Breaking Down Barriers: Outdoors NSW & ACT Calls for Greater Recognition of Recreation in the ACT

Outdoors NSW & ACT (ONSWACT) lodged a formal submission to the ACT Legislative Assembly’s Inquiry into Barriers and Opportunities for Participation in Community Sport in the ACT.

While ONSWACT is recognised in New South Wales as the peak body for the active recreation, our organisation is yet to be formally acknowledged in the ACT. This lack of recognition is a major barrier to growth, limiting access to funding and resources that would enable us to expand our support for Canberrans in outdoor education, recreation, adventure tourism, and nature-based health initiatives.

Even without formal recognition, ONSWACT is already active in the ACT:

• Supporting outdoor activity providers and educators to deliver safe and inclusive programs.

• Facilitating industry networking and workforce development.

• Advocating for outdoor recreation as a vital contributor to wellbeing, tourism, and active lifestyles.

However, these efforts are largely unfunded and limited in scale.

A key issue raised in our submission is the lack of Outdoor Leadership qualifications in the ACT. These qualifications are vital to building a skilled workforce that can safely lead outdoor activities across diverse environments. Currently, the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) does not have Outdoor Leadership on scope, leaving no local pathway for aspiring leaders.

We have called on the ACT Government to prioritise this gap and support CIT to reinstate Outdoor Leadership qualifications. Doing so will create stronger career pathways, build industry capacity, and support sustainable growth of the outdoor industry.

If ONSWACT were formally recognised as a peak body in the ACT, we could:

• Expand participation opportunities, especially for young people, culturally diverse communities, and people with disabilities.

• Build workforce capacity with training and professional development.

• Promote outdoor recreation as a preventative health tool.

• Strengthen collaboration with government, schools, and land managers.

Our work aligns with the ACT Government’s goals of increasing participation in sport and active recreation through:

1. Active Recreation Growth

2. Workforce & Industry Development

3. Sustainability & Resilience

4. Equity & Inclusion

Formal recognition of ONSWACT as a peak body in the ACT is the first step to unlocking new opportunities for Canberrans to engage with outdoor recreation. With support, we can scale up programs, grow workforce capacity, and ensure more people experience the proven health, social, and economic benefits of spending time outdoors.

To read our full submission, visit the ACT Legislative Assembly’s Committee page.