Winners all! (missing FNQ Nature Quest & Orielle Michaelis-Thorpe)
Outdoors Queensland is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Outdoors Queensland Awards. The awards judging panel would like to acknowledge all the winners, all the finalists, all the nominees and all those who put forward a nomination, for all they have done for the outdoors in Queensland.
Click here to see all the Finalist Videos
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: Russell Boswell, Allana Bold, Mark “Mango” Mangles, Cherelle Stager
Winner: Allana Bold
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: Sian Anstis, Antonia Loizos, Seth Graham, Brigid O’Brien
Winner: Orielle Michaelis-Thorpe
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: Total Adventures, Barambah Environmental Education Centre, Scout Association of Australia Queensland Branch
Winner: Emu Gully Adventure Education Group
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: Walkabout Training, Guides Queensland
Finalists: Total Adventures, Barambah Environmental Education Centre, Scout Association of Australia Queensland Branch
Winner: University of the Sunshine Coast
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: Rick Petersen, Hike Club Social, QLD Camping Bears
Winner: 26th Australian Scout Jamboree
Protect Beautiful Queensland 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: Walkabout Training, Sunrise Peak Psychology and Adventure Therapy, My Summit ABTS
Winner: Jump Up For Kids
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: By Earth and Ocean, Hike Club Social, Trevena Glen Farm
Winners: Girls Trek, Arcadia Women Adventures
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 Play Advocates, Tallitha Taylor
Winner: FNQ Nature Quest
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: Active Women and Girls Program – Sport & Recreation, Mt Coot-tha Adaptive MTB Trail Project – Brisbane City Council, Destination 2045 – Dept of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, Boodjamulla National Park Restoration – Dept of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation & Waanyi Native Title Aboriginal Corporation
Winner: Finch Hatton MTB Trails – Mackay Regional Council
Life Member: Phil Harrison
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of an Outdoors Queensland Life Member certificate.
The Outdoors Queensland Board may from time to time recommend to a General Meeting of members that the organisation confer life membership upon individuals who have rendered distinguished service to the organisation and/or to the wider outdoors community in Queensland.
In March 2025, the members present at the Outdoors Queensland AGM unanimously approved our newest Life Member, Phil Harrison.
Raffle Prizes
Prizes raffled during the Awards Dinner were kindly donated by K2 Base Camp ( 2 x Rab daypacks and 2 x Exped Trailhead pillows); Category 5 Emergency Care (a $200 voucher), Riverlife Brisbane (2 x $99 twilight river tours), Equipped Outdoors (a Roman Palm Visa sleeping bag and a CamelBak insulated tumbler), Playmeo (a copy of No Props, No Problem and 1 x Pro Subscription), and a copy of ‘The Paddlers Guide to Queensland’ from our Shop.
Award Sponsors
Outdoors Queensland thanks and acknowledges the ongoing support of the Outdoors Queensland Awards from our sponsors: the Queensland Government, K2 Base Camp, the Active Queenslanders Industry Alliance, Equipped Outdoors
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