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A storm is brewing in the outdoor industry as new e-bike legislation threatens to devastate tour operators and hire businesses across New South Wales. With regulations set to take effect in February 2026, businesses face the alarming prospect of their entire e-bike fleets becoming non-compliant and essentially worthless overnight. The new certification requirements demand manufacturers recertify bikes under a new code, an impossible task for fleets more than 2 years old.

The challenges don't stop there. A simultaneous ban on e-bikes on public transport creates a frustrating contradiction: the state has invested nearly $52 million in mountain bike trails over the past two years, yet is restricting accessibility to these very facilities by public transport. We're actively advocating for sensible solutions, but we need your data to strengthen our case. If you operate in this space, please complete our questionnaire at https://outdoors.kartra.com/page/ebikesnsw immediately.

Meanwhile, exciting developments are unfolding across the sector. Our Pinnacle Leadership Program launches its second cohort next week, director nominations for 2025-2026 are now open, and our Outdoor Learning Mini Conference in September offers the rare opportunity to participate in a cultural burn. The Australian standard for artificial climbing structures is under review, and the ACT is examining barriers to recreational participation. The Merimbula Mountain Bike Manifesto continues gaining international traction as we move from strategy to implementation. Through advocacy, education, and collaboration, we're navigating these challenging waters together. Will you join us in shaping the future of outdoor recreation? Complete our surveys, participate in consultations, and add your voice to these critical conversations.

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The latest Outdoor Industry Census has revealed startling insights into the state of the outdoor industry, highlighting a critical workforce crisis amidst shifting participant trends and emerging opportunities.

Most alarming is the continued decline in staff numbers—from approximately 75,000 workers pre-COVID to just 43,719 in 2024, with a further projected drop to 42,000 in 2025. This workforce shortage exists despite organisations reporting capacity to immediately employ 14,000 additional qualified staff to meet current demand. Wilderness First Aid certifications and Certificate III qualifications remain most sought-after, underscoring a persistent skills gap that hampers industry growth.

The data reveals fascinating shifts in participant trends. While traditional outdoor recreation has experienced a 7% decline and outdoor education numbers have dipped slightly, adventure tourism has grown by 17%, and outdoor therapy services have surged by an impressive 43%. These emerging sectors represent significant growth opportunities but require specialised skills that differ from traditional outdoor leadership roles. Bushwalking remains the most conducted activity, followed by camping and paddle sports, with mountain biking rising to fourth place—reflecting its growing popularity across Australia.

Perhaps most concerning is the drop in the industry's Net Promoter Score from 33 to just 14, indicating fewer professionals would recommend careers in the outdoor sector. This decline in industry satisfaction, coupled with an annual staff attrition rate of 16%, creates a perpetual recruitment challenge. Rising operational costs, workforce shortages, and land access barriers were identified as the primary factors preventing organisations from maximising their potential.

Looking ahead, the outdoor industry must address these workforce challenges through improved visa pathways for skilled workers, increased investment in accredited training, better mental health support for staff, and innovative approaches to seasonal employment patterns. Despite these challenges, the growing demand for nature-based experiences—particularly in tourism and therapeutic contexts—presents exciting opportunities for those prepared to adapt. The future remains bright for Australia's outdoor industry, provided we collaborate effectively to overcome these workforce hurdles and embrace emerging market trends.

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The future of outdoor retail and recreation is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by changing demographics and evolving expectations from younger generations. This illuminating discussion explores how the outdoor industry must adapt to remain relevant and sustainable in the face of a 14,000+ job shortage and diminishing traditional pathways into outdoor careers.

At the heart of this transformation is Generation Z's relationship with outdoor spaces and gear. Unlike previous generations focused primarily on function, today's young outdoor enthusiasts seek experiences that balance aesthetics, sustainability, and purpose. They want Instagram-worthy moments without compromising environmental values, and they're taking "micro-retirements" to experience adventure while young rather than waiting for traditional retirement age.

The disconnect between traditional outdoor culture and modern enthusiasts presents both challenges and opportunities. The phenomenon of social media-driven participation (like the "Lost Mountains" example) shows how online communities can drive massive interest in outdoor spaces without necessarily conveying skills or preparation. Rather than dismissing these trends, forward-thinking industry leaders are asking what needs these communities fulfill and how to better respond while protecting natural places.

