Building Unity and Momentum: Reflections from the Second OCA Member Forum

The Outdoor Council of Australia (OCA) continues to shape a strong, unified voice for the outdoor sector, and the recent Member Forum on March 20, 2025, offered a powerful example of this commitment. This second formal forum brought together leaders from across the outdoor community—representing education, recreation, health, and adventure—to discuss the issues, opportunities, and priorities that are shaping the future of our sector.

A Forum for All Voices

From the outset, the forum reaffirmed OCA’s mission to be an inclusive and collaborative platform. With attendees representing diverse interests—from Scouts and Outdoor Education to Recreation and Health—the conversation centred around ensuring every member’s voice is not only heard but valued in shaping the OCA’s strategic direction. The endorsement of the forum’s Terms of Reference confirmed a collective commitment to shared governance, transparency, and open communication.

While the forum isn’t a decision-making body, its advisory role is pivotal. Members are not only informed of board activities, but actively invited to influence direction through shared insight and collective wisdom. As one participant noted, the forum’s success lies in its ability to “measure accountability through engagement.” In other words, when members lean in, the sector moves forward.

Aligning with Opportunity

Updates on the Federal Government campaign positioning showcased how coordinated advocacy can elevate the sector’s voice. With a powerful policy paper in hand, OCA urged members to send template letters to local MPs—a simple but critical step to raise awareness of the sector’s value in education, mental health, physical activity, and workforce development.

The appointment of Dr. David Marsden to lead the AAAS review was another significant milestone for OCA. His experience, coupled with a robust consultation strategy, promises a renewed focus on standards that reflect the sector’s evolving needs. With connections forming between the AAAS process, HumanAbility’s qualifications review, and state-level policy discussions, it’s clear the OCA is connecting the dots across all areas of the outdoor profession.

Strength in Shared Challenges

The forum also provided space to discuss practical issues affecting access and delivery across the country. Concerns over land access in WA, climbing bans in Victoria, and changing school camp funding models across several states are being tracked closely. These challenges, while complex, are being met with a spirit of collaboration—bringing together land managers, traditional owners, practitioners, and government in search of long-term solutions.

From safety standards like milk crate stacking to broader environmental concerns around bauxite mining, the OCA is ensuring that the sector doesn’t just react to change—it helps shape it.

Investing in the Future

Workforce development remained a key focus, with a growing emphasis on career pathways, competency recognition, and more adaptive qualification models. As the industry works to gain federal recognition for occupational shortages, the opportunity for greater access to government training and recruitment support could be a game-changer.

OCA’s role in facilitating this national conversation—linking curriculum, workforce, and standards—is invaluable.

Looking Ahead

With its next strategic planning session planned for May, the OCA Board of Directors is poised to crystallize its vision and strategic pillars, and members will be invited to shape that process once the draft is released. 

Together, we are building a stronger, more inclusive, and future-focused outdoor sector.

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