Positive Start 2022 is a Victorian Government initiative seeking to re-engage primary and secondary students and to boost their physical and emotional health and wellbeing in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Students who attend a government or low-fee non-government school will get more opportunities to attend camps, swimming programs, sports programs and cultural experiences in 2022. These programs are completely free, there is no cost for schools or parents/carers. 

With Positive Start 2022, Victorian students can be more active, reconnect with friends and find inspiration in new and exciting places.

Outdoors Victoria (OV) is contracted by the Department of Education and Training (DET) to administer the Journey-based components of the Positive Start 2022 Camps program. Positive Start aims to deliver 80,000 overnight places for students who would not normally attend camps, around 10,000 of which will be Journey-based programs.  

Journey-based programs have lots in common with a regular school camp but they also have some key differences. Journeys may range in style from a 5-day trip (usually bushwalk, canoe or cycle) often involving lightweight camping in tents in the Australian bush to an overnight bushwalk heading out and returning to a residential camp. Journeys offer immersive and powerful learning opportunities that can involve one or multiple forms of travel. 

OV works with the eight DET Positive Start approved Journey providers to ensure Journey programs are of the highest standard. OV and the professional Journey providers will work with schools to determine the best program fit for your students.

The Positive Start Journeys program is a unique one-off initiative to enable schools to experience a professionally delivered adventurous journey experiential program. These programs have demonstrated capacity to be significantly life changing events in a young person’s educational journey.

Zero cost → Positive Start 2022 programs are free for schools and parents. Journey Providers will supply all required equipment, along with a team of professional outdoor educators/leaders to facilitate programs.

Programs will be fully led and facilitated by qualified professional Outdoor experts. Accompanying school staff will not require any specialist skills or expertise.