Innovation in outdoor retail offers promising pathways forward. Drawing inspiration from international examples like Snow Peak (Japan) and emerging Australian brands, there's potential to create retail experiences that merge function, style, and purpose in ways that resonate with new generations. The Outdoor Co's concept represents this shift – reimagining outdoor shopping as a sensory experience that celebrates Antipodean outdoor culture while meeting contemporary consumer expectations.

Professional development opportunities like the upcoming Outdoor Learning Mini Conference exemplify how the industry can evolve – helping teachers bring curriculum outdoors while creating pathways for future outdoor participation and careers. The industry's future depends on honouring traditional knowledge while embracing innovation and inclusivity to ensure both commercial viability and meaningful human-nature connections for generations to come.

Are you ready to be part of this transformation? Join the conversation about reimagining outdoor experiences for new generations while preserving what makes outdoor adventure truly special.

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What makes the perfect outdoor industry employee? While technical skills matter, our recent Connect and Share forum revealed what employers truly value: communication abilities, teamwork orientation, genuine interest, and resilience – qualities often developed through outdoor experiences but rarely captured by traditional education credentials.

This revelation came during a fascinating presentation from Murray and Kate of the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies, who are consulting on a new "Learner Profile" to complement traditional academic certificates. The initiative aims to better represent the capabilities that matter most in the real world, addressing a striking disconnect: only 10% of students actually use their ATAR after Year 12, yet our education system remains heavily focused on this single number.

For outdoor professionals, this presents both challenges and opportunities. Our field naturally cultivates many of these sought-after "soft skills," but these transformative experiences – whether during a week at school camp or through extended outdoor programs – often remain invisible in formal assessments. Industry representatives unanimously agreed that the personal and social capabilities demonstrated in outdoor settings provide crucial insights that traditional grades simply cannot capture.

The session also covered critical industry updates, including a carabiner safety recall affecting the Nimbus Lock, Locker Draw, and Energy Pack with codes above 10-23. Water safety emerged as another priority concern, with drowning statistics showing a troubling increase from 1 to 1.3 per 100,000 people after years of improvement. The outdoor industry faces important questions about its role in preventing these unnecessary deaths, particularly among young men, where alcohol and boating create a dangerous combination.

Professional development opportunities abound, with programs covering abseiling, rescue techniques, canoe skills, and specialised training for non-outdoor education teachers. Meanwhile, the Mountain Bike Manifesto offers a comprehensive roadmap with 143 action items developed through MTB industry consultation.

How might our industry better showcase the transformative capabilities developed through outdoor experiences? Could initiatives like the ACT Learner Profile help bridge the gap between what employers need and what traditional credentials measure? Share your thoughts by emailing [email protected] – your insight could help shape how we recognise and develop talent in our field.

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As Australia marks World Drowning Prevention Day, the outdoor industry faces a critical question: what is our role in preventing water-related fatalities? This episode dives deep into the changing landscape of water safety, revealing how demographic shifts and evolving recreation patterns impact drowning statistics nationwide.

Despite significant progress in reducing drowning rates since 2000, recent years have seen concerning increases. Our aging population, changing immigration patterns, and reduced swimming education for children all contribute to new challenges in keeping Australians safe around water. As outdoor educators and activity providers, we're uniquely positioned to address these challenges through thoughtful programming and education.

Beyond water safety, we explore exciting professional development opportunities, including the Pinnacle Leadership Program for women, an Outdoor Learning Mini Conference for teachers, and specialized training in abseiling, climbing, and canoe skills. These programs address crucial skills gaps in our industry while creating pathways for career advancement.

The episode takes a critical turn as we examine regulatory challenges facing outdoor recreation, particularly new e-bike legislation that threatens both accessibility and business viability. From September 1st, e-bikes will be banned on NSW trains, while certification requirements coming in February could make existing e-bike fleets illegal without costly recertification.

To help navigate these advocacy challenges, we break down the structure of government across federal, state, and local levels, clarifying which departments influence outdoor recreation and how our industry can effectively engage with decision-makers. Understanding these structures is essential for protecting access to outdoor spaces and ensuring sensible regulation.

