OV Annual Conferences

The largest annual outdoor education conference in Australia

The Outdoors Victoria Conference is a major annual event that provides professional learning for outdoor practitioners, teachers, educators and students within the Outdoor Education sector.

Some highlights- Conference 2022, video by Nick Covelli

Save the Date for Outdoors Victoria Conference 2023!

The next annual OV Conference will be held on Thursday, 13th July & Friday, 14th July, 2023 at Box Hill Institute Lakeside Lilydale Campus.

Exhibitor and sponsor registrations are NOW OPEN!


Past events

The OV Conference enjoyed a comeback in 2022 after a two-year break due to the COVID pandemic. It was a tremendously successful event that provided professional development content for our usual audience of outdoor educators, staff & students. The point of difference in 2022 was that we included a dedicated industry content stream for camp operators and outdoor adventure activity providers, a mental health and wellbeing stream and a nature and environment focussed stream.

The event was held at the beautiful Lilydale Lakeside Conference Centre at Box Hill Institute and was such a delight we will be returning to Lilydale again in 2023!

  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014

The Brian Nettleton Lecture

The Brian Nettleton Lecture was introduced by Outdoors Victoria in 2018 at the “Your Future in the Outdoors” Conference, held at Victoria University, in honour of Dr Brian Nettleton, who passed away in 2017.

Brian was a pioneer of Outdoor Education and place-based experiences in Australia. His active engagement in the field had a remarkable influence on the journey of Outdoor Education in Victoria and inspired and supported many Outdoor Education professionals who have continued to think, teach and write in ways he helped establish.

A speech, delivered by John Quay from Melbourne University & Brian’s daughter, Lisa O’Leary, was a moving tribute and the birth of the “Brian Nettleton Keynote Lecture”.

As of 2019 our Education Outdoors Conference will contain a keynote speech  by an outstanding individual who shares Brian’s values and passionate working contribution to outdoor and environmental education in Australia.