If One Assumption Flips Would Your Business Win

Something big shifted on July 1, and if you run an outdoor business you can’t afford to “sort it out later.” We walk through the real-world updates we’re seeing across New South Wales and the ACT, starting with what it takes to keep showing up for your community even when you’re on the road, dealing with tech hiccups, and juggling a busy season.

We share highlights from the Venture Outdoors Co season launch and the simple idea we love: meet the mountain on its terms. From there we jump into practical opportunities and deadlines, including the NSW Tourism Awards nomination window and why the submission process can sharpen your tourism offering, marketing, and operations through structured reflection and judges’ feedback. We also point you to the 30 by 30 Nature Economics report, a must-read for anyone who depends on healthy parks, waterways, and landscapes to deliver outdoor recreation and outdoor education experiences.

Then we get into the compliance checklist that matters for employers and employees: minimum wage increases, payday super, software changes after the small business clearing house ends, paid parental leave updates, ASIC fee rises, the permanent $20,000 instant asset write-off, and the new SMS sender ID register requirement. We round out with what’s coming up across the calendar, including a Canberra member meetup, the Pinnacle Leadership Program, a small business masterclass covering AI, automation, cybersecurity, and marketing, plus the industry awards and outdoor learning conference in Jervis Bay.

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Transcript

Welcome And Acknowledgment

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Welcome to the Outdoors New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory, weekly Outdoor Industry Connect and Share Forum, where ideas thrive, collaborations spark, and our industry comes together to grow. Let's connect, share, and make an impact. This episode is recorded live with our professional outdoor friends and provided post-event as a resource for the outdoor industry.

SPEAKER_01 0:27

Morning everyone and welcome to another Connect and Share with Outdoors New South Wales and ACT episode 19 of season four. We're having a few technical difficulties this morning, but we got on there in the end. So thank you for those bearing with us online and live. But uh for those in the recording, you wouldn't have noticed a thing as we get into today's session. Um please, may I pay my respects to the eldest past and present and emerging of which we are working with in the outdoors and bringing to life the stories that have existed for millennia. And uh before we get into it, welcome everyone who is with us today and um all our friends from the outdoors.

On The Road And A Rebrand

SPEAKER_01 1:09

So you might have noticed last week we were on the road. So I thought I'd just sort of give you a bit of an insight on the other side of the screen, how we do things if we're out and about. And uh yes, nothing like a Krispy Kreme donut at 10 o'clock in the morning uh on the way down to Gendavine last week. But thank you to those that bear with some of those challenges as we make sure we bring you uh Connect and Shares every Friday morning. Uh, we're able to be at the Venture Outdoors Co launch and the season launch. Um, this is one of our wonderful members. You may know them as ALI or Action Learning Initiatives. That is no longer. It is now Venture Outdoors Co. And uh we got an absolute great sample of what they do with the kids, uh, not just in summer but also in the winter. And uh I love their expression is depending on the weather, we just meet the mountain as they give us the demands that we need to meet. So uh they really do flex provide flexible offerings to make sure kids are getting outdoors more often and experiencing what outdoor education can provide. So well done to the team. They had a great turnout and uh a great celebration at that. And I was lucky enough to be part of the proceedings in interviewing the amazing Nathan Butterworth, who is the uh CEO of Perisher Vale Resort, and uh had a great chat about his background and uh what he hopes to see in the Alpine region. And of course, we met Nathan and sorry, and Tin Tin came along uh from outdoors New South Wales as well, a few of our other members, and of course, Cooper Woods was there, um, the gold medalist of the moguls celebrating with us all. So it was great to catch up with Cooper while in town. Now,

Tourism Awards Deadlines And Value

SPEAKER_01 3:00

for all you guys that are in New South Wales and have a tourism offering, you have until five o'clock today to nominate. It's a very quick and easy um method to jump into the New South Wales Tourism Association website and nominate yourself for the category of your choice. Uh, you have then until the 12th of August to pull your submission together. Now, look, I encourage everyone to do this at least once in their in their careers in their tourism business because it actually you learn a lot about yourself and your business by going through this process. Now, it is a bit onerous in the submission process, but that being said, you take away more than you put in. You also get some amazing judges' feedback and uh and that you can take on board, uh, whether it be for an exmission or just for your business in general. So it's free business advice as well, and a great opportunity to be recognized amongst your peers if you're doing some amazing things. So uh get in today before 5 p.m. It does close, 19th of June, 5 p.m., and uh your submission is not due until the 12th of August. Well done to C Otter Australia for being named Eurobadala's Business Award finalist down in the Eurobadala region. So well done, team. You've got a jam-packed four months ahead as you gear up for the uh festival again in October in Bateman's Bay. So um, well done, team. And uh they're also finalists in our awards, so uh well done for that as well.