Join us as we explore these vital industry issues and continue building a stronger, more collaborative outdoor sector. How will you contribute to drowning prevention and advocacy efforts in your area? Connect with us and share your insights!

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The outdoor industry in Australia is evolving rapidly, shaped by changing demands, emerging opportunities, and persistent challenges. This illuminating episode unpacks the findings from the 2025 NSW-ACT Outdoors Industry Summit and Census, revealing critical insights for all outdoor professionals.

Our deep dive into the latest industry data shows outdoor education remains the backbone of the sector, but its dominance is gradually shifting as adventure tourism and nature therapy gain momentum. Perhaps most telling is the rise of nature play, which is now nearly equal to traditional rock and rope activities and has surpassed challenge courses—a remarkable shift from industry norms of just two decades ago. The growing demand for First Nations cultural experiences represents one of our greatest opportunities, though offerings remain limited.

The workforce landscape presents both promise and concern. Despite increasing participation and demand, the industry faces significant staffing challenges, with organizations doing more with less. A 16% staff turnover rate, combined with the capacity to immediately employ 14,000 qualified workers, highlights the tension between opportunity and constraint. Most concerning is the dramatic drop in our Net Promoter Score from 33 to just 16—matching utility companies and potentially undermining recruitment efforts before they begin. Meanwhile, operational costs remain the primary limiting factor for growth, followed closely by workforce shortages and land access challenges.

From the launch of the Mountain Biking Manifesto to the graduation of our first Pinnacle Leadership Program cohort, from celebrating outstanding practitioners to announcing exciting professional development opportunities, this episode offers a comprehensive view of where we stand and where we're headed. Whether you're a seasoned outdoor professional or considering entering the field, these insights will help you navigate the changing landscape of outdoor education and recreation in Australia. Join us as we continue building a more inclusive, sustainable, and impactful outdoor industry together.

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The outdoor industry is experiencing a period of significant transition, as revealed in this week's Outdoors NSW and ACT Industry Connect and Share Forum. A major business acquisition headlines the news with Southbound Adventures being sold to Travel is Living Group after 32 years under Ian "Robbo" Robinson's leadership. The new ownership promises business continuity with the founder staying on as a consultant to ensure the company's culture and values remain intact.

A groundbreaking Mountain Bike Manifesto containing 143 recommendations will be released on July 10th at the upcoming summit, setting a comprehensive agenda for transformation in the mountain biking sector across NSW and ACT. This follows extensive stakeholder consultation and represents a significant step forward in addressing long-standing challenges.

The forum highlighted critical insights from recent physical activity initiatives, particularly the Western Sydney Moving program tackling alarming statistics where 40% of the community fails to meet recommended activity guidelines. A powerful takeaway from the National Sport and Physical Activity Convention resonated throughout: "Programs need to meet people where they are" rather than just serving those already engaged in outdoor activities. This challenges providers to expand their reach to new audiences who could benefit most from outdoor engagement.

Industry advocacy has intensified around two urgent issues: the campaign to reinstate essential roping units at TAFE, and challenging new e-bike certification legislation that threatens adventure tourism operators. The timing of the e-bike regulations is particularly problematic given current economic pressures on small businesses, though discussions with government officials have raised hopes for implementation extensions.

A significant win for the sector comes with Australian Research Council funding for "UPLOADS 2.0," a three-year project to make this critical incident reporting framework more accessible and user-friendly. This aligns perfectly with industry priorities for improving risk management systems.

The forum concluded with an impressive lineup of professional development opportunities addressing skill shortages, from specialized abseiling and rescue techniques to facilitation skills and outdoor education fundamentals. Applications are now open for the second Pinnacle Leadership Program supporting women's professional development in the industry.

Join us at the upcoming Outdoors NSW and ACT Summit where these initiatives and more will take center stage as the industry collectively navigates challenges and seizes opportunities to connect more people with the transformative power of outdoor experiences.

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The power to reverse climate change might be right under our feet. In this captivating conversation with Stephen from Regenerate Earth, we explore how understanding and enhancing soil microbiology could transform our landscapes from arid to abundant.

