Draft Australian Adventure Activity Standard

The Outdoor Council of Australia has released the Draft Australian Adventure Activity Standard and Good Practice Guides for industry consultation, marking a major milestone in the national review of the framework that supports safe, responsible and sustainable led outdoor adventure activity delivery across Australia.

Consultation opens on 3 July 2026 and closes on 31 July 2026. Outdoor education providers, adventure tourism operators, outdoor recreation organisations, camps, guides, instructors, land managers, training organisations, insurers, peak bodies and other stakeholders are encouraged to review the draft documents and provide feedback through the online submission portal.

All draft documents, supporting information and the submission portal can be accessed at: www.outdoorcouncilaustralia.com/aaasreview.

The Australian Adventure Activity Standard, known as the AAAS, provides a national good-practice framework for organisations delivering led outdoor adventure activities with dependent participants. The AAAS is widely used across the outdoor industry to support planning, safety, risk management, environmental responsibility, participant care and organisational decision-making and it is becoming more important for organisations to comply with its recommendations.

Outdoor Council of Australia Chair Lori Modde said the consultation period is a critical opportunity for industry to help shape the final documents.

The AAAS has always been developed by industry, for industry. This review is about ensuring the framework remains practical, contemporary and useful for the wide range of organisations and leaders who deliver outdoor adventure activities across Australia, Ms Modde said.

We are asking people to read the draft documents carefully, consider how the proposed updates may affect their operations, and provide specific, constructive feedback through the submission portal before 31 July.

State outdoor peak bodies and partners will host webinars throughout July to help industry understand the draft documents, highlight key changes and support organisations to participate in the consultation process. Industry members may attend any webinar, regardless of their location, and are encouraged to choose the session that best suits their availability.

Following the close of consultation, feedback will be reviewed and considered before the final AAAS documents are released in September 2026.

The final release will also be accompanied by the AAAS Information Hub, including an AI-supported GPT tool designed to help industry navigate the updated framework and support implementation. The tool will assist users to locate relevant guidance and better understand how the AAAS may apply in their context, while recognising that it does not replace professional judgement, organisational governance, legal advice or land manager requirements.

This is not just a document release. It is part of a broader commitment to helping the outdoor industry understand, adopt and implement good practice, Ms Modde said.

The Information Hub and AI-supported tool will help make the AAAS more accessible and easier to use, particularly for organisations working across multiple activities, jurisdictions and participant groups.

Industry stakeholders are encouraged to:

• Download and review the draft AAAS documents.
• Attend a July webinar hosted by state partners.
• Discuss the draft with staff, leaders, boards and operational teams.
• Lodge feedback through the online submission portal by 31 July 2026.

For more information and to provide feedback, visit:

For media enquiries please email chair@outdoorcouncilaustralia.com