Outdoor Industry Connect & Share Forums

Send us Fan Mail

Outdoor programs don’t usually fail in the dramatic moments, they fail in the ordinary ones. That’s the big tension we dig into here: the outdoor sector manages “high risk” activities well, yet injuries keep showing up in places many of us mentally file under low risk, like walking, cooking at camp, and free time.

We start with quick but meaningful industry updates from Outdoors New South Wales and ACT, including the Trail Bike Toolkit for local councils, progress on outdoor leadership training reviews, and news about improved access to a curated set of Australian Standards. We also share what’s ahead on the calendar, from major industry events to leadership development opportunities designed to grow stronger, more capable teams across outdoor education and outdoor recreation.

Then we hand over to Matthew Morrison and Paul Salmon for a deep look at UPLOADS, the Understanding and Preventing Led Outdoor Accidents Data System. With 20,000+ incidents now recorded and five-year reporting trends across incident rates, severity, injury patterns, and contributory factors, the takeaways are practical: minor incidents matter, reporting culture matters, and common drivers like participant condition, terrain, weather, and communication gaps keep repeating across organisations.

Finally, we preview what’s next: the STARS project, a Systems Thinking Accident Risk System that aims to upgrade Uploads and integrate it with a digital NetHarms risk assessment tool. The goal is to connect prospective risk assessment with incident learning, and the project team is clear that practitioner input is essential through workshops, testing, and a future implementation trial. Subscribe, share this with a safety-minded colleague, and leave a review so more outdoor professionals can find the conversation.

Support the show

To stay connected to Outdoors NSW & ACT, Subscribe to our podcasts, or our YouTube Channel
Our members get access to a whole range of additional information and support - you can join here and start receiving the benefits today. 

Send us Fan Mail

Volunteers quietly hold up the outdoor industry, and the numbers are bigger than most people realize. We start by grounding ourselves in community and workforce pathways, including what we’re hearing from students at a careers day and why outdoor leadership roles are still “unknown” to too many young people. Then we zoom out for National Volunteer Week and put real data behind the gratitude: volunteer participation, hours, and the huge economic value that flows through sport, physical recreation, and outdoor activities, from trail maintenance and landcare to committees, boards, and mentoring.

Next, we tackle the bigger shifts coming toward outdoor recreation and outdoor tourism. Victoria’s Outdoor Recreation Bill signals a new approach to governance and a planned digital hub for bush users, raising a practical question: is this a model other states will follow? We also unpack key takeaways from European Outdoor Week, where “feel good” sustainability storytelling is being replaced by accountability, transparent metrics, and circular economy design. Extended Producer Responsibility and digital product passports are not distant concepts anymore. They’re shaping the expectations that outdoor brands, operators, and consumers will live with, including here in Australia.

We also share updates that matter for day to day operations: free access to mandatory Australian standards referenced in legislation, plus a clear walkthrough of the AAAS review and the emerging knowledge, skills, and experience framework across domains, capability levels, and context from urban to wilderness. We round out with member benefits, the snow activities guidance note, the upcoming Uploads upgrade for incident reporting, and a packed calendar of masterclasses, awards, and leadership development opportunities.

Subscribe for weekly industry intelligence, share this with a colleague who works outdoors, and leave a review so more leaders and operators can find the conversation.

Support the show

To stay connected to Outdoors NSW & ACT, Subscribe to our podcasts, or our YouTube Channel
Our members get access to a whole range of additional information and support - you can join here and start receiving the benefits today. 

Send us Fan Mail

The federal budget is easy to ignore until it hits your invoices, your staffing, and your ability to keep programs running safely. We sit down with our live Outdoors NSW ACT Connect and Share community and translate the headlines into what actually matters for outdoor operators: the permanent $20,000 instant asset write-off, continued fuel relief, and major funding signals for active transport infrastructure and regional development that can strengthen outdoor recreation and adventure tourism.

We also get honest about what is missing. Preventative health remains underpowered despite the clear value of getting people active outdoors, and outdoor education still lacks the recognition it needs while schools and providers juggle rising transport and delivery costs. We dig into the fine print on “free access” to Australian standards, explain why industry-relevant WHS and safety standards still matter, and share how the curated standards set supports practical risk management.

