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A government facility can be booked like any other venue, or it can become the backbone of a whole new program model. That’s the tension we explore here, starting with rapid-fire sector updates and landing on a timely opportunity from the NSW Office of Sport: a formal request for proposal to use facilities across its sport and recreation centres for seven days or more.

We walk through what’s happening across the outdoor industry in NSW and the ACT, including big visibility moments in adventure tourism, what those wins mean for operators, and a practical safety reminder with a Petzl product recall that’s worth checking against your kit and inventory. We also flag the AAAS review survey and why your input matters before changes harden into process, plus the occupational shortage survey that helps government understand the roles we simply cannot fill and the training subsidies our sector fights to keep.

Then Lachlan Clark, Director Centre South and West at the NSW Office of Sport, lays out the facility use RFP in plain language: which centres have the most availability, what kinds of proposals are welcome (from self-directed hire to supported program delivery with accommodation and meals), where to find the tender documents on Buy NSW, and the non-negotiable closing date. We also dig into the “why” behind it: better asset utilization in service of getting more people active through sport and recreation.

If you run camps, outdoor education, training, guiding, or community programs, this one is packed with concrete links and decision points. Subscribe for more industry updates, share this with someone who books venues, and leave a review with the program idea you’d pitch if you had a week of guaranteed access.

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A surge of industry updates sets the stage for a rare, behind-the-scenes look at a park network that could reshape the North Coast. We start with actionable items—Petzl safety alerts for harness D-rings and ice tools, EOIs for Jindabyne’s adventure project and NSW Sport and Rec centers, and the AAAS survey that may redefine knowledge, skills, and dependency across adventurous activities. With guides listed in shortage and subsidies live, we underline the workforce reality and the training routes that can help teams keep pace.

Then Glenn from NSW National Parks walks us through the proposed Great Koala National Park with clarity and candor. Think big, connected country from Grafton to Kempsey and inland—179,000 hectares proposed for reservation alongside existing parks—mapped with drone thermal surveys estimating around 12,000 koalas and 36,000 greater gliders. Boundaries exclude plantations to protect timber supply, and legislation is slated for later this year. Crucially, this isn’t one mega-park but a network under different reserve categories: national parks for flexible conservation and recreation, nature reserves for highest-value habitats, and potential regional parks near population centers where high-intensity activities need a proper fit.

Access is the crux. Glenn details how the team is planning early for fire, roads, bridges, staffing, and visitor flow while keeping community trust front and center. Nearly 4,000 survey responses and regular meetings with riders, drivers, and clubs show a path forward: better signage and reasons behind closures, zoned experiences to reduce conflict, and new opportunities where biodiversity values and visitation can align. From future campgrounds and stronger mountain bike hubs to education and volunteer tourism, the vision ties conservation outcomes to a healthier visitor economy—especially when First Nations partnerships lead cultural experiences and local benefit.

We close with tangible examples already moving: the Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk with cabins, platforms, and a modern visitor center, plus a rewilding site at Numbar Nature Reserve that opens the door to conservation learning. If you care about koalas, access, and the next decade of outdoor experiences, this conversation offers a grounded roadmap and a genuine invitation to help build what comes next. Subscribe, share with your team, and leave a review with the one question you want answered when the park plan advances.

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Ready to turn recognition into real growth? We unveil the first NSW & ACT Outdoor Industry Awards and show how a thoughtful submission can double as a strategy sprint for your team. From categories spanning education, adventure tourism, therapy, play, events, and supporting services to clear criteria on delivery, sustainability, inclusion, development, and client engagement, we break down exactly what judges look for and how to prove your impact with data, testimonials, and measured outcomes.

We also dig into Destination NSW insights from Dec 2024, on nature-based travel: spend was up even as nights softened, with the North Coast, South Coast, Sydney, Hunter, and Central Coast leading the way. Private stays and travel with friends or relatives dominate, and cycling was surging across sightseeing, road, and mountain biking. We translate the numbers into action: extend day trips into overnights with bundled itineraries, connect trail networks to local businesses, and design family-friendly experiences that compete with screens through short, social, and seamless formats.

