Outdoors Queensland Awards 2024
Date: Friday November 29, 2024
Venue: Rydges South Bank
The Finalists 2024
Outdoors Queensland is proud to announce the winners 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.
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.
Make your Awards Dinner booking here – Early Bird Tickets now on sale
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.
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: