Outdoor Industry Connect & Share Forums

Volunteer Power and what changes are coming for Outdoor Activities


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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.

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Outdoor Industry Connect & Share ForumsBy Outdoors NSW & ACT