Then the conversation turns to a quieter but growing challenge: biophobia, or fear of the outdoors, and how reduced nature play and limited independent outdoor time can change participation for the next generation. From there we move into concrete industry updates: AAAS review timelines and consultation, a call for feedback on the snorkeling guide, the VET outdoor leadership training package review, and the upcoming upgrade to Uploads incident reporting. We wrap with key dates for toolkits, leadership programs, the masterclass, awards voting, and major outdoor learning conferences.

If you work in the outdoor industry, subscribe for weekly updates, share this with a colleague who needs the runway, and leave a review with the one change you most want to see next.

Support the show

To stay connected to Outdoors NSW & ACT, Subscribe to our podcasts, or our YouTube Channel
Our members get access to a whole range of additional information and support - you can join here and start receiving the benefits today. 

Send us Fan Mail

The outdoor industry moves fast, but a few shifts right now are too big to ignore. We kick off with an update from the Snow Summit in Thredbo and the latest snow season economics, including how winter tourism supports regional NSW, the ACT, and alpine communities across Australia. With new data pointing to billions in direct and flow-on value and a huge share of spend staying in-region, we talk about what that means for operators planning products, staffing, and partnerships for the season ahead. 

Then we get into the tough stuff: small business insurance and public liability. After presenting at a Parliamentary Joint Committee hearing, we unpack why so many outdoor businesses are being pushed toward $20 million cover without a clear evidence base, what that does to participation and access, and where tort law reform might fit. We also share a practical, proven lever that too many providers overlook: working with specialist insurance brokers who understand outdoor risk management and can price the business based on reality, not assumptions. 

From there, we move through the standards and workforce updates that directly affect compliance and capability, including the Snow Activities Guidance Note, the Australian Adventure Activity Standards review, and the VET review for outdoor leadership qualifications. We also flag key business changes like Super Pay Day, credit card surcharge rules, child safe requirements, psychosocial hazards guidance, and the tools and events that help the sector stay connected, including the July masterclass, Outdoor Industry Awards, and the Outdoor Learning Conference. 

Subscribe so you do not miss the weekly updates, share this with a colleague who runs programs or employs staff, and leave a review with the one change you’ve seen in the past 12 months that the wider outdoor industry needs to understand.

Support the show

To stay connected to Outdoors NSW & ACT, Subscribe to our podcasts, or our YouTube Channel
Our members get access to a whole range of additional information and support - you can join here and start receiving the benefits today. 

Send us Fan Mail

AI is quickly becoming the first place people look for answers, and that shift is about to change how customers find your outdoor business and how your team makes decisions. We unpack what that means for outdoor operators, educators, and land managers across NSW and the ACT, while also covering the immediate, practical updates you need for the months ahead. If you’ve felt the pace of change rising across compliance, marketing, and workforce issues, this briefing is designed to help you regain clarity. 

We walk through major industry and safety items, including the new snow activities guidance note for alpine regions and the timeline for the Australian Adventure Activity Standards (AAAS) draft, consultation, and implementation. We also talk standards access and due diligence, including the consolidated outdoor industry standard set, and why engaging early with the knowledge, skills, and experience work can prevent nasty surprises when drafts land. On the safety side, we share the progress on the snorkeling good practice guide review and why maritime requirements may influence final recommendations. 

From there, we shift into capability building and business readiness: a guiding qualification survey to strengthen pathways into adventure guiding, committee work on trail bike and mountain bike advocacy, and key event dates including the outdoor learning conference, masterclass, and the inaugural NSW ACT Outdoor Industry Awards. We also flag operational changes many businesses can’t ignore, like Super Pay Day timing from July 1 and the end of credit card surcharges from October 1, plus the instant asset write-off deadline. 

We close with a clear-eyed look at generative AI, agentic AI, and AI agents, then the governance that must sit underneath them: privacy, consumer law accuracy, anti-discrimination, workplace law, and cybersecurity. Subscribe for weekly updates, share this with a colleague who needs it, and leave a review with one question you want answered next.

Support the show

To stay connected to Outdoors NSW & ACT, Subscribe to our podcasts, or our YouTube Channel
Our members get access to a whole range of additional information and support - you can join here and start receiving the benefits today. 

