Wrapping up 2024, looking forward to 2025
All industries go through cycles. And we truly believe the Outdoor Industry is on an “up” cycle right now, and has probably never been more relevant than it is today.
Across the industry, there are a lot of passionate leaders driving great outcomes. We’re seeing a wholesale refresh across safety, investment into halo events that will bring the world’s attention to WA’s great outdoors, and an expansion of interest in the social and economic contribution of our industry.
Social & Economic Impact
The Outdoors Industry delivers a significant economic and social contribution to our state which we believe is unique in its combination. We published a report on this in September which had contributions from a diverse range of organisations including the Australian Medical Association of WA who support the evidence led health benefits of participation in the outdoors. You can read more here: Outdoors WA Health Report
Clarity of Purpose, Vision, Mission & Strategy
The impetus for developing this report came from the strategic planning the board and executive undertook to set the north star for Outdoors WA. Through this work we defined our purpose, re-set our vision, and honed our mission below:
- Our Purpose – To support creating a healthier, happier WA by getting people active outdoors.
- Our Vision – Every Western Australian spending 2 hours a week active outdoors.
- Our Mission – To advocate for a credentialed and sustainable outdoor industry that can deliver safe outdoor recreational activities for all Western Australians
This work was critical in helping to shape the development of our next 3-year Strategic Plan identifying four key Advocacy Pillars that are essential for delivering on our mission being:
- Safety & Risk – ensuring safe practices across the outdoor sector.
- Economic Sustainability – securing the financial health and sustainability of the sector.
- Education and Training – fostering learning opportunities that strengthen the workforce.
- Grow Participation – expanding access to outdoor activities and increasing community engagement.
Here’s how we’ve delivered on those through 2024:
Safety
AAAS & GPG – Working with our peer organisations across the states and the Outdoor Council of Australia, this has seen the industry garner support to review the Australian Adventure Activity Standards and Good Practice Guides. This project is slated for completion mid-2026.
NOLRS Replacement – We were successful in securing funding to develop a detailed business case to introduce an Outdoor Leaders Registration Scheme for WA to replace the now defunct NOLRS (National Outdoor Leaders Registration Scheme). This will be completed mid-way through 2025.
WorkSafe – This year we have also welcomed interest in the outdoor industry from the state safety regulator, WorkSafe. WorkSafe commissioned a project through the year to look at the safety practices with operators in the kayaking, abseiling, diving, flying fox, quad biking and 4WD tagalong tour sectors. Feedback to date has been very positive and was beneficial in flushing out some education required around flying foxes and the need to better understand maintenance schedules.
Outdoor Safety Month – Foreshadowing a piece of work that will be happening with industry through 2025, Outdoors WA has also been asked to work with industry to develop an Outdoor Safety Month to drive consumer education and awareness.
Education & Training
Outdoor Education has never been more important to future generations than it is now because of the soft skills, leadership skills and resilience capabilities it helps young people develop.
It would be fair to say education through schools and tertiary institutions is at somewhat of a crossroads. ATAR Outdoor Education numbers have declined, our last University offering degree courses in Outdoor Education closed its course, yet on the positive, we’ve seen a 55% growth in the past 12 months of the number of students studying Outdoor Education at General Studies and WA has the highest percentage of students per capita of any state in Australia studying Outdoor Education. That’s a really positive outcome.
Outdoors WA has been representing the education sector on the board of Outdoor Education Australia, in workshops with the Education Department to review its outdoor education policies, providing input into the Education Department’s Outdoor Education Advisory Group and recently joined the Outdoor Education advisory committee of the Schools Curriculum and Standards Authority.
Importantly as we enter 2025, Humanability are undertaking a review of outdoor recreation qualifications to ensure they are aligned with industry needs and standards, and that they support the sector and its future growth. This will be an important review for the industry.
Participation & Sustainability
A goal for outdoors WA this year has been to help the outdoor industry reach new audiences.
Outdoors October was a testament to this, with our health report timed to coincide with the launch, we were able to inject the outdoors into other established advocacy programs around that period of time including Mental Health Week and Bike Month. The industry launch event for outdoors October this year was a testament to that, with more than 30% of the attendees having come from outside the industry including health, tourism, education and even transport, all of whom benefit from seeing more people active outdoors.
We are also looking to turn the world’s attention to Western Australia and our amazing outdoor activities by hosting the World Trails Conference in 2026. This year’s conference in the Canadian Capital of Ottawa attracted over 450 delegates from 35 countries, bringing the world’s focus to Canada’s great outdoor offerings. We are looking forward to going bigger and better in 2026 and ensuring Western Australia is the epicenter of the outdoor industry discussion for the next two years in the lead up to the event and collaborating with our partners across the industry to put WA on show.