In 2025 Journey Development Programs (JDP) and Kinglake Forest Adventures Camp (KFAC) obtained certification as a B Corporation (B Corp). The first outdoor provider in Australia to have this certification.

B Corp certification signifies that a company meets rigorous standards for environment, social and governance(ESG) practices and benchmark achievements. It’s a designation that a company is using business as a force for good, considering stakeholders beyond just shareholders. B Corps are verified by B Lab and must meet high standards in areas like employee benefits, philanthropic contribution, supply chain practices and general governance. 

Reminder: Time to Renew Your OV Affiliation

A quick reminder that Outdoors Victoria’s Affiliate renewals now align with the financial year — the new period starts 1 July 2025.

• 🎉 New to OV? Sign up here
• 🔄 Renewing Affiliate? You should’ve received an email with your renewal link.

Didn’t get it? Please contact us at info@outdoorsvictoria.org.au rather than submitting a new form.

Thanks for staying connected with the OV community!

Welcome on board to our new affiliates:

• The Oreas Group

A huge thank you to our recent volunteers from PGL, OEG, JDP, The Y and to Jules Budd, Cass Dobrovansky, and Alex Paine for representing the outdoors sector at career expos last month!

We’re still looking for volunteers to help promote careers in the outdoors at these upcoming events, including school-based events.

• 25–27 July – Melbourne Career Expo, MCEC (18,000 attendees: students, job seekers & career changers)

You can view the full schedule — including additional school and community events — here.

Interested in getting involved? Contact Maddy Bennett at: info@outdoorsvictoria.org.au

Outdoors Victoria, with the support of Sport and Recreation Victoria, has developed a range of online resources to help Outdoor Education and Outdoor Recreation providers welcome people living with a disability.  

You can find a range of free disability resources from Outdoors Victoria for Outdoor Education and Outdoor Recreation providers here, and find out how outdoor providers are using the toolkit in this New VIDEO showcasing Bindaree Outdoor Education’s use of the Toolkit.

Calling all Unit 2 VCE Outdoor and Environmental Studies Teachers

OV is partnering with all Victorian Universities and TAFE/RTOs that offer outdoor leadership and outdoor education courses to bring you a free excursion or incursion about outdoor careers. Lecturers and teachers from your local institutions will deliver these sessions. The session covers the following content from unit 2, outcome 1:

Key Knowledge:

• Understandings of vocational perspectives of outdoor environments, including at least two of the following:
  • Outdoor leading and guiding
  • Education

If you would like to express interest in this session, please complete an EOI form here.

For further information, please get in touch with Andrew Gooday at: careerscoordinator@outdoorsvictoria.org.au

You can now book T3 Professional Development Sessions

• 29th July | ONLINE 4-5pm | Logbooks and Area of Study 3 – Jarrod Paine
• 3rd September | ONLINE 4-5pm | Exam Preparation Masterclass for teachers preparing students for VCE OES exam – Belinda Dalziel
• 26th Aug | ONLINE 4-5pm | Anaphylaxis management in the field – Adam Kershaw

–**SPECIAL FEATURE**–
Connection Before Content – How to Engage Participants, Build Relationships
11th June | IN-PERSON Workshop 9-3 pm
Mark Collard
Special STUDENT discount for this session! Please email us for a code at info@outdoorsvictoria.org.au

From Climbing Victoria’s Facebook page on May 29th

18 climbing areas in Gariwerd (Grampians) have reopened today.

This marks a major step forward after years of advocacy and collaboration. It’s a shift toward better engagement and access for climbers while respecting cultural values. Full list of reopened areas and details below 

This is the result of years of work by Climbing Victoria, Traditional Owners, and Parks Victoria and it marks a real turning point. We’re moving toward a better model of engagement, one that respects cultural values and enables more climbing areas to remain open and accessible into the future.

We thank the Traditional Owner organisations of Gariwerd for their leadership and collaboration. This outcome would not have been possible without their support.

