Outdoor Industry Connect & Share Forums

Volunteer Power and what changes are coming for Outdoor Activities

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2074851/fan_mail/new] 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 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2074851/support] To stay connected to Outdoors NSW & ACT, Subscribe to our podcasts, or our YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvPdNRdgCWnzBWgkNf6KKA] Our members get access to a whole range of additional information and support - you can join here [https://www.outdoorsnswact.org/membershiplevels] and start receiving the benefits today.

What The New Federal Budget Means For Small Outdoor Businesses

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2074851/fan_mail/new] 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 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2074851/support] To stay connected to Outdoors NSW & ACT, Subscribe to our podcasts, or our YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvPdNRdgCWnzBWgkNf6KKA] Our members get access to a whole range of additional information and support - you can join here [https://www.outdoorsnswact.org/membershiplevels] and start receiving the benefits today.

Snow Industry Pulse

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2074851/fan_mail/new] 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 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2074851/support] To stay connected to Outdoors NSW & ACT, Subscribe to our podcasts, or our YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvPdNRdgCWnzBWgkNf6KKA] Our members get access to a whole range of additional information and support - you can join here [https://www.outdoorsnswact.org/membershiplevels] and start receiving the benefits today.

Alpine Standards To AI Search And Everything Between

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2074851/fan_mail/new] AI is quickly becoming the first place people look for answers, and that shift is about to change how customers find your outdoor business and how your team makes decisions. We unpack what that means for outdoor operators, educators, and land managers across NSW and the ACT, while also covering the immediate, practical updates you need for the months ahead. If you’ve felt the pace of change rising across compliance, marketing, and workforce issues, this briefing is designed to help you regain clarity.  We walk through major industry and safety items, including the new snow activities guidance note for alpine regions and the timeline for the Australian Adventure Activity Standards (AAAS) draft, consultation, and implementation. We also talk standards access and due diligence, including the consolidated outdoor industry standard set, and why engaging early with the knowledge, skills, and experience work can prevent nasty surprises when drafts land. On the safety side, we share the progress on the snorkeling good practice guide review and why maritime requirements may influence final recommendations.  From there, we shift into capability building and business readiness: a guiding qualification survey to strengthen pathways into adventure guiding, committee work on trail bike and mountain bike advocacy, and key event dates including the outdoor learning conference, masterclass, and the inaugural NSW ACT Outdoor Industry Awards. We also flag operational changes many businesses can’t ignore, like Super Pay Day timing from July 1 and the end of credit card surcharges from October 1, plus the instant asset write-off deadline.  We close with a clear-eyed look at generative AI, agentic AI, and AI agents, then the governance that must sit underneath them: privacy, consumer law accuracy, anti-discrimination, workplace law, and cybersecurity. Subscribe for weekly updates, share this with a colleague who needs it, and leave a review with one question you want answered next. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2074851/support] To stay connected to Outdoors NSW & ACT, Subscribe to our podcasts, or our YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvPdNRdgCWnzBWgkNf6KKA] Our members get access to a whole range of additional information and support - you can join here [https://www.outdoorsnswact.org/membershiplevels] and start receiving the benefits today.

Fuel, Compliance, And What Outdoor Operators Need Next

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2074851/fan_mail/new] Fuel shortages, shifting compliance rules, and fast-changing marketing and tech are colliding with the day-to-day reality of running an outdoor business. We get practical about what that means for outdoor education providers, adventure tourism operators, and land managers across New South Wales and the ACT, and we share the resources you can act on immediately. We also come back to a core issue we see everywhere in the outdoor sector: people are stepping into leadership without being shown how to lead. That’s where confidence drops and decisions get harder, even for capable, caring professionals. We explain why the Pinnacle Leadership Programme exists, what mentorship and structure can unlock, and who should consider applying for the next cohort. From there, we look at the wider operating environment. We talk about fuel conservation messaging and why “there’s more at stake than fuel” for regional tourism, regional jobs, and the small businesses that rely on travel. We outline ways to support the pledge campaign, and we flag two major business changes: Superpay Day from July 1 and the end of credit card surcharges from October 1, 2026. We also point you to industry tools and updates, including the Jobs and Skills Australia training pathways dataset, dirt jump facility planning guidelines, outdoor industry standards, and key dates for upcoming masterclasses, conferences, and the NSW ACT Outdoor Industry Awards. If you want fewer surprises and better plans for the year ahead, hit play, share this with someone in your team, and leave a review so more outdoor operators can find it. What change is most likely to impact your operations right now? Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2074851/support] To stay connected to Outdoors NSW & ACT, Subscribe to our podcasts, or our YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvPdNRdgCWnzBWgkNf6KKA] Our members get access to a whole range of additional information and support - you can join here [https://www.outdoorsnswact.org/membershiplevels] and start receiving the benefits today.