Nature Economics Report Highlights

SPEAKER_01 4:34

Here's a great report that's just been released. It's called 30 by 30 Nature Economics. Now, if you know 30 by 30, um they've they're very well known for uh their sustainability efforts and looking at the goals for uh for the nation, but they've just released this incredible report on what the economics are around nature, um, highlighting that uh nature just gets 0.1% of the federal budget. So an area that uh you know we certainly need for our own use, but we know how important it is to keep our our nature in our um in our country for future generations and uh and the activities that it provides for all of us. So uh have a look at that. You can download that at 30by30.org.au. It's called Nature Economics Report. Some

Qualification Review Consultation Update

SPEAKER_01 5:29

update from our friends at Human Ability, uh the Outdoor Recreation and Leadership Qualification Review is in its next stage and they're about to release the consultation portal, a brand new one that is designed to get your feedback easier and more efficiently. It will be released around the 21st of July. So please, if you're not registered to get the updates and you're interested in seeing this, um jump onto their website, which is Human Ability, uh, and then you can nominate yourself to get receive those updates. That way you'll definitely be in the know when that goes live. So,

July 1 Workplace Rule Changes

SPEAKER_01 6:09

first of July, we were talking uh before we started the recording about all the things coming up uh in the changes on 1st of July. So here's a bit of a recap for you. We did cover it last week, but these are for the employers particularly or employees if you're wanting to know a little bit more about um what's changing. So minimum wage has increased 4.75%. You've got payday super starts. Now, please, um, for all the businesses, you need to pay your super when you do your pays, otherwise, you will be charged. Uh, there are fees associated if that does not occur. The small business clearinghouse is no longer operating at that point. So please make sure you've got the right software to enable your payment of your super as of the 1st of July. Uh, paid parental leave will increase to 26 weeks. Uh, and ASIC business and company fees will also be going up for all companies uh registered with ASIC. Uh, your $20,000 instant asset write-off is now permanent as of the 1st of July. So you'll be able to look at that in your tax returns. And if you send any SMSs, um a sender ID register is now required. So you might be using software to do text messages, whether it be booking confirmations, it might be uh marketing comms, uh, anything of the sort. It will be law as of the 1st of July to make sure that you have registered your sender ID with your company details. So uh have a look at your provider and make sure you're compliant. I certainly got a message from our provider, and uh, we made sure we put our um our details in there so we won't be fined. For all ACT employers, payroll tax rates will change. Uh, the rate is now 6.75% for anyone above a turnover of 1.75 million and up to 20 million. So uh for all those in the ACT, take note. The other thing I've noticed was that um in some awards, C13 or level 13 and level 12 um will have a system of phasing, a merger. So uh C12 will be the lowest wage uh that will be for ongoing employment in many of the awards, and that does include the amusement award, the fitness award, and the marine tourism and child, amongst uh quite a few others. Uh they're probably the most relevant to our industry. But if you can have a look at that and see what that does in affecting you, there will be a transition requirement of any staff that are on those lower categories to transition in a period and eventually we'll end up with just level 12 over time. So uh, yep, all courtesy of Fairwork Commission, if you have a look at the website, you might get some more detail that can support you in that transition as well.

Meetups Plus Leadership Program Push

SPEAKER_01 9:16

So, what's coming up? We have a member meetup in Canberra uh very soon. It's Tuesday, the 30th of June, just less than two weeks away. So, for those in Canberra and region area, or if you're in Canberra at that time or area, please join us. Uh, just email me and uh we'll make sure we've got you on the list so we can have a good chat about what's happening around the grounds and give an update for everyone in attendance. Pinnacle Leadership Program is filling up. It is the last cohort that we have that is funded. So uh obviously from this point we will continue to run it, but that means it will be a lot of a higher cost. It's valued around about $3,800 per person. You can get it for $320. So it's a massive, massive saving. And I encourage every woman that is in the outdoor industry to have a look at this if they're wanting to develop their career in leadership. Um, there is only a few places left, so please jump in and uh and grab that if you are interested in being part of that program. Um, as you can see, Alina gave us a lovely testimony, and we've got a few others as well because I think it's just realizing who you are and what the potential is of yourself in this program. So we do have the member meetup on the 30th of June, but what else is happening? A hell of

