle Leadership Program, including strengths-based leadership through the CliftonStrengths assessment, then move into communication and negotiation skills and why structured networking matters for career growth and business resilience. From there, we pass along key takeaways from major gatherings like the World Trails Conference and the Australian Regional Tourism Convention, where accessibility and the visitor economy keep coming up as real, measurable opportunities for outdoor tourism.

Accessibility is framed as more than compliance: small, thoughtful changes can make life easier for people with disability and often improve the experience for everyone. We also unpack what we learned about marketing in an AI-first world. If AI is becoming the biggest “search engine,” your website can’t rely on pretty pictures alone. We talk through the details that help your experience get planned, found, and booked, including clear locations, hours, booking steps, repeated core info, and updated business listings and links.

We finish with a rapid run of industry notices: ACIA course opportunities, a physical petition to raise federal awareness of outdoor education, the rollout timeline for Australian Adventure Activity Standard 2.0 and the Core Good Practice Guide 2.0, AGM details, tourism and rail trail events, ATDW and accessibility webinars, child safe workshops, and upcoming conferences plus Nature Play alliance launches. Subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review if these weekly updates help you stay sharp and connected.

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A single bad habit can light the match, and a single missed update can trap a group on the wrong side of a closure. We sit down with Catherine from NSW RFS, joined by Oliver, to translate bushfire information into practical decisions for outdoor education, adventure tourism, camps, and guiding across New South Wales and the ACT. We start with the current spring seasonal outlook, what early fire activity is telling us, and why a “normal” season can still create serious risk when rain-driven grass growth cures fast in warm, dry weather.

From there, we get into operator-ready preparation: stress testing your bushfire plan before peak season, making sure new staff know where to find it, and setting clear go or no-go trigger points that match group age, size, transport, and remoteness. We talk about access for fire appliances, the real-world consequences of parking near gates, and how to plan around black spots with backup comms like radio, check-ins, and other redundancies when networks fail.

We also break down the tools that keep you informed, including the Hazards Near Me app, the RFS website, alerts and warnings, major fire updates, and how hazard reduction burns appear on the map. Then we connect the dots between fire danger ratings, total fire bans, ember attack, and the small field habits that prevent accidental ignitions such as securing trailer chains and not parking over long grass. If you work across multiple land managers with different closure triggers, you will hear language you can use to build smarter escalation pathways and safer briefings.

If this helps your team, subscribe, share the episode with a colleague, and leave a review so more outdoor leaders can find it before the next bad fire day.

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Outdoor operators don’t need more noise, they need the right updates at the right time. We recorded this Outdoors NSW ACT Connect and Share Forum live to give you a clear run-down of what’s moving across the outdoor industry in New South Wales and the ACT, plus what to do next if you’re responsible for programs, staff, compliance, or business growth. 

We start with sector notes from the 2026 NOEC conference, then get into one of the biggest policy conversations on the table: the Outdoor Council of Australia launching a physical petition to increase federal government awareness of outdoor education and begin the push toward an outdoor education bill, similar to current efforts in the UK. We explain the path from physical signatures to broader state and territory petitions, the search for parliamentary colleagues, and the longer timeline aiming toward early 2027. 

From there, we move through practical operational items: OCA’s rebrand and updated logo use, the release of AAAS Standard 2.0 and the Core Good Practice Guide 2.0, and a VET review update webinar designed for real questions from providers. We also highlight upcoming tourism and operator resources like Destination NSW webinars, the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) for nationwide distribution, NPWS planning feedback deadlines, grant opportunities, and the Rail Trails Conference. Finally, we cover risk readiness and culture including bird flu vigilance, an RFS fire season briefing, AGM timing, and a featured segment from Mark Roach on free Child Safe workshops in the Illawarra that tackle Child Safe Standards, risk including online safety, and de-escalation skills. 

If this helps you stay ahead, subscribe so you don’t miss the next forum, share it with a colleague who runs outdoor programs, and leave a quick review so more operators can find these updates.

