Outdoors Queensland Awards

Outdoors Queensland Awards 2024

Date: Friday November 29, 2024
Venue: Rydges South Bank

The Finalists 2024

The Finalists 2024

Outdoors Queensland is proud to announce the finalists of the 2024 Outdoors Queensland Awards. The awards judging panel would like to acknowledge all the finalists, all the nominees and all those who put forward a nomination, for all they have done for the outdoors in Queensland.

Congratulations to all!

Queensland Government Individual Achievement Award
This award is for individuals who have demonstrated professionalism, high achievement in a particular field and exemplary role modelling.
Finalists:

  • Sean Karambasis
  • Darren Osmond
  • Indigo Willing
  • Lynda Aldridge
  • Tam Hill

K2 Base Camp Emerging Achiever Award
This award recognises the efforts and achievements of an individual new to the outdoor sector; a student, a young person, or anyone making a change into the sector.
Finalists:

  • Paige Jayne Parker
  • Matthew Vella
  • Bailey Connell
  • Jacob Bennett

Equipped Outdoors Outdoor Education Award
This award is for school, early childhood, out of school care, camp or outdoor education providers that deliver outdoor education programs in outdoor adventurous settings, and significantly influence a participant’s physical ability, mental health and ability to thrive
Finalists:

  • Wild and Wise Tribe
  • Faith Christian School
  • Outdoor Skills 4Kids Pty Ltd
  • Youth Flourish Outdoors
  • Holloways Beach Environmental Education Centre

AQIA Workforce Development Award
This award is open to any organisation that supports workforce development by taking on trainee employees/volunteers, provides in-house training or supports workers to undertake external training.
Finalist:

  • Klepper Training Academy
  • Walkabout Training

Queensland Government Outdoor Recreation Award
This award is for an outdoor recreation peak body, club, provider, event or product that stands out from all others; has raised awareness about the benefits of outdoor recreation and being outdoors; has increased participation in outdoor recreation; and has made a significant impact on the outdoor recreation sector.
Finalists:

  • Camp Somerset
  • Miles District Fishing & Recreation Club
  • Townsville Hike and Explore Group Inc
  • parkrun Australia ltd

Bec Fox Unleash Your Power Outdoor Therapies Award
The recipient of this award is an individual, organisation or program that has significantly improved the health and wellbeing of Queenslanders through the use of nature and/or adventure by delivering innovative programs, interventions, training, advocacy and/or research.
Finalists:

  • Birdwings Forest School
  • HYPAR Wild
  • Tribes Adventure Group
  • My Summit ABTS

Queensland Government Adventure Tourism Award
This award is for a tourism operator, event or product that delivers outdoor activity adventure products for either local or inbound participants.
Finalists:

  • Dolphin Wild Island Cruises
  • K’gari Tours
  • PicTrax Pty Ltd

Queensland Government Outdoor Play Award
This award is for organisations (eg. play groups, nature play providers, community groups, councils) that have increased opportunities for Queensland children to spend time in unstructured play outdoors and in nature.
Finalists:

  • The Outsiders
  • Homegrown Nature Play and Learning
  • FNQ Nature Quest
  • Seedlings & Co Calamvale

Outdoors Queensland Government Achievement Award
The Government Achievement Award recognises the achievements of local or state government department, agency, person or program and/or agency that has produced positive outcomes for the outdoor sector.
Finalists:

  • QPWS Springbrook National Park Trail Network
  • Noosa Council Cooroora Trail Upgrade
  • FNQROC Regional MTB Strategy

 

Outdoors Queensland Awards Dinner

The winners will be announced at the Outdoors Queensland Awards Dinner on Friday November 29th, 2024, at Rydges South Bank Brisbane

Bookings for the dinner are now OPEN – why not make a night of it. Bring your staff to an end of year treat, invite your friends and family, come along and meet others working in the sector, hear from our guest speaker, paralympian  Alexa Leary. And if you are also a finalist for an award, enjoy the anticipation of a win, and celebrate with all the winners.