On the operational front, we flag a harness D-ring safety alert with replacement kits, outline the Jindabyne Mountain Bike and Adventure Park EOI, and highlight new access to NSW Government sport and recreation centres. Pair those opportunities with traineeship subsidies for outdoor adventure guides and targeted professional development across first aid, canyoning, canoeing, leadership, and facilitation. We round out with regional park updates, Women’s Week activities, and an open door to shape the AAAS review and workforce data that keep our sector on the priority list.

Entries are open now, and members submit free. If you’ve never entered awards, this is the moment: state the claim, justify it with context, prove it with evidence, and use judge feedback as free consultancy to lift your delivery for the year ahead. Subscribe, share this with your team, and leave a review telling us which category you’ll enter and why it matters to your community.

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Big policy shifts are heading for the outdoor industry, and we unpack them with clarity and care. We start with fast‑moving industry news—AAAS updates shaping good practice and insurance, National Parks timelines for closures and the new Mulumun track, a major tender for the Jindabyne Adventure Park, and key dates for awards, training, subsidies, and the occupational shortage survey—then turn to a focused briefing from the Office of the Children’s Guardian on the review of the Working With Children Check.

We walk through how the WWCC actually works today and why it’s only one part of a broader Child Safe Standards framework born from the Royal Commission. From there, we dig into the proposals on the table: clarifying who needs a check, whether ride-share drivers for unaccompanied teens should be captured, how under‑18 exemptions might change for paid roles and placements, and if co‑workers of youth in general workplaces should be included. We also explore nuanced care settings—relative and kinship carers, continuing residence approvals for household members—and how to balance risk reduction with family stability.

On operations, we hit the pain points leaders care about: renewal flexibility during disasters, whether mandatory training solves real problems, if people reapplying after a bar should work while assessed, and how to fix verification blind spots with labor‑hire hosts and self‑employed tutors. We consider stronger compliance powers and public warnings for repeat or serious breaches, plus smarter notification rules so status changes reach the right person fast. The Q&A surfaces frontline impacts, especially on youth pathways for instructors in a tight labor market, and the need for national harmonisation to stop border confusion.

If you run outdoor programs, guide education, or manage volunteers, this is a plain‑English map of what could change, why it matters, and where your voice counts. Listen, share with your team, and add your perspective to the Have Your Say process so child safety and workforce sustainability move forward together. Enjoy the episode, then subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: which proposed change helps—or hurts—your operations most?

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What does a modern outdoor standard look like when it has to serve schools, clubs, guides, and land managers under one roof? We open the hood on the Adventure Activity Standards and Good Practice Guides review, walking through the timeline, the expert advisory process, and the real-world changes being drafted right now. From redefining dependency and clarifying leadership competence to integrating ISO 4980 risk-benefit thinking, we map the choices that shape safer, more meaningful programs across bushwalking, paddling, camping, and beyond.

You’ll hear how the core guide aims to cut ambiguity without killing judgment, why land managers reference AAAS in permits, and how environmental stewardship and group size decisions can protect places under pressure. We also surface the hard part: operational fairness. When some operators skip key controls, compliant providers lose bids and the sector’s risk rises. We talk candidly about permit alignment, practical compliance signals, and the role of incident learning in setting unshakeable norms.

Engagement is our other frontier. Field leaders are time-poor and often in the bush overnight, so we trade tactics: tapping provider training days, short scenario-led surveys, evening forums, and lightweight feedback loops that capture nuance without paperwork drag. We touch on trail bike riding as a developing guidance space and the value of pilot testing with real organizations before public consultation. The throughline is simple: standards should be tools you reach for, not hurdles you dodge.

If you care about clear safety frameworks, resilient outdoor businesses, and experiences that deliver real benefits, this conversation will give you a grounded roadmap and an open invitation to shape the drafts. Subscribe, share this with a colleague who leads in the field, and leave a review with the one change you think would make the biggest difference.

