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Outdoor Recreation Industry Council NSW
Newsletter - 28 October 2008
An industry that can speak with a united voice is more powerful than the individual |
In this issue .....
ORIC member appointment(back to topics)
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At the recent International Congress for Camping Professionals held in Quebec this month, Paul Colagiuri, from Somerset Outdoor Learning, an ORIC member, was announced as the elected Australasian representative to the International Camping Fellowship (ICF) Steering Committee. The ICF is a worldwide assembly of camping professionals whose mission is to make a difference by "bringing together a world of outdoor experience".
Founded in 1987, the ICF is committed to coordinating the exchange of news and information bewtween individuals, camps, outdoor experiences and organisations in different countries in order to encourage and facilitate bilateral and multileteral exchanges and to stimulate efforts to achieve international understanding and global living, leadership and ecological action through organised camping and outdoor experience and to encourage the organisation of regional and national camping associations.
We congratulate Paul on his appointment and look forward to his report on the Congress in Quebec in our next issue, where he will share some of the exciting information gleaned through his participation in international camp site visits, Camp Directors Course, Congress sessions and the potential for our region through his representation to the International Camping Fellowship. |
| Don't miss out - workshop opportunity - Sue Roffey 'Circle Time' (back to topics) |
Due to popular demand and expressions of interest received during and after the ORIC Conference, ORIC has engaged Sue to conduct a one-day workshop in November. This is your chance to attend...
'Circle Time' offers great potential for all camp facilitators and leaders, and is used within the Dept. of Education system. It is a framework for social and emotional learning which uses shared activities and games to promote the understanding and skills that are the foundations for positive relationships, resilience and responsibility.
Numbers are limited, and the Workshop includes a copy of Sue's book 'Circle Time for Emotional Literacy' more>> |
Free EPIRB service launched (back to topics) |
23 state-of-the-art digital EPIRBs, Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (or PLBs - Personal Locator Beacons) have been donated to the Police Rescue Service by Benbro Electronics and police procedures have been updated, to include the free-loan service.
The free-loan EPIRB service for Blue Mountains bushwalkers was launched by the NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for the Environment, Carmel Tebbutt , at a special ceremony in Lane Cove National Park on Friday, 3rd October.
The EPIRBs (PLBs) became available, for loan, from 18th October. To borrow an EPIRB, free-of-charge, a bushwalker simply needs to register their walk at either the National Parks and Wildlife Centre at Blackheath, during office hours or, after hours, at the Katoomba or Springwood 24-hour Police Stations. This should provide an incentive for bushwalkers to tell authorities of their intentions more>> |
| Have you made the switch to 406? (back to topics) |
If you own a EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) distress beacon we remind you again that from early 2009 only one type, the digital 406 MHz distress beacon will be detected by the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system.
As an operator/participant in outdoor recreation activities you need to ensure you replace your 121.5 MHz analogue beacon with the new 406 MHz Epirb. as soon as possible and no later than the cut-off date.
To continue to rely on a 121.5 MHz distress beacon after 1 February 2009 could jeopardise lives more>> |
| Australian Canoeing Award Scheme revision (back to topics) |
Australian Canoeing has announded the 2008 revision of its Award Scheme. This revision separates the Awards from a strict adherence to the VET Outdoor Recreation Training Package (SRO) units of competency whilst still allowing for completion of a statement of attainment containing the application units.
All Awards are now presented in the components for simplicity in training and assessment more>> |
| Sport & Recreation Training package update (back to topics) |
Draft 3 copies of the Outdoor Recreation qualifications and draft 2 copies of Sport and Community Recreation will be available for comment on the Service Skills Australia website in coming weeks. Changes have come from feedback received in face-to-face validation workshops across Australia, comments received on the Service Skills Australia Feedback Register, Industry Technical Working Group meetings and through further consultation with industry bodies, employees, employers and other intersted stakeholders. ORIC is represented on the Technical Working Group and has been engaged in numerous consultative meetings in this respect. Units of competency are continuing to be uploaded as they are developed. |
| 2009 Environmental Scan validation (back to topics) |
Service Skills Australia's work is well underway to gather information for the 2009 Environmental Scan. Skills Australia requires ISCs to produce an Environmental Scan each year, which captures industry skills needs and informs Skills Australia about where Australia's training effort should be concentrated.
As part of these research activities, Service Skills conducted a series of forums with employers and associations where research data and future economic and social trends were discussed. From these forums, SSA have developed a series of industry research reports, and will be seeking validation of these industry reports. Links to the online validation are available on the SSA website more>> |
| Artificial Climbing Structures - Standards Australia SF-047 (back to topics) |
After a wide ranging review of all current Standards projects, an assessment was undertaken by Standards Australia (SA) to determine those projects with the greatest priority.
Consequently, SF-047 Artificial Climbing Structures, Challenge Ropes and Flying Foxes review has been deemed a Provisional Project. Projects marked as "Provisional" have been identified as having significant benefit to stakeholders and communitees of interest, however, they cannot be fully resourced by SA at the current time. They may be reconsidered as resources become available. |
| NZ Outdoor Recreation discussion document launched (back to topics) |
NZ Sport and Recreation Minister Clayton Cosgrove has released a discussion document on outdoor recreation aimed at revitalising the sector. It is part of a review of outdoor recreation in New Zealand. The discussion document, 'Creating a healthy state for outdoor recreation in New Zealand', outlines nine initial findings from the review as well as some challenges and opportunities for the outdoor recreation sector, and invited the public to make submissions, so a national Outdoor Recreation Strategy can be in place by early 2009.
