Outdoors SA 2017 Annual Update
Outdoors SA 2017 Annual Highlights.
Outdoors SA continues to be a supportive community based organisation advocating for outdoor adventure and recreational activities in South Australia. Highlights have included the consultation workshops for developing the new outdoor leader training package, the release of the Core Australian Adventure Activity Standard and the Commonwealth recognition of the UPLOADS project and its work in highlighting causes of accidents and incidents in the outdoors.
Download the report in PDF format here Outdoors SA 2017 Report
Sector Representation
A submission was made to support the development of the Australian National Sports Plan in collaboration with the Outdoor Council of Australia. This plan sets out the national agenda for supporting sport and active recreation across the country. Outdoors SA has continually advocated for increased recognition and support for the ongoing growth of outdoor recreation in Australia.
The resultant Sport 2030 plan was developed and due to the collaborative advocacy it is rewarding to see that one of the key priority area is to:
Build a more active Australia — More Australians, more active, more often.
This is a positive step in recognising the value of outdoor activities in South Australia and beyond.
See https://www.sportaus.gov.au/nationalsportplan/home
Involvement in Industry Research:
UPLOADS (Understanding and Preventing Led Outdoor Accidents Data System) – The path to incident prevention in the led outdoors survey. Outdoors SA supported the UPLOADS team to ensure state participation in a survey, which aims to ensure the opinions and needs of the wider Australian led outdoor sector are reflected in the incident prevention strategy development process that is being developed as part of the UPLOADS project. The survey will support the further development of strategies that will identify ways to avoid accidents and incidents in the outdoors.
Thanks to the ongoing support and contributions from the led outdoor sector, the latest 12 month report was released. This is the third annual report generated by the UPLOADS National Incident Dataset. Together, these reports are beginning to illustrate the trends and complexities of incidents that occur during led outdoor activities.
Download the 2017 report at:
https://uploadsproject.org/2018/02/05/for-your-viewing-pleasure/
A summary of the projects results can be seen in the following infographic.
Outdoor Sector Accidents Research is ‘Making a Difference’
Outdoors SA was pleased that the UPLOADS (Understanding and Preventing Led Outdoor Accidents Data System) project was acknowledged in the national Australian Research Council ‘Making a Difference’ publication. This identifies the latest leading Commonwealth supported research happening across Australia.
Dr Paul Salmon the lead researcher said “This is an amazing achievement – essentially it means first that the University of the Sunshine Coast see UPLOADS as their flagship ARC research program, and second that the Australian Research Council see it as one of their most impactful research programs.”
Jamie Bennett President of the Outdoor Council of Australia a key partner in the UPLOADS project said “leading people outdoors offers tremendous benefits to people’s health and wellbeing and to the community. This research is showing just how well leaders manage risk during outdoor adventures and how as an industry we can collaborate to put appropriate safety systems in place.”
You can find out more on the project at http://www.outdoorcouncil.asn.au/uploads/
Improving industry standards
Australian Adventure Activity Standards Project update
The Core Standard has been completed. This fundamental document outlines the considerations and information that is relevant to the conduct of all adventure activities. Since public consultation of the Core Standard and its revision, a test pilot was completed seeking feedback representative of all the sub-sectors in the outdoor community. The feedback honoured the incredible contribution of the Technical Working Groups (TWGs) and made recommendations and comments about the presentation of information. It is still being looked at to identify the best way to keep all the valuable information while presenting it in an accessible and clear fashion.
Technical working groups have been undertaking significant work on a number of activities with representation from all states.
Abseiling & Climbing AAS drafts were released for public consultation.
Public consultation has been completed for:
- Mountain Biking & Cycle Touring – finalising the content based on feedback received
- Camping – feedback considered and TWG revised document
- Bushwalking – feedback considered and TWG revised document.
Support has been sought for local representation on the Australian Adventure Activity Standards (Australian AAS) Steering Committee to fill three separate Technical Working Groups (TWG) to draft the next set of activity specific AAS for:
- Canyoning
- Challenge courses
- Inland water paddle-craft
The Australian AAS will provide a good practice framework for safe and responsible planning and delivery of outdoor adventure activities with dependent participants. The activity AAS will hold all the provisions that are applicable to the particular activity and will utilise the ‘core standard’ as its base. The ‘core standard’ covers topics such as risk management frameworks, emergency management plans, child safety and sun safety. The activity AAS will cover topics such as leader competencies, supervision requirements, equipment and specific environmental considerations. These documents will become a foundation for all of those organisations working with dependent participants in the outdoors in South Australia and beyond. When it is completed we will have a truly national set of freely accessible standards of practice.
See https://australianaas.org.au/
Sector Consultation
SkillsIQ – Industry and Workforce Survey. Investment into our sector is critical if we are to have the base of training and outdoor activity that is required to support the health and wellbeing of our sector. In order to ensure accurate national data Outdoors SA has regularly partnered with SkillsIQ in its outdoor industry research. Outdoors SA and some of its members have put forward a proposal to have the Skill level for Outdoor Adventure Guides/ Instructors reviewed so it can be recognised to be at a higher skill level. It appears that Australia wide we are seeing a shortage of qualified and experienced outdoor adventure instructors in SA and across the country.
The Forecast includes details of current issues within the industry sector overseen by the Industry Reference Committees, detail on employment in the sector and projections for future employment growth or decline. It also includes detail on workforce challenges and notably, any identified skills gaps and drivers for change in the Training Package Packages.
The final report was the 2018 Industry Skills Forecast – 4% of enrolments in Sport and Recreation qualifications was in South Australia. There was sign of positive movement in the sector:
“Increasingly the evidence is showing a vibrant and growing outdoor recreation economy. For example, an estimated 10.3 million domestic travellers undertook a form of bush/rainforest walk in the period from March 2015 to March 2016. During the same period it is estimated that international visitors to national parks increased by 13%. International visitors also displayed a 23% increase in participation in windsurfing, sailing and kayaking during the same period.”
Sector representation and recognition
Walking SA Awards – Gordon Begg
Congratulations to Outdoors SA board member Gordon Begg for his recognition at the Walking SA awards night. Well deserved for his hard walk and dedication to Bushwalking Leadership SA and promotion of the outdoor sector.
See https://www.walkingsa.org.au/awards/winner/gordon-begg/
Further highlights and the ongoing work of Outdoors SA can be found on the website at https://outdoorssa.org.au