Parks Victoria shared the following statement today:
“Parks Victoria has assessed 27 climbing areas in the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park and are reopening 18. This has been made possible through strong partnership with Traditional Owners and close collaboration with Climbing Victoria. We are grateful for their leadership and support in achieving this positive and balanced outcome for both cultural values and the climbing community.” – Parks Victoria, 29 May 2025

Reopened climbing areas:
– Cave Cliff
– The Sun Gate
– Watchmen
– Centurion Walls
– Dreamtime Wall**
– New Era Wall
– Labour Ward
– Superbia
– Barbican Rocks**
– Barbican Wall**
– Gallery Creek
– Pastoral Buttress
– Blind Mans Bluff**
– Rural Rocks
– HB Wall**
– Dead Explorers Slab**
– Back of Beyond**
– The Garrets

**Some climbing areas remain temporarily closed due to recent fire impacts.

 Next Steps:
Parks Victoria will soon update the “Rock Climbing in Gariwerd” page to reflect these changes.

Climbing Victoria will request the access status of these areas on thecrag.com to be updated

Assessments are continuing, especially for key areas in the southern Grampians. We’re optimistic that more reopenings are on the horizon.

We’ll continue advocating for fair, transparent, and collaborative decision-making processes that support both cultural heritage and access to climbing.

Thanks to everyone who has supported this work, whether through your voice, your time, or simply by climbing with care. Let’s keep working together for responsible access and long-term stewardship.

Nature Stewards is a community-focused environmental education program that builds knowledge, connection, and action for nature across Victoria. Delivered over 10 weeks, the course introduces local ecosystems, biodiversity, conservation practices, and how to get involved in caring for Country.

VNPA are now inviting local councils, conservation networks, and community organisations to host a course in their region in 2025!

👉 Watch the webinar and read the Q+A here: Nature Stewards Host Info
Feel free to share with others in your network who may be interested in hosting!

Volunteering Victoria are proud to share Victoria’s State of Volunteering Report 2025, providing the latest insights into volunteering across the state.

As the state peak body for volunteering, Volunteering Victoria is committed to helping our members and stakeholders understand the changing landscape.Understanding who volunteers – and who doesn’t – is critical for shaping policies and practices that promote inclusive, sustainable volunteer engagement.Volunteering is transforming. The report offers a clearer picture of how, where, and why Victorians volunteer – and what must change to support them into the future.

Key findings:

• 3.3 million Victorians volunteer in their community.
• This represents 58.9% of the Victorian population aged 15+ years.
• Collectively, Victorian volunteers contribute over 732 million hours.
• 69.4% of young Victorians (15-24 years old) volunteer; the highest rate of any age group.

Access the full report and more information here.

Life Saving Victoria (LSV) welcomed a diverse group of government, water safety, recreation, and aquatic industry stakeholders to Bendigo for the 2025 Inland Waterway Forum, now in its fourth year. Andrew Knight represented OV and others from our sector attended including Dave Chitty, Ian Neville, Bec from OEG and Rohan Klopfer. The event continues to play a critical role in strengthening collaboration and improving safety outcomes across Victoria’s inland waterways.

With inland waterways remaining a key concern – 28% of the 54 fatal drowning incidents this year occurred in rivers, lakes, and dams – the forum provided a timely and focused opportunity to highlight both the scale of the issue and the progress being made through coordinated action.

Session topics this year included learnings from the Australian Water Safety Strategy mid-point review, an update on the purpose, plan and priorities for Victoria’s Water Safety Coordination forum along with workshops and case studies. We were grateful to be joined by Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters MP, Victorian State Coroner Judge John Cain and representatives from the Djaara People and Royal Life Saving – Australia.

Outdoor Summit by Outdoors NSW and ACT.
8–11 July at Thoroughbred Park, Lyneham, ACT

Event Highlights:
8 July: Exclusive tour of inspiring outdoor organisations in Canberra
9 July: NatCORR Outdoor Risk & Resilience Symposium
10–11 July: The Outdoor Industry Summit featuring industry-leading topics and discussions

Learn more, secure your spot, or explore sponsorship opportunities: https://outdoors.kartra.com/page/2025Summit

NatCORR has partnered with Outdoors NSW/ACT to host the Outdoor Risk and Resilience Symposium in Canberra, ACT.

The Symposium focuses on the latest strategies for building organisational resilience, mastering critical incident response, and understanding the profound impact of weather in a rapidly changing climate.

With dynamic interactive sessions, expert-led panel discussions, and invaluable insights from both industry leaders within the outdoor sector and beyond, this event will be an unforgettable day of learning and connection.

Download the Outdoor Risk & Resilience Symposium Brochure or Find out more here.