Adventure Activity Standards Review: What Your Outdoor Business Needs to Know

Amidst Australia's Reconciliation Week, the outdoor industry gathers to bridge its own paths forward through evolving standards, shared wisdom, and collective vision. This dynamic session of the Outdoors NSW and ACT Connect and Share Forum opens with a powerful acknowledgment of the week's theme—"Bridging Now to Next"—before diving into crucial updates affecting outdoor operators across the region.

Lori Modde, CEO of Outdoors NSW and ACT, shares exciting developments including a fresh ADF tender opportunity worth exploring, ongoing advocacy regarding TAFE qualification challenges for roping skills, and upcoming events designed to strengthen our professional community. With the Outdoor Learning Mini Conference and annual Summit on the horizon, the energy for collaboration remains palpable through every announcement.

The spotlight then shifts to Dr. David Marston, who provides a comprehensive walkthrough of the Australian Adventure Activity Standards (AAAS) review—a process that will shape how our industry balances safety, accessibility, and inclusion for years to come. Unlike the 2019 establishment phase, this review places operators and participant-facing organisations at its core, embracing an ecological approach that recognises the interconnected nature of our work.

Through a thoughtfully designed consultation framework featuring sector-specific focus groups, expert reviews, and public input periods, the review addresses four critical dimensions: safety and risk management, environmental responsibility, indigenous culture and heritage, and equity and inclusion. Dr. Marsden emphasises that underlying all considerations is a fundamental question: How do changes impact participation and access while maintaining appropriate safety standards?

A particularly illuminating exchange emerges around the tension between regulation and operational flexibility, highlighting the delicate balance the industry must strike. The review also explores frameworks for adopting emerging activities, educational opportunities to improve AAAS understanding, and integration of benefit-risk analysis that acknowledges the positive outcomes of outdoor experiences.

Ready to shape these standards? Join the consultation platform and ensure your voice contributes to creating meaningful, practical guidance that supports our collective mission: connecting more people to transformative outdoor experiences in ways that are safe, fair, and responsible.

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome and Reconciliation Week
• 2:54 Industry Updates and Opportunities
• 10:42 Adventure Activity Standards Review
• 30:45 Review Methodology and Process
• 43:06 Engagement Opportunities and Timeline
• 53:08 Q&A Session on Industry Concerns