Send us Fan Mail

Fuel shortages, shifting compliance rules, and fast-changing marketing and tech are colliding with the day-to-day reality of running an outdoor business. We get practical about what that means for outdoor education providers, adventure tourism operators, and land managers across New South Wales and the ACT, and we share the resources you can act on immediately.

We also come back to a core issue we see everywhere in the outdoor sector: people are stepping into leadership without being shown how to lead. That’s where confidence drops and decisions get harder, even for capable, caring professionals. We explain why the Pinnacle Leadership Programme exists, what mentorship and structure can unlock, and who should consider applying for the next cohort.

From there, we look at the wider operating environment. We talk about fuel conservation messaging and why “there’s more at stake than fuel” for regional tourism, regional jobs, and the small businesses that rely on travel. We outline ways to support the pledge campaign, and we flag two major business changes: Superpay Day from July 1 and the end of credit card surcharges from October 1, 2026. We also point you to industry tools and updates, including the Jobs and Skills Australia training pathways dataset, dirt jump facility planning guidelines, outdoor industry standards, and key dates for upcoming masterclasses, conferences, and the NSW ACT Outdoor Industry Awards.

If you want fewer surprises and better plans for the year ahead, hit play, share this with someone in your team, and leave a review so more outdoor operators can find it. What change is most likely to impact your operations right now?

Support the show

To stay connected to Outdoors NSW & ACT, Subscribe to our podcasts, or our YouTube Channel
Our members get access to a whole range of additional information and support - you can join here and start receiving the benefits today. 

Send us Fan Mail

Outdoor work changes fast, and the small details can have big consequences for safety, staffing, and cash flow. We’re sharing a live, practical briefing for the outdoor industry across NSW and the ACT, with the updates we’re seeing right now and the actions that help operators stay ahead. We also reflect on the uniquely Australian “she’ll be right” mindset and why a national preparedness focus can keep that spirit while reducing avoidable risks like driving through floodwaters or skipping basic safety gear. 

We get specific on operations and compliance: how current fuel shortages are affecting providers and why adding your voice to the sector survey matters for advocacy. We walk through key Australian Taxation Office support options for businesses under pressure, then dig into one of the biggest upcoming admin shifts for employers: payday super from July 1, 2026. We outline what to check now in payroll processes, employee data, software readiness, payment timing, and the consequences of late super payments. 

We also cover safety and professionalism across the sector, including AMSA changes for human-powered hire craft like kayaks and canoes, where the emphasis moves toward documented risk assessment, participant competency processes, emergency planning, and strong safety management systems. To support consistent best practice, we point to curated outdoor industry standards and a members-only employment guidance toolkit that helps employers and employees navigate pay conditions, contracts, WHS, and workforce pathways. We wrap with upcoming industry events in Jervis Bay, awards and judging opportunities, and an open invite to apply for the next Pinnacle Leadership Program cohort focused on emerging leaders and mentoring. All this hosted by our Outdoors NSW & ACT Ambassador - Ky Furneaux. If this helps, subscribe, share it with a colleague, and leave a review so more outdoor professionals can find these updates.

Support the show

To stay connected to Outdoors NSW & ACT, Subscribe to our podcasts, or our YouTube Channel
Our members get access to a whole range of additional information and support - you can join here and start receiving the benefits today. 

Send us Fan Mail

Fuel prices are squeezing outdoor programs in ways most people never see, and adventure tourism experiences often feel the shock first. We talk through what the fuel crisis means for outdoor operators across NSW and the ACT, why media visibility matters, and how sharing real-world impacts with your peak body helps build stronger advocacy with government. If you’re dealing with cancellations, rising transport costs, or difficult decisions about delivery, you’ll hear what information is most useful to report and why it changes the conversation.

We then shift into the practical compliance and business essentials that keep outdoor education, adventure tourism, nature therapists and recreation providers resilient. That includes ATO guidance for businesses under stress, plus the 1 July change requiring superannuation to be paid into an employee’s fund at the time payroll is processed. We also flag a key safety reminder around commercial vessel expectations, including how kayak and canoe hire can fall under compliance requirements, and why safety management systems, documented risk assessments, and participant briefings are more than paperwork.