Packed Events Calendar Through November

SPEAKER_01 10:43

a lot. July, we've got the 15th and 16th masterclass, we've got the 16th Industry Awards, 17th and 18th outdoor learning conference, and then we go into the Royal Life-Saving National Drowning Prevention Summit, which is going to be here in Sydney. If anyone is uh in the water area, uh whether it be kiking, canoeing, swimming, uh all of that sort of thing, it might be something you're interested in. I certainly will be there presenting the AAAS changes uh which would influence anyone that is a provider of activities around water. Uh 29th of July, we have Bathurst Careers event, and that will be held at the Southern Cross, sorry, Charles Sturt campus of uh in Bathurst, and we'll be partnering with TAFE New South Wales on that to get more focus on outdoor careers. On the 10th of August, we will start the Pinnacle Leadership Programme number three. So it's great that we're getting close to closing this off so we can get all the materials to everyone to kick that off on the 10th of August. And for all the data nerds out there, the 11th of August is census night. So uh this is an exciting time for me when I get to analyze, uh, certainly when they're released, of course, uh, what that means for our industry, our workers, um, and uh our potential clients in the outdoors. The 12th and 13th of August is our lead with intent course. And I just thought I'd just cover off here who this is for. These are for the up-and-coming leaders that you might have, whether in a leadership position now or not, um, but want you want them to develop in leadership. This course is a two-day intense course about really what is leadership, what it takes to be a good leader. And that's not just not in the outdoor industry, it's holistically in life and whatever career path they choose. But certainly, you if you're an employer and you want some people to uh certainly lead uh your organization or be part of your organization with good intentional leadership, this is a great course for them. So it's two days on the 12th and 13th of August. All the details are on our website. And the other thing coming up later in the year is the ACPA New South Wales PDHPA conference. So this is for you teachers out there who do the PDHP curriculum or even the outdoor elective curriculum. You'll certainly be gaining a lot from this conference. Uh, 23rd and 24th of November being held at Western Sydney University. So, a little bit more on our events. I

Masterclass Awards And Learning Conference

SPEAKER_01 13:29

think most of you have either registered or about to register from what I hear. Uh, the numbers are looking amazing, and uh, we're very, very excited about these events. So, the masterclass is quite intensive. It is about small to medium businesses and what you're going to be facing for the next couple of years and providing you the tools to navigate that. So, whether it be AI, whether it be automation, cybersecurity, uh, marketing, all of those challenges that we know are going to be problematic, we'll be providing some basic advice and assistance in those areas with key experts in all of those areas. So that is 15th and 16th of July. And it's not just for for-profit, it's for not-for-profit as well, because you face exactly the same challenges as a business in the industry. The awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the successes of what's actually happening. Uh, we have amazing, I think there's 30 odd finalists after we receive nominations of over 45, and uh we'll be getting to celebrate uh their achievements that night, as well as the pinnacle leadership number two graduation. So that'll be held at Huskison Hotel. The next two days is the outdoor learning conference. So this is where the teachers and the practitioners of outdoor learning, people that deal with kids every day, uh, get together and share practice. Uh, the biggest news in this conference, other than the amazing people we have speaking, is that Maggie Dent's going to drop in. So if you know Maggie Dent, who is an amazing author and uh thought leader in all things parenting and uh dealing with kids, she's gonna be popping in to say good day and open up the conference for us. So that is also in Jervis Bay. So all events over those four days will be um in Jervis Bay.

Sponsors Thanks And Wrap-Up Questions

SPEAKER_01 15:23

Huge thanks to our sponsors. We can't do these things without them. So uh thanks to Affinity Insurance Brokers being our major sponsor for all three events. Uh Gadungle Maring, who you'll certainly hear speak a couple of times across those four days. South Coast Shoalhaven City Council, thank you so much for having us and supporting this event. Patty Palin, a trusted partner by Outdoors New South Wales ACT, and of course the Office of Sport New South Wales, who support us every day but have joined us in supporting the awards and recognizing some of our greats. Destination Sydney Surround South is also supporting us coming to their area. And of course, we've got Trinity Grammar School who are supporting us in the venue and uh having it at their amazing precinct, our Field Study Centre out at Wallemeyer. So we're gonna talk about three questions today. That is your wrap-up of everything that uh is happening around the grounds, but we're going to close off the recording because we're going to talk amongst our live friends here about three different questions that certainly got me thinking this week. So I'm going to pose these to our participants, and they are what's one thing you believe to be true that if the opposite were in fact true, it could be a game changer. Second one, what are your smartest competitors doing that you're not? And the third one, as a leader, what do you need to unlearn? Hmm. Interesting. Okay, we're gonna jump into that. Uh so thank you everyone for joining us for our recording. Hopefully, you got some information about what's happening around the grounds in the outdoor industry today. And we look forward to seeing you and hearing from you next week.

SPEAKER_00 17:15

Thank you for joining the weekly Outdoor Industry Connect and Share Forum. Brought to you by Outdoors, New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory, your peak body for the outdoor industry. Together with our members, we're shaping the future of the outdoors. See you next week for more insights and collaboration.