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We kick off season four with concrete wins on e-bike hire, frank talk on safety and oversight risk, and a roadmap of reviews and consultations that will shape access, standards, and workforce. We also share new chances to lead locally through NPWS committees, PD pathways, and Women’s Week programs.

• Upcoming forums on AAAS review, WWCC review, and Great Koala National Park
• E-bike hire exemption outcome and compliance for new fleet additions
• Federal engagement on outdoor education and preventative health
• Tourism competitiveness gaps in sustainability, infrastructure, and value
• Butarooroo draft plan concerns and how to submit
• AAAS as de facto practice baseline and WorkSafe reference
• WWCC review consultation dates and how to attend
• NPWS Regional Advisory Committees application details
• Gardens of Stone bush camping proposal feedback
• Women’s Week bushwalking activation and club involvement
• Workforce shortage survey to inform occupation lists
• PD calendar, awards, masterclass, and mini-conference
• Community themes: growth, collaboration, safety, succession

ACTIONS FOR INDUSTRY TO CONSIDER: Please submit feedback on Budderoo National Park Plan of Management by Monday 5 pm; register for the WWCC consultations via the Office of the Children’s Guardian; apply for NPWS Regional Advisory Committees by 25 February; complete the workforce shortage survey by 18 March.

Host: Lori Modde, CEO Outdoors NSW & ACT

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Big pressures, big chances. We wrap the year by translating fresh McCrindle research into practical moves for outdoor operators across New South Wales, the ACT, and beyond. From the housing squeeze to shifting life priorities and the march of AI, we break down what’s changing and how to lead with clarity.

We start with the realities: a persistent housing shortfall that complicates recruitment, rising living costs that strain staff, and a cultural swing toward intentional living. People want time with family, stronger mental and physical health, and more hours outside. Work is a tool, not the focus—so we dig into ways to design roles with purpose, boundaries, and learning: clear impact stories, flexible scheduling where possible, and skill-building that keeps guides engaged while advancing safety and quality.

Then we pivot to productivity and trust. AI won’t replace guides on the rock or river, but it can slash admin. We share how to redesign workflows—automating bookings to waivers to invoicing—so teams spend less time pushing paper and more time delivering great experiences. On the reputation front, trust now hinges on visible humans: owners, managers, and guides who show their values, craft, and personality. We offer simple, high-return tactics for leader profiling that build credibility with Gen Z and seasoned clients alike.

We finish with a mindset shift: hope under strain. Acknowledge constraints, act on what you can control, and communicate steps forward—from cultural awareness training to biosecurity vigilance and our native tree donation in place of cards. When leadership stays grounded and transparent, teams feel steady and communities feel welcome. Subscribe, share this with a colleague who needs a lift, and leave a quick review—what’s one change you’ll make before February?

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A clear shift is coming for outdoor providers who run overnight programs with children—and we brought the Office of the Children’s Guardian to the table to unpack what it means. We start with the big picture: youth participation in outdoor activities is sliding, social media age limits are imminent, and schools are hungry for trusted partners who can deliver safe, engaging camps. This all at a time where our youth need to engage in the outdoors more due to their mental health and need for more resilience building opportunities. 

Then we dig into practical detail on the proposed expansion of the NSW Reportable Conduct Scheme to overnight camp providers and why a narrower, “primary activity” definition could protect kids without drowning small operators in red tape.

Harris, Lyndall, and Ricky from the OCG explain what counts as reportable conduct, how notifications and investigations work, and why their first move is capacity-building—not box-ticking. We compare NSW’s current wording with approaches in Victoria, Queensland, WA, and Tasmania to show how aligning definitions reduces confusion for cross-border providers. You’ll hear real-world problem-solving on who leads an investigation when schools and camp providers are both involved, how risk management can be separated from investigation roles, and what ACT-based staff delivering NSW programs should expect around Working With Children Checks and notifications.

