Employment Opportunities in The Outdoors
Details:
3:15 pm – 3:45 pm
13th of July
Room: Aunty Dots
Jordan Wing – Auscamp Matt Franks – WILD Rob Ogilvie – Brighton Grammar School Gemima Weiler – Bindadree Jess Edwards – AABAT
This will be a panel discussion and Q & A. Prospective employees and students will have an opportunity to learn about the various employment prospects in different areas of the outdoor sector. The panel session will be a 4 – 5 minutes sharing by each of the 5 panel members followed by a facilitated Q & A from the attendees. We are planning on having a panel member from each of the following:
About the Presenters
Andrew joined the team at Outdoors Victoria in April 2022 as Project Manager of the Positive Start Journey Camps program. Prior to commencing at OV, Andrew has enjoyed a long career as an Outdoor Educator. After commencing his career as Head of Outdoor Education at an Independent School, he spent time in community recreation, followed by 10 years as owner/operator of his own Camp.
From there, Andrew headed up UC Camping for nearly 20 years before heading to OEG as National Head of Camps and Executive Director of Outdoor Education.
Andrew’s passion is enabling young Australians to gain equitable access to quality, life-changing outdoor experiences. He has supported this through his employment along with making a significant voluntary contribution to the outdoor sector. This involvement has included being a life member, Board member and past President of the Australian Camps Association, former President of the Outdoor Council of Australia, an International Camp Director’s Course senior trainer and Board member of the International Camping Fellowship.
Matt Franks is the manager of the Wilderness Therapy department of EACH Social and Community Health, based in Melbourne. He has been involved in the outdoor industry for over 25 years, working in the UK, Netherlands and Australia after completing a PGDipEd in Outdoor Education from Edinburgh University. Since moving to Australia 14 years ago, Matt has worked at EACH providing therapeutic wilderness journeys for young people at risk of homelessness. More recently he has been developing and delivering wilderness mental health recovery programs for NDIS and YouthResidential Rehabilitation services, with hopes to bring a social enterprise model into these and future programs. He has presented at various conferences including the 8th International Adventure Therapy Conference and the 2019 Outdoors NSW symposium.
WILD is a Bush Adventure Therapy (BAT) service within EACH, a national community health
organisation that has been providing social and community services for over 40 years.
The WILD program gives people a safe space to discover who they are and encourages
their personal development by connecting them to their surrounding environment.
WILD works with schools and agencies who have an existing or newly identified group. WILD is also an NDIS service provider. WILD take individual referrals for adults with a psychosocial disability to join the WILD NDIS weekly group that runs throughout the year. Our program is accessible for people of all ages who would benefit from an Adventure Therapy experience. WILD supports participants to develop healthy relationships with self, others and the environment, to be able to make positive changes through BAT.
I am the Managing Director of the Bindaree Outdoor Education Group of Companies, which
offers outdoor education programs across Victoria, the ACT, and southern New South
Wales. My history includes a professional path as an international travel agent, luxury
wholesale destination travel coordination, international expedition client and region
management, and I am a current board member of the Australian Camps Association. I truly
believe in the profound effects that guided outdoor experiences can have on people and
working in this sector is a true privilege for me because I value and enjoy working with such
a wonderful, passionate people.
Jordan joined the team at Auscamp in 2020 as the group’s Staffing Manager, focusing on transitioning the team from lockdowns back to camps. Since this time Jordan has headed Human Resources, Operations and was appointed Aucamp’s General Manager in July 2022. Prior to his time at Auscamp Jordan ushered a wealth of global experience from the outdoor education, tourism, snow, indigenous education, and sales industries. Jordan is particularly passionate about connecting people with the outdoors, winter & alpine environments, and all things that embody a sense of adventure.
Rob began his outdoor career in 2010 as a Cert IV trainee at The Outdoor Education Group where he held multiple field roles from Group Leader to Staff Trainer. He then transitioned to work more directly with schools as an embedded Program coordinator at Haileybury College, to managing multiple client schools as a Senior Manager/Client Relationship Manager. In 2021 he transitioned to Brighton Grammar School as the Deputy Head of Outdoor Education where he is currently the Head of Outdoor Education.
Jess Edwards is a social worker and nature therapist who runs Flourish: Health and Wellbeing in Nature. Flourish, is a registered NDIS provider offering individual sessions, nature connection walks and retreats.
Jess has spend the past 15years working in the fields of mental health, AOD and Education.
Jess has a passion for connecting people with nature and making sure that the outdoors is accessible for all.
Jess is one of the Victorian Representative of Australian Association of Bush Adventure Therapy
(AABAT). AABAT is in the middle of transitioning to Outdoor Healthcare Australia.
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