Outdoor Industry Connect & Share Forums

Outdoors NSW & ACT
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A weekly opportunity to connect on important topics and content specific to the Outdoor Industry in Australia

  1. What The New South Wales Budget Means For Outdoor Recreation And Nature Tourism

    5d ago

    What The New South Wales Budget Means For Outdoor Recreation And Nature Tourism

    Send us Fan Mail A budget can look like a win or a loss depending on where you stand, but outdoor operators feel the impact where it counts: access, participation, safety expectations, and whether people actually show up. We walk through the latest NSW budget with an outdoor industry lens, including what’s happening across sport and recreation, destination marketing, national parks investment, education infrastructure, and the stubborn gap in preventive health funding. Along the way, we share the clear policy positions we’re pushing so outdoor recreation gets treated as essential active lifestyle infrastructure. Then we shift into fresh Tourism Research Australia insights from the Annual Benchmark Report on Australia’s visitor economy. Domestic travel still does the heavy lifting, regional “outdoor and nature” leads, and there’s a massive opportunity to extend length of stay by packaging better local experiences. We also look at international visitor trends and what regional New South Wales can do to communicate its offering more effectively, especially as key source markets shift. Finally, we get practical with a camp pricing review and a pricing strategy framework built for real businesses. Instead of copying competitor rates, we lay out what should drive sustainable pricing: your value proposition, overheads, development pipeline, customer experience systems, and risk management investment. If you run camps, outdoor education programs, or adventure tourism experiences, you’ll leave with clearer next steps and better language for explaining your value. Subscribe, share this with someone in the outdoor industry, and leave a review to help more operators 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.

    42 min
  2. If One Assumption Flips Would Your Business Win

    Jun 19

    If One Assumption Flips Would Your Business Win

    Send us Fan Mail Something big shifted on July 1, and if you run an outdoor business you can’t afford to “sort it out later.” We walk through the real-world updates we’re seeing across New South Wales and the ACT, starting with what it takes to keep showing up for your community even when you’re on the road, dealing with tech hiccups, and juggling a busy season. We share highlights from the Venture Outdoors Co season launch and the simple idea we love: meet the mountain on its terms. From there we jump into practical opportunities and deadlines, including the NSW Tourism Awards nomination window and why the submission process can sharpen your tourism offering, marketing, and operations through structured reflection and judges’ feedback. We also point you to the 30 by 30 Nature Economics report, a must-read for anyone who depends on healthy parks, waterways, and landscapes to deliver outdoor recreation and outdoor education experiences. Then we get into the compliance checklist that matters for employers and employees: minimum wage increases, payday super, software changes after the small business clearing house ends, paid parental leave updates, ASIC fee rises, the permanent $20,000 instant asset write-off, and the new SMS sender ID register requirement. We round out with what’s coming up across the calendar, including a Canberra member meetup, the Pinnacle Leadership Program, a small business masterclass covering AI, automation, cybersecurity, and marketing, plus the industry awards and outdoor learning conference in Jervis Bay. If this helped you get clear on next steps, subscribe, share it with a colleague, and leave a review so more outdoor leaders can find the updates when they need them. 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.

    18 min
  3. The Trail Bike Economy Is Bigger Than You Think

    Jun 15

    The Trail Bike Economy Is Bigger Than You Think

    Send us Fan Mail If you work in the outdoor industry in New South Wales or the ACT, the next few months are packed with decisions that shape your people, your compliance, and your impact. We start on the ground at the Blue Mountains Local Active Partnership launch, where the challenge is bigger than any single program: inactivity is rising alongside chronic disease, and many communities face real barriers to “traditional” fitness. Outdoor recreation is a powerful alternative, especially when we design for inclusion and belonging instead of assuming everyone wants competitive sport. We then shift into a practical, business-owner view of what’s changing and what’s coming. Think wage and award updates, payday super requirements, the end of the ATO small business super clearinghouse, fee increases you’ll feel in your budget, and new rules like SMS Sender ID registration for branded texts. We also flag reforms on the horizon, from non-compete clause changes to the evolving e-bike and micro-mobility landscape, plus emerging WHS focus areas like psychosocial hazards and fatigue. The back half goes deep on trail bike riding research, based on refreshed survey analysis and the local council toolkit work. We talk demographics, the mental health and physical health drivers behind why people ride, and the economic contribution to regional towns, including how rider trips translate into local spending. We also name the friction points clearly: affordability, registration settings, locked gates, land policy shifts, perception, and limited junior-friendly access, then walk through policy options that could actually move the needle. If this helps, subscribe so you don’t miss the weekly updates, share it with someone running an outdoor business, and leave a review with the one policy or access change you 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.

    36 min
  4. We Rethink Outdoor Leadership For A Changing Generation

    Jun 8

    We Rethink Outdoor Leadership For A Changing Generation

    Send us Fan Mail The outdoor industry doesn’t stand still, and neither can we. We’re coming to you live from the Outdoors NSW and ACT Connect and Share Forum with a fast-moving mix of field-tested leadership ideas, workforce updates, and practical dates you can put straight into your calendar. We start with what’s happening on the ground, including the launch of a local government toolkit for trail bike riding and why it matters for councils, land managers, and the visitor economy. From there, we zoom out to the bigger leadership challenge we’re all seeing: shifting demographics, highly digital young people, and growing pressure on resilience and mental health. I break down the five Cs of outdoor leadership (connection, coaching, challenge, celebration, and change) and why the “coach” mindset is becoming essential across outdoor education, adventure tourism, and recreation. Then we get into the operational essentials: the national minimum wage rises by 4.75% from July 1, and employers need to adjust payroll accordingly. We also share progress on the AAAS review and the Knowledge Skills Experience Framework, plus an update on the VET review timeline that points to endorsement in 2027. Finally, we run through key events and opportunities including Outdoor Office Day, member meetups, leadership training, our masterclass and industry awards, and the outdoor learning conference featuring Maggie Dent, before closing with a useful snapshot from Macrindle Research on psychological safety, structural support, training and development, and flexibility. Subscribe so you don’t miss the weekly pulse of the outdoor sector, and if this helped, share it with a colleague and leave a quick review. 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.

    21 min
  5. Outdoor Safety Data That Changes Practice

    May 29

    Outdoor Safety Data That Changes Practice

    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.

    45 min
  6. Volunteer Power and what changes are coming for Outdoor Activities

    May 22

    Volunteer Power and what changes are coming for Outdoor Activities

    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.

    28 min
  7. What The New Federal Budget Means For Small Outdoor Businesses

    May 15

    What The New Federal Budget Means For Small Outdoor Businesses

    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.

    33 min
  8. Snow Industry Pulse

    May 8

    Snow Industry Pulse

    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.

    29 min
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A weekly opportunity to connect on important topics and content specific to the Outdoor Industry in Australia

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