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Big shifts are stacking up fast for outdoor operators, educators, and adventure tourism teams across NSW and the ACT and we don’t want you caught reacting at the last minute. We share on-the-ground industry updates, from the sod turning at the future fully accessible Y Camp at Yarramundi to celebrating Urban Challenge’s 20-year impact, plus what we’re hearing as we head into the National Outdoor Education Conference in Cairns. If you care about the health of the outdoor sector, these are the signals worth tracking. 

We also dig into what’s changing at a national level, including the refreshed Outdoor Council of Australia direction and the release of the Australian Adventure Activity Standard (AAAS) and the Core Good Practice Guide. We talk about how to start thinking through the operational impact, where to look first in your safety system, and how advocacy fits into the bigger picture through a petition pushing for every student to get outdoors at every stage of schooling. 

On the workforce and compliance side, we outline the upcoming HumanAbility industry forum on the VET review, why the pause and regroup matters, and how to bring informed questions that improve the outcome for training and qualifications. You’ll also hear timely prompts on the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Establishment Plan consultation, accessibility and inclusion webinars, the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) masterclass, grant opportunities, bird flu vigilance, payment surcharge changes, and practical safety support like the SafeWork small business rebate and pre-season weather and fire briefings. 

We wrap with a leadership takeaway you can use immediately: the Five Cs of outdoor leadership, ending with the one that matters most, Change. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a colleague, and leave a review so more outdoor professionals can find it. What’s the one update you’re acting on this week?

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The outdoor industry doesn’t get a slow news cycle and this week proves it. We’re coming to you live from the Outdoors NSW and ACT Connect and Share Forum with the updates that outdoor operators, outdoor educators, guides, and recreation businesses actually need to act on, not just “be aware of.”

We start with the good stuff: a big community milestone as Dynamic Motivation celebrates 15 years at Stromlo Mountain, plus a reminder of what outdoor education can look like when it’s done with heart and intention, including Blue Gum Community School’s approach and the joy of kids heading off on camp. We also celebrate a major moment for adventure tourism with Sydney by Kayak’s Laura Stone named Top Tour Guide of Australia, a win that highlights how high-quality guiding and environmental care are becoming inseparable.

Then we move into the practical work behind the scenes: VET and training reform updates (including the tour guide course review), what completion data tells us about participation when subsidies are available, and why advocacy for better access to training matters. We also flag the NPWS draft establishment plan and why your feedback can shape how outdoor activities fit into future national park expansions, alongside accessibility and inclusive tourism webinars and a simple explainer on the ATDW and why it’s a powerful tourism marketing tool.

We wrap with the essentials: the AAAS timeline and staged release of good practice guides, current safety notices, grants and rebates, business compliance changes like credit card surcharge rules, and a packed calendar of briefings, workshops, AGMs, and child safe training. Subscribe for weekly industry intel, share this with someone who runs programs outdoors, and leave a review, what update do you want us to go deeper on next?

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A quickdraw recall, rising H5 bird flu reports, and a major change to credit card surcharges are the kind of “small” updates that can turn into big operational risk if you miss them. We recorded this live as part of the Outdoors NSW and ACT Connect and Share Forum, built for outdoor operators, guides, educators, and anyone responsible for safe, sustainable outdoor experiences.

We start with a timely R U Ok check-in, then shift into real workforce and training pathways coming through events like the Hawkesbury Careers Expo, including options that let school leavers try outdoor leadership training and related qualifications before making a bigger commitment. From there we share sector-wide progress, including recognition for industry supporters and an update on the AAAS work that brings safety, sustainability, and inclusion guidance together, with some good practice guides releasing in stages after final testing and due diligence.

We also cover practical risk and compliance items you can act on immediately: the UIAA brings attention to the Vertica quickdraw recall and what to look for, how to respond safely to wildlife health concerns like bird flu, and how Tourism Australia’s Green Is Our Gold toolkit can support both sustainability practice and marketing. Finally, we run through key business reminders, including new expectations around environmental claims, the October 1 credit card surcharge ban, WHS rebates, ATO small business masterclasses, upcoming training, the Uploads 2.0 feedback workshop, AGM dates, and member portal resources.

If this helps you stay ahead, subscribe, share it with someone who runs programs or operations, and leave a review so more outdoor professionals can find these updates. What change are you preparing for first?

