AAAS Review Update: Leadership Capability, KSE and What Happens NexT

TL;DR

The AAAS review is at a critical point. Industry feedback is being sought on whether leadership capability (including the current VET, Knowledge Skills Experience structure) should be structurally reformed within this review cycle. A national survey is about to be released to test support for change. If endorsed, a revised capability framework will be developed and embedded now.

If you work in the Outdoor Industry — education, recreation, tourism or therapy — your input matters. Participate in the consultation and help shape the future of leadership recognition in Australia.

The Outdoor Council of Australia (OCA) has received strong and constructive feedback regarding the current review of the Australian Adventure Activity Standard (AAAS) and associated Good Practice Guides (GPGs).

Given the recent discussions across the Steering Committee, Core GPG Committee and the various activity expert groups, we want to provide a clear, transparent update to the broader Outdoor Industry.

This is also an opportunity to ask yourself, “should I get involved”?

Before outlining the detail of the review process, it is important to emphasise this: if you have not yet engaged in the AAAS consultation, now is the time. The AAAS underpins how capability, risk management and leadership are understood across the Outdoor Industry — from outdoor education and recreation through to adventure tourism and therapeutic programs. It influences insurer confidence, regulator interpretation, workforce pathways and, ultimately, how our organisations operate on the ground. If decisions are made without broad participation, they risk reflecting only a narrow slice of the sector. Strong, informed input from operators, educators, guides, trainers, land managers and peak bodies ensures the framework is practical, defensible and representative of contemporary practice. This is not just a standards update — it is a shaping moment for the future of leadership recognition in our industry.

This article explains:

• What is in scope

• What is being consulted on

• What the likely next steps are

• What this means for the industry

1. What is the AAAS Review Actually Funded to Do?

The current project is to review and update the AAAS and existing GPGs, aligned with current needs of the industry, its stakeholders and its participants.

That includes:

·      Updating language

·      Improving clarity

·      Aligning with contemporary practice

·      Addressing known inconsistencies

·      Consulting industry on areas of concern

We have heard that in this review it is possibly needed for a structural redesign of leadership capability articulation, particularly the way Knowledge, Skills and Experience (KSE) are currently referenced.

If the industry identifies a structural problem, it is appropriate and necessary that we respond to it within this review cycle.

2. The Leadership Capability Issue

For several years, concerns have been raised about the interpretation and articulation of leadership capability through, mentioned or absent, training qualifications within the AAAS and GPGs.

The issues broadly include:

• Interpretation leading to over-reliance on Vocational Education & Training (VET) qualifications as the dominant articulation of competence

• Limited recognition of other formal qualifications under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)

• Limited recognition of non-accredited and experiential pathways

• Workforce barriers created by inflexible competency mapping

• Inconsistency across GPGs

There is broad recognition across committees that the current structure requires review.

Removing VET references without replacing them with a coherent, defensible alternative would create ambiguity for:

• Operators

• Insurers

• Regulators

• Land managers

• Education and training providers

3. What Is Happening Now?

Three streams of work are occurring in parallel:

Industry Verification Survey (Launching End of February)

A structured national consultation will:

·      Test industry appetite for change

·      Seek clear endorsement (or otherwise)

·      Extend beyond the current AAAS database

·      Include the KSE discussion explicitly

This is not a token survey.It is intended to establish a clear mandate giving OCA the verification for this significant change in the AAAS.

Core Committee Structural Work

Importantly, the Core GPG Committee is already testing a proposed alternative structural model that could replace the current Knowledge, Skills and Experience section in all GPGs — should industry support that direction. This would then support the potential integration of relevant formal pathways (AQF III - VII), community based qualifications, in-house training and peer recognition as well as industry representation.

This is a critical step.

It means we are not waiting for the survey to finish before thinking about solutions.We are preparing for a likely change to ensure it is done in time with the review project concluding.

Governance & Implementation Planning

If consultation supports structural change, the following will occur:

• Clear decision thresholds will be applied

• A targeted volunteer working group with expertise across VET, tertiary, industry and standards will be convened

• Reform will be embedded within this review cycle

The Board has made it clear, if change is to occur, it must be embedded now.

4. What Will Happen With Draft GPGs?

Draft GPGs are scheduled for release in end of March/ early April.

If the survey indicates strong support for structural change:

• Sections relating to Knowledge, Skills and Experience may be marked as pending structural update when these are released.

• Structural reform work will run concurrently within the project timeline.

This avoids locking in outdated structures while still maintaining project momentum.

5. What This Means for the Outdoor Industry

The AAAS applies across the Outdoor Industry, including:

·      Outdoor education

·      Outdoor recreation

·      Adventure tourism

·      Therapeutic and community programs

Leadership capability recognition affects:

·      Workforce mobility

·      Insurance confidence

·      Regulator clarity

·      Training pathways

·      Volunteer participation

·      Industry growth

The goal is a nationally coherent framework that:

·      Recognises multiple capability pathways

·      Maintains clarity for insurers and regulators

·      Supports workforce development

·      Reduces unnecessary barriers

·      Reflects contemporary Outdoor Industry practice

6. What You Need to Do

When the survey is released:

·      Read it carefully

·      Provide considered input

·      Share it across your networks

·      Encourage participation from education, recreation, tourism and therapy sectors

Strong participation strengthens legitimacy.

Summary

The OCA Board is committed to:

·      Transparency

·      Evidence-based decision-making

·      National consistency

·      Recognising diverse capability pathways

·      Delivering reform within this review cycle where endorsed

We thank all stakeholders who have constructively engaged, and we look forward to working with more of you as we get into the final stages of the review. This is how national standards should evolve — through robust, professional and collective industry dialogue.

Further updates will be provided as consultation progresses.

Get Involved via the AAAS Review Website

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