Safety in the Outdoors

By its very nature, adventure and exploration in the outdoors comes with some risks.

To help operators manage these risks to the best of their ability, the sector has developed the Australian Adventure Activity Standard (AAAS) and related Good Practice Guides (GPGs) endorsed by a meeting of the State and Territory Sport and Recreation Ministers of Australia in 2019.

Links to the standards are provided below in addition to a range of resources provided by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulations and Safety which has responsibility for Work Health and Safety Act 2020.

The new Work Health and Safety Act was rolled out in WA in March 2022 and sees a harmonization of laws across the country.

Importantly, for outdoor business operators in Western Australia, they need to ensure they understand the regulations and associated penalties that have been introduced for contravention of the Act.

Work Health & Safety ACT

• Work health and safety legislation – Work health and safety legislation | Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (commerce.wa.gov.au)
• WorkSafe resources – Publications, resources and events | Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (commerce.wa.gov.au)
• Department of WHS Guidance kit vide series – WHS Guidance kit – YouTube

Australian Adventure Activity Standard (AAAS)

• Australian Adventure Activity Standard (AAAS)– The standard for good practice risk and safety management of led outdoor adventure activities. Australian-Adventure-Activity-Standard-V1.0.pdf (australianaas.org.au)
• Core GPG– Guidance for common good practice for all adventure activities.  Core-GPG-v1.0.pdf (australianaas.org.au)
• Link to Good Practice Guides for
• Abseiling & Climbing – Abseil and climb – Australian Adventure Activity Standard (australianaas.org.au)
• Angling – Angling – Australian Adventure Activity Standard (australianaas.org.au)
• Bushwalking – Bushwalking – Australian Adventure Activity Standard (australianaas.org.au)
• Camping – Camping – Australian Adventure Activity Standard (australianaas.org.au)
• Canoeing, Kayaking, SUPing – Coastal Waters – Enclosed and coastal waters paddlecraft – Australian Adventure Activity Standard (australianaas.org.au)
• Canoeing, Kayaking, SUPing – Inland Waters – Inland water paddlecraft – Australian Adventure Activity Standard (australianaas.org.au)
• Canyoning – Canyoning – Australian Adventure Activity Standard (australianaas.org.au)
• Caving – Caving – Australian Adventure Activity Standard (australianaas.org.au)
• Challenge Courses – Challenge courses – Australian Adventure Activity Standard (australianaas.org.au)
• Cycling & Mountain Biking – Cycling and mountain biking – Australian Adventure Activity Standard (australianaas.org.au)
• Snorkelling – Snorkelling – Australian Adventure Activity Standard (australianaas.org.au)
• Horse Trail Riding – Horse trail riding – Australian Adventure Activity Standard (australianaas.org.au)
• Rafting & River sledding – Inland water paddlecraft – Australian Adventure Activity Standard (australianaas.org.au)
• Ropes Courses – Challenge courses – Australian Adventure Activity Standard (australianaas.org.au)