From there, it’s all about building capability and protecting people. Tintin shares why professional development is “sharpening the axe” for our industry, with training options spanning leadership, facilitation, climbing, paddling, and wilderness first aid, including the possibility of bespoke courses. Emma from Cancer Council NSW brings a clear, practical message on skin cancer prevention for outdoor workers and reminds us about the sun safety photo competition designed to create realistic imagery the whole sector can use to role model better habits.

Subscribe for weekly outdoor industry updates, share this with a colleague who runs programs, and leave a review so more outdoor leaders can find it. What’s the biggest operational challenge you’re facing right now?

Support the show

To stay connected to Outdoors NSW & ACT, Subscribe to our podcasts, or our YouTube Channel
Our members get access to a whole range of additional information and support - you can join here and start receiving the benefits today. 

Send us Fan Mail

A national walking challenge sounds simple until you hear what it can unlock for nature. We’re joined live by Denise Zlotowski from the Australian Conservation Foundation to share the thinking behind Australia’s Biggest Bushwalk, the results so far, and the plan to take it truly nationwide. If you’ve ever wanted an easy way to turn your regular bushwalks into something bigger, this conversation lays out the practical steps, the fundraising support, and the real-world conservation work those dollars back. 

We talk through what makes ACF distinct as Australia’s national environment organisation, and why it treats climate and nature as one connected fight. Denise explains how funds raised support protection for threatened animals and habitats, efforts to stop deforestation and expose environmental wrongdoing, and stronger climate and nature policy advocacy. We also dig into what participants get along the way: a simple signup process for individuals or teams, an online platform packed with posters and social tiles, community momentum through a fundraiser network, and partner support including Paddy Pallin plus a Vamos e-bike prize valued at $5,000. 

Then we shift into a rapid roundup for the outdoor industry in NSW and the ACT: skills and inclusion updates from the Skills IQ forum, what’s behind low training completions, a clear reminder on Australian privacy law thresholds via the OAIC, and practical member resources like the outdoor industry employment guide. We also flag time-sensitive opportunities across sun safety promotions, trainee subsidies, tour guiding reviews, industry awards, masterclasses, and education events. Finally, we address the pressure of fuel shortages and why sharing on-the-ground impacts helps ensure the outdoor sector is not left out of policy decisions. 

Subscribe for weekly outdoor industry updates, share this with someone planning their next walk, and leave a review to help more guides, educators, and operators find the conversation. What would your May walking goal be?

Support the show

To stay connected to Outdoors NSW & ACT, Subscribe to our podcasts, or our YouTube Channel
Our members get access to a whole range of additional information and support - you can join here and start receiving the benefits today. 

Send us Fan Mail

Camp participation is slipping, permit processes can feel harder than they need to, and schools are asking for more outdoor experiences with fewer resources. So we pulled the practical threads together in one live Connect and Share Forum for the NSW and ACT outdoor industry, focused on what you can use right now to run better programs and grow demand.

We unpack fresh insights from the Australian Camps Association census, including what occupancy looks like nationwide, how dominant the school segment remains, and why shorter stays are changing the way camps plan programs. We also share the release of a new outdoor industry employment guidance resource for members, built to support both employers and employees with clearer expectations around working conditions, pay conversations, and career pathways across employees, contractors, volunteers, and trainees. If you’re managing staffing, training, or retention, this part is built for you.

Then we shift to access on public land, with Parks ACT walking through a new webpage that consolidates how commercial operators and organized groups can apply for permits across ACT parks and conservation areas. You’ll hear what the permit is really for, how processing works, what fees are waived for non-commercial groups, and when a multi activity permit can save time and admin. We close with a data rich update from the Office of Sport on the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award in NSW, including participation trends, completion challenges, bronze changes that improve accessibility, and a clear signal from leaders that adventurous journeys are where support is most needed.

If you work in outdoor education, camps, guiding, adventure tourism, or youth development, subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review so more operators and schools can find it.

Support the show

To stay connected to Outdoors NSW & ACT, Subscribe to our podcasts, or our YouTube Channel
Our members get access to a whole range of additional information and support - you can join here and start receiving the benefits today.