We also spotlight momentum worth celebrating. Adventure tourism operators featured strongly at the NSW Tourism Awards, with the Blue Mountains Climbing School winning GOLD for accessible tourism, and new research underscoring nature’s mental health benefits with a compelling cost-benefit case. Paired with sobering participation data among 12–17 year olds, all pointing to a path forward: simpler, trusted safety systems that make it easier for schools and families to say yes to camps, expeditions, and outdoor education.

If overnight programs are part of your core business—or you’re planning for next season—this conversation will help you map your decision tree, nominate a responsible officer, and get ready to collaborate with schools and regulators. Add your voice: read the discussion paper and complete the Have Your Say survey before it closes. If this was helpful, subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review so more operators can find it.

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Demand for travel in NSW is holding firm even as consumer confidence dips, and that tension creates real opportunity for operators who can read the signals and move. We dig into the latest Visitor Economy Forum data, spotlight the segments driving growth, and map where adventure and wellness naturally converge to lift spend and satisfaction. If you’ve been wondering which markets to court first or how to package experiences for higher yield, this conversation lays out the numbers and the moves.

We break down trip purpose trends across holidays, VFR, and business events, then look at international recovery with nuance: China is climbing back, South Korea is outperforming 2019, and the U.S., U.K., and Japan are steadily rising. From couples and families to solo explorers, we explore who’s booking and why, and how to position products that resonate with their goals. Wellness travelers spend significantly more, and you don’t need a spa to serve them; thoughtful, nature-rich design and frictionless booking go a long way.

Beyond market signals, we share practical tools to act with precision. TRA’s DoTS platform and LGA profiles help you see real visitation, nights, and spend in your backyard, while the council-backed ID Profile reveals demographics, housing, and workforce trends at micro-area levels—ideal for grants, staffing, and targeted campaigns. We also cover the barriers operators keep naming—workforce, seasonality, branding, and patchy connectivity—and the steps that make a difference: short courses for skills, modern trip management software, and cultural awareness training to serve changing demographics with care.

We close with compliance and dates you need on your radar. The Child Safe Standards and the reportable conduct scheme will shape overnight camps, and the Office of the Children’s Guardian joins our next session to field questions. Pair that with the Outdoor Leadership qualification review and current grant opportunities, and you have a clear path to strengthen operations while growing smarter. Subscribe, share with your team, and leave a review to tell us which data insight you’ll act on first.

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Big shifts are hitting Australia’s outdoor sector all at once: productivity is falling, politics are realigning, migration is rising, and AI is changing the shape of knowledge work. We break down what those trends mean for outdoor operators, educators, and guides, then map them to practical steps you can take this month to strengthen workforce pipelines, sharpen compliance, and reduce operational friction.

We start with people. A women’s leadership program highlights the power of personal brand and mentorship across a nine‑month journey, while Jobs and Skills Councils share data showing care-adjacent fields like sport and recreation lag on productivity. With more roles requiring post‑school credentials yet our industry relying on VET levels 3–4, we dig into what “future-ready” training actually looks like—competency that is hands-on, inclusive, and aligned with real field risk.

AI’s narrative gets a reality check: it’s not just automating low-level admin, it’s moving into degree-heavy tasks. For outdoor teams, that’s an opportunity to offload back-office complexity and protect the craft of guiding. 

Enter Fieldbook, a purpose-built platform for multi-day trips that turns a single itinerary into synced sales brochures, guest companions, and detailed guide run sheets. Small World Journeys shares a candid case study—clean handoffs, fewer errors, and dramatic time savings—followed by a live demo and a member-only offer.

We also get tactical: award allowance changes to review, VET draft consultations you can influence, child safety updates including reportable conduct for camps, and a product recall reminder with exact SKUs and dates. Add must-attend events like the NSW Visitor Economy Forum and a Google Business Profile webinar, plus sector news from Great Aussie Bush Camp’s national expansion. Through it all, we keep culture and inclusion front and center with a practical approach to engaging new Australians.

If you care about getting more people outdoors, safely and more often, this conversation arms you with the data, tools, and timelines to act. Subscribe for weekly briefings, share this episode with a colleague who handles operations or compliance, and leave a review telling us the one change you’ll make this week.

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