You are invited to participate in a Victorian Government supported research project
titled “Understanding perceptions of the Outdoor Industry in Victoria” to be launched
at the Outdoors Victoria Conference on 23-24 July 2026. This research is led by Dr
Matthew Cox and Dr Madelene Blaer from Victoria University, and conference
delegates can participate in two ways.

First, during the Conference opening plenary session, a live opt-in mobile-enabled survey
will take place with attendees contributing real-time data on how those within the
industry define their work, its purpose, and its professional standing. The
presentation will also explore how participants believe the industry is perceived by
broader society, highlighting potential alignment, tensions and blind spots. This will
not be a passive presentation, and findings will be immediately visualised and
shared during the session.

Second, these insights will directly inform facilitated in-person workshops that follow
in the conference program. Participants will move from data to dialogue –
interrogating results, unpacking key themes and contributing to the development of a
more coherent and compelling professional identity for the sector. By participating,
delegates are not just attendees, they are contributors to an important dataset and
narratives that will shape future policy, advocacy and workforce strategy across
Victoria’s outdoor industry.

There are two workshop date options:

• Thursday 23 July at 1:05 to 2:05pm
• Friday 24 July at 10:50 to 11:50am

Participation in the workshops will involve contributing to a 60-minute facilitated
focus group discussion. To support meaningful discussion and effective data
collection, participation numbers will be capped at 30 participants per session.
Please note that participation will be determined through a purposive sampling
process designed to support a representative cross-section of the outdoor industry.

As part of the EOI registration process, participants will be asked to provide brief
demographic and industry-related information. Due to the sampling requirements of
the research design, EOI registration does not guarantee a place in the session.
Successful participants will be contacted following the registration process and prior
to the conference.

If you are a current ticket holder and would like to participate in the workshops and contribute your perspectives
toward shaping the future of the outdoor industry, please register your interest via the
following link: https://vuau.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5hC9GPkJCuSyBz8