Strengthening Child Safety in Overnight Camps: What ONSWACT Has Called For in the Reportable Conduct Consultation

Creating safe, enriching environments for young people is at the heart of everything our outdoor, recreation, education, and nature-based tourism sectors do. As the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) explores expanding the Reportable Conduct Scheme to include overnight camp providers, Outdoors NSW & ACT has lodged a formal submission outlining our sector’s position, priorities, and recommendations.

Our message to government is clear:**We welcome stronger protections—**and we stand ready to partner in ensuring that overnight camp providers have the support they need to implement these changes effectively.

Why This Matters for Our Industry

Overnight camps play a unique and powerful role in children’s learning, confidence, resilience and connection to nature. These experiences also come with significant responsibility. The proposed expansion of the Reportable Conduct Scheme is aimed at ensuring greater oversight, clarity, and consistency in how child safety concerns are managed.

In our submission, ONSWACT affirmed the sector’s long-standing commitment to child safety and continuous improvement. The industry has always embraced high standards—and strengthening structured reporting expectations will only further build trust among families, schools, and communities.

What ONSWACT Is Advocating For

1. Strong support for the inclusion of overnight camps in the Scheme

The submission clearly states our industry's support for heightened awareness and consistent reporting processes. This approach reinforces the already robust child-safe practices embedded across the outdoor sector.

2. A collaborative implementation model

As the peak body for outdoor recreation, education and nature-based tourism, ONSWACT emphasised the importance of a supported transition—particularly for small or regional camp providers who may not have the internal resources to implement new compliance frameworks with confidence.

3. Funding for ONSWACT to lead sector-wide education

We have formally requested that the OCG consider funding ONSWACT to conduct a statewide education and support program, including:

• Onsite visits to overnight camp providers

• Tailored training on reporting obligations

• Dissemination of tools, templates and checklists

• Ongoing capacity-building for consistent, high-quality implementation

• Early identification of providers needing additional support

This partnership model not only strengthens sector readiness—it reduces administrative load on the OCG and accelerates sector-wide compliance.

The Benefits for Child Safety and Sector Performance

In the submission, ONSWACT outlined five clear industry benefits if government supports this partnership approach:

1. Consistency across the sector

   Reducing the risk of variable practices and supporting fair implementation across metro, regional and remote camps.

2. A strengthened culture of child safety

   Knowledge builds confidence. Confidence builds proactive, rather than reactive, practices.

3. Reduced administrative burden on the OCG

   ONSWACT can act as a conduit for communication and problem-solving.

4. Improved sector performance and standards

   Better guidance leads to better processes, stronger risk management, and more capable staff.

5. Greater community trust

   Parents and schools feel reassured when they know camp providers are supported by both industry and government.

What Happens Next?

We will continue to work closely with the OCG and the industry to ensure that any expansion of the Reportable Conduct Scheme is met with:

• clarity

• consistency

• appropriate support

• and a shared commitment to child safety excellence

ONSWACT stands ready to lead statewide education and implementation efforts to ensure that every overnight camp—no matter the size or location—has the tools and confidence to meet new requirements.

For our sector, this is more than compliance. It is an opportunity to further demonstrate the professionalism, values, and care that define outdoor education and recreation in NSW and the ACT.