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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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