Awards Dinner bookings now CLOSED

The Outdoors Queensland Awards Dinner is a popular networking opportunity for members of the outdoor community to get together to celebrate the Award winners – the individuals and organisations who have made a positive and lasting difference to the outdoors and outdoor recreation in Queensland, in all its various guises.

Guest Speaker

Alexa Leary

An aspiring athlete from a young age, Alexa is a 22-year old former triathlete and current champion swimmer in freestyle for the individual and team relay events. She will be representing the green and gold at the 2024 Paris Paralympics just three years post a traumatic brain injury sustained in 2021 which saw her immobilised and in question of ever walking again. Read More

We are privileged to welcome Alexa to the Outdoors Queensland Awards evening and look forward to her story of resilience and how she overcame adversity to attain her dreams.

About the Awards

The Outdoors Queensland Awards recognise and reward excellence in the outdoors community. The Awards celebrate individuals, organisations, programs, events and activities that have been successful in significantly improving outcomes for participants, clients and communities.

The Outdoors Queensland Awards are for the ‘outdoors community in Queensland’ – outdoor enthusiasts, adventure tourism operators, outdoor education providers, activity clubs, land managers, retailers … and more.

The Outdoors Queensland Awards are an important means of recognising the size and diversity of the outdoors community and industry and provide an opportunity for outdoor individuals and organisations to be rewarded and recognised for their contribution. They are also a means of recognising how important the outdoors, outdoor activity and the environment are to the lifestyle of Queenslanders.

New Event Sponsor

In 2024 we are proud to announce a new event sponsor, Protect Beautiful Queensland.

The synergy between our two organisations is clear when comparing our mission statements:
Protect Beautiful Queensland: We want all Queenslanders to have better access to the beautiful nature that our state has in abundance, and Outdoors Queensland: That all people have the opportunity to make connections with Queensland’s outdoors.

Be inspired!

Check out the Previous Award Winners    

Outdoors Queensland Distinguished Achievers Award

This award recognises and acknowledges the achievements of the consistent winners of the Outdoors Queensland Awards (and formerly the Queensland Outdoor Recreation Awards) since their inception in 2002. The benchmark is a minimum of three awards.

Previous recipients:

The Awards

Sponsored by the Queensland Government

This award is for individuals who have demonstrated professionalism, high achievement in a particular field and exemplary role modelling.

They should meet all or some of the Essential Criteria, and in addition, they may have demonstrated excellence through one or more:

  • High achiever in chosen field
  • Exemplary leadership and role modelling
  • Commitment to professional practice and communication
  • Ethical outdoor practice
  • Significant contribution to an organisation, outdoor recreation and/or the outdoor community

Suitable for an Individual

Sponsored by K2 Base Camp

This award recognises the efforts and achievements of an individual new to the outdoor sector; a student, a young person, or anyone making a change into the sector. They may be enrolled in a structured course (eg school, TAFE, university), volunteering, working as a trainee, or newly employed by an outdoor provider.

They should meet all or some of the Essential Criteria, and in addition, they may have demonstrated excellence through one or more:

  • Achievement of personal goals or marked improvement
  • Personal leadership qualities and initiative
  • Professional behaviour and ethical outdoor practice
  • Effort over and above what is expected
  • Commitment to best practice delivery and safety
  • Contribution which has helped achieve significant outcomes

Suitable for an Individual

Sponsored by the Queensland Government

This award is for an outdoor recreation peak body, club, provider, event or product that stands out from all others; has raised awareness about the benefits of outdoor recreation and being outdoors; has increased participation in outdoor recreation; and has made a significant impact on the outdoor recreation sector.

They should meet all or some of the Essential Criteria, and in addition, they may have demonstrated excellence through one or more:

  • Consistent high quality service delivery and safety record
  • Innovative instructional, recreational, or educational programs
  • Inclusive opportunities for people of all ages and/or abilities
  • Demonstrated environmental sustainability and land management practices
  • Active involvement in local communities
  • Opportunities created for people to have positive experiences in the outdoors
  • Effective marketing and promotion

Suitable for an Organisation

Sponsored by Equipped Outdoors

This award is for school, early childhood, out of school care, camp or outdoor education providers that deliver outdoor education programs in outdoor adventurous settings, and significantly influence a participant’s physical ability, mental health and ability to thrive.

