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What if your outdoor adventures could also be a wellspring of engagement and mental health improvement? As we celebrate our 40th year at Outdoors New South Wales and ACT, we explore this enticing possibility. We've just attended the Wellbeing at Work Summit in Sydney, where we found ourselves confronting some alarming industry data. Employee engagement is at an all-time low, especially among the under-40s and across genders. But the good news is, we also discovered some effective strategies to elevate engagement, like weekly one-on-one conversations, praise for a job well done, and fostering a collaborative atmosphere for everyone to thrive in.

Bushfire safety is a topic that can't be understated for anyone venturing into the great outdoors in New South Wales. Our special guest for this episode, Michael from the Department of Education, sheds light on the Fire Danger Rating System they've developed. This system, fine-tuned in response to the 2019-2020 bushfire season, is designed to ensure the safety of our children on educational adventures in nature. The conversation takes a deep dive into the mechanisms of the system and how it balances safety with minimal disruption and maximized classroom time.

Wrapping up this week's episode, we underscore the importance of communication between schools and outdoor excursion providers for effective bushfire risk management. We also take a moment to reflect on our journey of 40 years, reminding all of you to make your voices heard in the review. Finally, we touch on upcoming events, opportunities, and issues relevant to our industry, along with some thoughts on the Christmas season and a sneak peek into curriculum development. Stay tuned and join us on this riveting journey to engage, educate, and inspire.

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