The review is being coordinated by the government agency Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) and guided by a working group made up of representatives from a wide range of outdoor recreation disciplines. These include the Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations of New Zealand, Federated Mountain Clubs, Fish and Game New Zealand, Mountain Safety Council, New Zealand Recreation Association, Outdoors New Zealand and the Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand more>> |
| Learning for Sustainability project (back to topics) |
The University of Queensland, together with Education Queensland's Outdoor and Environmental Education Centres, have conducted a Learning for Sustainability Project, which seeks to identify and investigate specific programme elements or pedagogies in the environment that are most effective in facilitating school students' learning for sustainability.
The project was designed to enhance understanding of the role and impact of nature-based learning experiences, identify factors that facilitate learning for sustainability, and support the development and implementation of best practice principles to enable Outdoor and Environmental Education Centres to optimise student learning for sustainability.
Results of this research have been published and are available on Queensland Learning for Sustainability website.
Environmental Education in NSW, Learning for Sustainability 2007-10 is the NSW Government's second three-year plan for environmental education. Prepared by the Council on Environmental Education in consultation with a range of stakeholders, it builds directly upon the Government's first plan, Learning for Sustainability 2002-05, by focusing on priority environmental issues, increasing the role of the non-government and industry sectors, and continual improvement of quality environmental education across the State.
All sectors of the NSW community are called on to play their part in building a learning society, one in which we are all informed and active contributors to creating a more sustainable future – at home, work, school and play.
You can find out more about the NSW Plan, what it will achieve and what it means for your organisation, by visiting
NSW Learning for Sustainability 2007-10. |
| Invitation to contribute (back to topics) |
A new association called Inter-Action Adventure Based Counseling (ABC) has been formed to service ‘at risk’ populations in North East NSW. ABC has drawn together members from a range of youth and mental health services and is sponsored by Inter-Action, an Outdoor Education Centre. In an effort to avoid pitfalls, the association is contacting Adventure Therapy providers across the country for assistance in starting up.
ABC’s first planned activity is three days of training in late Jan 09, where outdoor educators will meet with youth workers, with a view to forming staff teams to run programs. The hope is to offer a first program to young people early in 2009.
Any people in the South East QLD – North East NSW area who are interested in developing their personal skills in therapeutic interventions using adventures outdoors can contact Graham Pringle, General Manager (NSW) via email gpringle@interactionel.com.au. |
| Are you an Outdoor Leader? Important research (back to topics) |
If you are a current outdoor leader who spends considerable time in the field, Eric Brymer and Cathryn Carpenter of Victoria University, together with Tonia Gray (Uni Wollongong) and Wayne Cotton (Uni Sydney) would like your input.
"Given today's focus on the state of the environment it will be interesting to determine if outdoor education has a large role to play in the development of leaders who have a positive relationship to the natural world - which of course has larger links into the development of ecologically sound leaders in business as well as the development of sustainable practices.”
The aim of this project is to explore transformational leadership as appropriate for understanding outdoor leadership, and explore outdoor leader's ecological perspectives. It is hoped this model might add further insight into leadership and how to better prepare leaders for ecologically sound work in the outdoors and beyond.
If this project sound interesting to you, Eric would appreciate 20 minutes of your time completing the online survey. |
| OEG winner 'Employer of the Year' award (back to topics) |
The Outdoor Education Group (OEG) has recently been awarded the prestigious Employer of the Year award at the annual SpArta Awards ceremony in the category of Vocational Education and Training, sponsored by Verve. Verve – Knowledge & Skills, is the industry training advisory board (ITAB) for the arts and culture and sport and recreation sectors in Victoria, Australia.
The Outdoor Education Group (OEG) is an independent not-for-profit organisation founded in 1984 that specialises in adventure based outdoor experiential learning programs. OEG’s mission is to play a proactive role in preparing young people for the personal, social and environmental challenges in their lives more>> |
| 2008 Young Adventurers of the Year (back to topics) |
Those who attended the ORIC Conference and Awards Dinner were enthralled by James Castrission and Justin Jones's recount of "Crossing the Ditch" - braving 10-metre swells, howling winds, severe food and sleep deprivation, wasting muscle to become the first kayak expedition across the Tasman sea, and the longest trans-oceanic kayaking expedition undertaken by two expeditioners.
At a recent awards ceremony at the Powerhouse Museum, James and Justin were named 2008 Young Adventurers of the Year. "Justin and I are so ecstatic to get this award.... it's fantastic" said James. When the boys were out on the Tasman, awards and accolades were the furthest thing from there mind- however, they are honored to be rewarded for their efforts, they said. Plans are underway for another expedition to the Antarctic, details of which will be released on their website Crossingtheditch, where you can also view a podcast of their Tasman expedition. |
| Impact of falling dollar could affect equipment prices (back to topics) |
You know your Super is down; but do you know prices are going up? In a nut shell – the cost of importing has risen by around 33% - and prices will have to go up more>>> |
| First aid training course (back to topics) |
ORIC will be running a Wilderness Emergency Response First Aid course in early 2009. In support of members, we will issue a free Quick Response First Aid kit as a benefit to all ORIC members who participate in the program.
Four-day Wilderness Emergency Response (WER)
20th-23rd January 2009
Lane Cove, Sydney
Conducted by Wild Aid |
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© 2007 The Outdoor Recreation Industry Council of NSW -
PO Box 634, Wahroonga NSW 2076
Phone: (02) 9487 1184 / Fax: (02) 9487 8666 /
Email: info@oric.org.au / Web: www.oric.org.au |
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