Stephen shares his journey blending commercial guiding and outdoor education with ecology and environmental science, leading to his current work producing transformative films about landscape regeneration. He introduces us to "Liquid Hearts," a new film seven years in the making that documents efforts to restore Australia's Alpine regions - the watersheds that provide 42% of our nation's food supply. The film traces how First Nations knowledge, scientific expertise, and practical field work since the 1950s have combined to heal this critical ecosystem.

What makes this conversation truly remarkable is the tangible proof that regeneration works. Stephen describes a project in India where regenerative farming practices transformed desert into food forest, reducing ground temperatures from a scorching 75°C to a comfortable 29°C. Even more striking, during a recent cyclone, chemical-treated crops were completely flattened while naturally-grown plants right next door remained standing - demonstrating how working with natural systems creates resilience to extreme weather events.

The implications for Australia's outdoor industry are profound. As climate extremes increasingly disrupt our activities through bushfires, floods and dangerous heat, understanding regenerative approaches becomes essential for our collective future. Stephen's work shows that landscapes can be healed and climate effects reversed through relatively simple interventions that help nature do what it naturally wants to do.

Join us for the "Liquid Hearts" film screenings in Canberra (July 29) and Jindabyne (July 30) to witness this regenerative journey and discover how we can all participate in healing our most precious landscapes. Because as Stephen reminds us, "Nature has all solutions" - we just need to help it heal.

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The crisp winter air has arrived alongside snowfall in the mountains, setting an energetic backdrop to our latest industry update. Essential changes are coming on July 1st that will impact every outdoor business—the national minimum wage rises to $24.95 per hour (a 3.5% increase), while the superannuation guarantee reaches its legislated 12% rate. These adjustments require immediate attention from employers to update systems and ensure compliance.

Our organisation is undergoing strategic renewal with the constitution review now open for member input. We're particularly interested in your thoughts on the objects section that guides our scope and purpose. Does it still represent what you need from your peak body? Your feedback will shape potential changes at our October AGM, ensuring we remain perfectly aligned with industry needs in both state and national advocacy.

Opportunity knocks for outdoor operators through the Department of Defence tender (code 58318) for their Exercise Leadership Challenge. This five-day program running twice in November serves 300+ trainee officers and could position your business for ongoing partnerships. Applications close June 25th, so act quickly to be considered.

The highlight of our calendar approaches—the Outdoor Industry Summit in Canberra (July 9-11) presents an extraordinary program addressing critical issues from risk management and climate adaptation to accessibility, AI integration, and financial independence. Exceptional speakers include Dr. Grant Lynch on heat stress management, Ryan Smith on inclusion, Alex Mednis exploring AI applications, and experts covering child safety standards, adventure activity guidelines, and leadership development. This event represents our industry's most significant professional gathering of 2025.

Connect with fellow professionals, gain practical knowledge, and shape the future of outdoor experiences in Australia. Register today to secure your place at this landmark event that will equip you for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

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The outdoor industry stands at a critical crossroads, captured perfectly in the metaphor shared during this episode: "We are year nine students... struggling with what we're going to do in the future." This moment of adolescent uncertainty hides tremendous potential, as our sector evolves from its foundational years toward maturity.

Diving deep into the newly launched Outdoors NSW & ACT Strategic Plan for 2025-2028, this episode unveils the vision, mission, and strategic priorities that will guide the organisation through its next growth phase. From advocacy and capacity building to industry sustainability, the plan addresses pressing challenges including workforce shortages, training gaps, and access issues while embracing opportunities in adventure tourism, environmental connection, and mental health benefits.

Most compelling is the discussion around constitutional reform and the question of national versus jurisdictional focus. With members expressing concerns about resource allocation and the changing landscape of industry representation, the conversation highlights how access to outdoor spaces remains a fundamental concern across the country. As one participant noted, "Access needs to be really upfront... as population pressures grow, there's going to be natural conflict between what we want to achieve."

The episode also spotlights practical initiatives like the Cultural Awareness Program, Department of Defence tender opportunities, and a new industry-wide awards program designed to celebrate excellence and provide benchmarking for continuous improvement. These concrete steps demonstrate how strategic vision translates into tangible benefits for members.

Ready to shape the future of the outdoor industry in NSW and ACT? Download the strategic plan at outdoorsnswact.org/governance, share your feedback on constitutional objects, and join us at the upcoming Summit in Canberra to continue these crucial conversations.

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