They should meet all or some of the Essential Criteria, and in addition they may have demonstrated excellence through one or more:

  • Innovative instructional or educational programs
  • Consistent high quality service delivery and safety record
  • Inclusive opportunities for students of all ages and/or abilities
  • Development of innovative outdoor learning environments, spaces or venues
  • Development of creative resources for outdoor education – activities, games, initiatives.
  • Demonstrated environmental sustainability and land management practices
  • Innovative or creative approaches to curriculum interpretation in outdoor learning.
  • Creating opportunities for students to have positive experiences in the outdoors
  • Outcomes that include improved student personal, social and environmental awareness, understanding and commitment

Suitable for an Organisation

Sponsored by the Queensland Government

This award is for organisations (eg. play groups, nature play providers, community groups, councils) that have increased opportunities for Queensland children to spend time in unstructured play outdoors and in nature.

They should meet all or some of the Essential Criteria, and in addition they may have demonstrated excellence through one or more:

  • Innovative outdoor / nature play programs, events, or activities
  • Provision of exciting outdoor / nature play spaces
  • Development of creative resources for outdoor / nature play
  • Awareness raising events, publications, or services

Suitable for an Organisation

Sponsored by Bec Fox – Unleash Your Power

The recipient of this award is an individual, organisation or program that has significantly improved the health and wellbeing of Queenslanders through the use of nature and/or adventure by delivering innovative programs, interventions, training, advocacy and/or research.

They should meet all or some of the Essential Criteria, and in addition they may have demonstrated excellence through one or more:

  • Inclusive program design and delivery
  • Program development in line with state and/or national health initiatives
  • Demonstrated commitment to sustainable replicable program development
  • Outcomes demonstrating improvements to users and/or practice
  • Demonstrated commitment to the development of adventure therapies

Suitable for an Individual or an Organisation

Sponsored by the Queensland Government

This award is for a tourism operator, event or product that delivers outdoor activity adventure products for either local or inbound participants.

They should meet all or some of the Essential Criteria, and in addition they may have demonstrated excellence through one or more:

  • Consistent high quality service delivery and safety record
  • Innovative physical activity products
  • Demonstrated focus on the environment and/or indigenous culture
  • Inclusive opportunities for people of all ages and/or abilities
  • Demonstrated environmental sustainability and land management practices
  • Opportunities created for people to have positive experiences in the outdoors
  • Responsible marketing and promotion

Suitable for an Organisation

Sponsored by the Active Queenslanders Industry Alliance (AQIA)

This award is open to any organisation that supports workforce development by taking on trainee employees/volunteers, provides in-house training or supports workers to undertake external training. 

They should meet all or some of the Essential Criteria, and in addition, they may have demonstrated excellence through one or more: 

  • Commitment to personal and career development of workers 
  • Consistent high quality in-house training delivery 
  • Provision of support for workers to undertake education and/or training with Registered Training Organisations or universities
  • Trainee positions offered to a diverse range of people and abilities 
  • Incorporating a commitment to the Australian Adventure Activity Standard (AAAS) within worker training

Suitable for an Organisation

Sponsored by Outdoors Queensland

The Government Achievement Award recognises the achievements of local or state government department, agency, person or program and/or agency that has produced positive outcomes for the outdoor sector.

The recipient of this award, selected by the Outdoors Queensland Board, should meet all or some of the Essential Criteria, and in addition may have demonstrated excellence through one or more:

  • Development of supportive policies, strategies and/or actions
  • Active engagement with advisory groups or committees to address community needs and values
  • The provision of a diverse range of outdoor activity opportunities

Sponsors

Outdoors Queensland thanks and acknowledges the ongoing support of the Outdoors Queensland Awards from our sponsors: the Queensland Government, Protect Beautiful Queensland, the Active Queenslanders Industry Alliance, Bec Fox – Unleash Your Power, K2 Base Camp, and Equipped Outdoors

Outdoors Queensland Awards Sponsor Logos

 

 

Resources

Resources to help you plan and run an amazing event: Event Management

An Outdoors Queensland initiative