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Why Staying Connected to Your Industry Matters — and What's Happening Right Now in the Outdoors

The outdoor sectors are moving fast. New research, shifting funding landscapes, evolving policy, leadership challenges, and emerging best practice — if you're not keeping up, you're playing catch-up. And in an industry built on safety, professional development, and community, that's a gap that matters.


That's why each month, Outdoors NSW & ACT publishes the ONSWACT Monthly Newsletter — a curated digest of what's happening across the whole industry, the conversations driving our community, and the events and programs you can't afford to miss.


More Than a Newsletter — It's a Pulse Check

Our monthly newsletter isn't just a summary of announcements. It's a window into the real conversations happening across outdoor education and recreation in NSW and ACT. Every issue is informed by our weekly podcast episodes, where we sit down with practitioners, researchers, advocates, and leaders to unpack what's actually going on at the ground level.


When you read the newsletter, you're getting the highlights of those conversations — distilled, relevant, and actionable.


For time-poor professionals (and who isn't?), that matters. You don't need to listen to every episode to stay informed. The newsletter does the curation for you.



What's In the May 2026 Issue

The May edition is packed with things that directly affect your professional calendar and career.

The Jervis Bay Week — July 2026

This is the centrepiece of the second half of the year for our sector, and it's all happening in July at the stunning Jervis Bay:

  • MasterClass — 15 & 16 July: A hands-on, intensive professional development experience for outdoor education leaders. Limited places, high impact.

  • Industry Awards Night — 16 July: Celebrating the best of our sector. Tickets are on sale now — this is the night to be at.

  • Outdoor Learning Conference (OLC) — 17 & 18 July: Two days of keynotes, workshops, and connection with the people shaping outdoor learning in Australia. Whether you're a classroom teacher, an outdoor educator, or a program manager, this conference is built for you.

Leadership Programs offered in August

Two flagship leadership programs open for applications:

  • The Pinnacle Leadership Program Cohort #3 — our signature deep-dive leadership journey for emerging and established leaders in the outdoor sector. Applications are now open.

  • The 2-Day Leadership Intensive — a concentrated, practical leadership experience for those who want to build capability fast.


Podcast Highlights from May

From snow summits to the ToolBike Toolkit launch, to conversations on true leadership for systems change — May was a big month. The newsletter recaps five episodes worth of insight so you can catch up on what you missed.


Why Keeping Up with the Industry Matters

There's a real cost to disengagement. When you're not across what's happening — the programs, the policy shifts, the funding opportunities, the professional development on offer — you miss chances to grow, to connect, and to contribute.


Conversely, the professionals who stay connected tend to be the ones who move forward. They're in the room when opportunities arise. They know the context. They build the relationships. And they're better equipped to lead their organisations and teams through change.

That's why we reward our members when they engage in our news, recognising those that keep across the information as it can be seen in their organisation achievements.


Subscribing to the ONSWACT newsletter is one of the simplest things you can do to stay in the loop — and to feel connected to a community of people who care deeply about the same things you do.


Read the May Newsletter

The full May 2026 newsletter is live now. It's worth five minutes of your time.


And if you're not yet a member of Outdoors NSW & ACT, now is a great time to explore what membership looks like for you, your organisation, or your school. Members get priority access to programs, events, and the networks that matter.


Outdoors NSW & ACT is the peak body for outdoor education, outdoor recreation, adventure tourism and nature therapy in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. We support, connect, and advocate for the outdoor education and recreation sector.


 
 
 

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