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Bird flu is showing up in more places, and the outdoor industry can’t afford to treat it like someone else’s problem. We’re coming to you live from a Careers Expo, where we’re meeting students and talking about what it really takes to bring new people into outdoor guiding and outdoor leadership while keeping standards high and risks low. If you run trips, lead groups, teach outdoors, or manage venues, this is a practical check-in on what’s changing right now and what you can do about it. 

We walk through key sector updates, including training that supports better group outcomes (Facilitate With Intent and Lead With Intent), the current pause on the VET review, and the steady progress of the Australian Adventure Activity Standards (AAAS) and good practice guides. We also zoom in on the tools that underpin real safety learning, especially Uploads incident reporting and near miss reporting, plus what’s coming with NetHarms and the future STARS direction. Better reporting means better prevention, but only if the platform is easy enough that everyone actually uses it. 

Then we get specific on avian influenza risk management for the outdoors: common locations to watch (beaches, wetlands, lakes, rivers, trails, picnic areas), signs of infection in birds and even mammals, and the simple approach we want every leader to repeat to their teams and participants: avoid contact, record what you see, and report it. The goal is straightforward: protect wildlife, protect people, and reduce the chance of closures that hit operators and communities hard. 

If this helped, subscribe for weekly outdoor industry updates, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review. What’s the one field protocol you want your team to tighten up this month?

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A kid gets a rash at camp, a wilderness first aider does the right checks, and the group still ends up in a six-hour emergency department wait for a five-minute consult. That frustration and fatigue is more than a “war story” it’s a signal that clinical care and outdoor risk management don’t always connect once the bus leaves the school gate. We start with fast, practical NSW ACT outdoor industry updates, including HumanAbility putting the Certificate II, III, and IV qualification review on hold, a recorded conversation about Duke of Edinburgh Award changes, and reminders on where to find member portal resources that support day-to-day operations.  

From there we zoom out to sector safety and planning. We talk grants that can help bring swimming into programs, why drowning risk remains uneven across communities, and how those realities should shape supervision, program design, and duty of care. We also preview a draft mountain biking toolkit for local government, plus a fresh survey that will feed into better trail planning and service delivery.  

Then Patrick from Guardiant takes us inside a new approach to clinical governance for school camps and excursions: a remote team of doctors, paramedics, and psychologists supporting pre-screening, in-field decisions, and post-incident debriefs. We dig into tele-health in remote contexts, documentation that actually helps, prescription medication kit add-ons with training, and why psychological safety and timely debriefs matter for outdoor educators facing potentially traumatising events. If you care about safer programs and more sustainable careers in outdoor education, subscribe, share the episode with a colleague, and leave us a review.

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Your next booking might depend on a single image, and most of us don’t realize when our photo library is quietly working against us. We open with a rapid-fire pulse check on the Outdoors NSW and ACT landscape: the outdoor leadership qualification review, the push for micro-credentials that actually meet workforce needs, AGM planning, and the behind-the-scenes advocacy that keeps outdoor education and participation on the public agenda as the NSW election cycle ramps up. 

We also spotlight resources and funding with real-world consequences for operators and communities. That includes the Regional Australia Institute productivity report for regional businesses, Royal Life Saving Australia grants focused on multicultural community water safety, and a Play Australia position statement that helps programs balance risk and growth for young people. If you work in outdoor recreation, adventure tourism, camps, or outdoor education, these are the signals worth tracking right now. 

Then we hand over to commercial and adventure photographer and filmmaker Jon Harris for a practical, no-fluff breakdown of what “good content” really means. Jon explains where polished photo and video matters most, why consistent social posting beats perfection, and how to use the “three Es” to hold attention. We dig into the realities of capturing shots while guiding, when a phone is enough, when it’s worth bringing a pro along, and what to look for in a photographer so you get safe, reliable, reusable assets that match your brand. 

If this helped, subscribe for weekly industry insights, share it with an operator who needs better content systems, and leave a quick review so more outdoor professionals can find the show.

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Our members get access to a whole range of additional information and support - you can join here and start receiving the benefits today.