Have Your Say: Overnight Camps and the Reportable Conduct Scheme

The Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) is seeking feedback from organisations that provide overnight camps for children, to help determine whether and how these providers should be included in the NSW Reportable Conduct Scheme (RCS).

This consultation is a vital opportunity for the outdoor and camp sector to shape how future regulation will apply to our operations. It follows the Statutory Review of the Children’s Guardian Act 2019, which recommended that the OCG consult directly with camp providers, outdoor education organisations, and youth service bodies before the uncommenced provisions are brought into effect.

What’s Being Considered

Under the current proposal, the OCG is looking to clarify the definition of “providers of overnight camps” — focusing on organisations whose primary purpose is to deliver overnight camp experiences for children (such as outdoor education centres and dedicated camp facilities).This means the consultation is exploring whether:

• Only organisations with overnight camps as a primary activity should fall within the RCS, or

• All organisations that occasionally host overnight camps (for example, a school, sports club, or youth group running one annual camp) should also be included.

The RCS requires entities to report and manage allegations of misconduct or child abuse involving employees, contractors, or volunteers. Providers captured under this scheme would also automatically fall within the Child Safe Scheme (CSS) and need to implement the Child Safe Standards.

Join the Discussion – 28 November

To help members and sector stakeholders understand the proposed changes and provide informed feedback, Outdoors NSW & ACT will host a special information session during our Connect & Share Forum on Thursday, 28 November 2025.This session will unpack what’s in the OCG’s discussion paper, what it could mean for camp operators and outdoor educators, and how you can make a submission before the consultation closes.

Whether your organisation runs school camps, residential programs, or youth retreats, it’s important your voice is heard in this process.

🗓 When: Friday 28 November 2025

📍 Where: Online, during the Connect & Share Forum https://outdoors.kartra.com/page/2025IndustryEvents

Consultation closes: Friday 5 December 2025

🌐 Have your say: www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/providers-overnight-camps-and-reportable-conduct-scheme

Why This Matters

This proposal will directly shape how overnight camp providers are defined under NSW law — influencing reporting obligations, compliance requirements, and access to support under the OCG’s regulatory framework. By contributing to this consultation, outdoor providers can help ensure that any new regulations strike the right balance between child safety and workability for the sector, particularly for smaller or volunteer-led organisations.