Outdoors Victoria

Check out the latest from Climbing Victoria regarding the Temporary Fire-Related Closures affecting climbing spots in the Halls Gap area. **Transcript below** Temporary Fire Related Closures of Climbing in Halls Gap Area 10 January 2025 The Grampians National Park partially reopens today, Friday 10th January. PV have advised us that a list of designated climbing areas will "remain closed either because they are within the fire affected area, or within current operational areas still being managed as closed to public access by the Incident due to safety concerns.” The closed areas are grouped in the Central Grampians and Wonderland Range. They are listed below and can be found on the following map, listed as designated climbing areas 63 to 91. Map 4D Halls Gap Rock Climbing Areas This information is also provided on PV’s Climbing in Gariwerd page. Climbing Victoria will keep in regular contact with Parks Victoria to support and communicate progress on re-opening these areas as promptly as possible. These designated climbing areas sites 63-91 remain temporarily closed from 10 January 2025. 63. The Elephants Hide 64. Wild Geese Wall 65. Mackeys Peak 66. The Tower of Paine 67. Crock Wall 68. Blockbuster Buttress 69. Wil Flower Wall 70. Point Sunshine 71. The Upper Goon 72. The Lower Goon 73. Signal Peak 74. Frenchmans Beret 75. Grand Canyon 76. The underworld 77. The Wall of China 78. Neurology Wall 79. Bellfield Peak 80. Wurzelgammage 81. Lookout Point Wall 82. Lake View Wall 83. The Bleachers (Sundial Peak) (Bouldering Area) 84. Equinox Walls (RNA) 85. Western Wall 86. Stoney Peak 87. Bundaleer 88. Calecstasia Walls 89. Tower Hill 90. Rosea Far Right 91. Mount Rosea

✨ Wrapping up the year on a high! We’re still buzzing from the incredible energy of The National Outdoor Education Conference — which we hosted a few weeks ago on behalf of Outdoor Education Australia! Here are some snapshots of the amazing moments we shared. Thank you to everyone who made it unforgettable. If you have some photos to share, feel free to drop them in the comments section! ⬇️ Here’s to more connection, inspiration, and adventures in 2025! 🌿 #NOEC2024 #OutdoorEducation #OutdoorRecreation #CommunityConnection #Highlights #LiveLifeOutdoors

🌟 Our Final Newsletter of the Year is Out! 🌟 Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/dRAhnPhg and catch the highlights from the National Outdoor Education Conference we hosted on behalf of Outdoor Education Australia just a couple of weeks ago. Here’s what else is included: 📣 Active in Nature: Community Group Leaders can now express interest in this free, full-day adventure program running until April 2026. 📣 Discover Our Forests: Learn about our partnership with DEECA to create more outdoor experiences for everyone. 📣 Disability Hub Launch: New resources to help outdoor providers welcome people with disabilities. 📣 Nature Stewards: Autumn 2025 applications now open. 📣 NatCORR Weather Ready: Workshops for Outdoor Operations—2025 dates now available. 📣 PLA VIC/TAS Conference: Save the date for May 20–21, 2025. 📣 2025 Occupation Shortage List Survey: Stakeholder feedback now open. 📣 Reconciliation Conference: Two-day event on embedding First Peoples teachings in education.

Posting this information on behalf of Climbing Victoria: Dyurrite Mount Arapiles Consultation Update 16 December 2024 Today, Climbing Victoria was contacted by the Interim CEO for Parks Victoria, Gus Dear. Gus advised us that he is “in the process of establishing a steering committee commencing in January, with representatives from the local community, rock climbing groups and local government to be invited.” “The steering committee will provide advice to Parks Victoria as part of finalising the changes to the Dyurrite Cultural Landscape Management Plan in line with the extended consultation period.” The terms of reference for the steering committee have not been set and neither has the exact makeup of the steering committee. This is another good step along the way in response to the climbing community’s call for much improved consultation and input to the Dyurrite Cultural Landscape Management Plan. Visit: Climbingvictoria.com for more information

A warm welcome to all our "Active in Nature" Delivery Partners, who are working to help more Victorian young people (16-24 years old) try new outdoor recreation experiences in our amazing Parks, for better health, wellbeing and for a stronger connection to nature. Our Delivery Partners are now servicing a range of park locations around Victoria and offering a big mix of full day adventure activities to meet the needs of participating young people. Community Group Leaders (supporting young people) are now invited to express interest. Please find more information here: https://lnkd.in/g7iMwZgG Active in Nature is a proud partnership initiative brought to you by Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth), Parks Victoria and Outdoors Victoria delivered locally by Edmund Rice Community Services, Geelong Adventure Specialists, EACH Wild, YMCA Victoria, Bindaree Outdoor Education and The Climbing Company. #ActiveinNature #LiveLifeOutdoors

ANNOUNCEMENT: Active in Nature is back again! After a successful pilot, the Active in Nature program is gearing up again, to help our Victorian young people (16-24 years old) to try new outdoor recreation experiences in our amazing Parks, for better health, wellbeing and for a stronger connection to nature. Check out our latest video here: https://lnkd.in/gA8cZM6y Active in Nature (2024-26) is funded by Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) and delivered in partnership by Parks Victoria and Outdoors Victoria, providing free full day adventure activities for Community Groups who support young people, facilitated by Licenced Tour Operators in parks (managed by Parks Victoria). Community Group Leaders are now invited to express interest in Active in Nature – a free facilitated full day of adventure activities, delivered in parks, from November 2024 – April 2026 (until fully booked). For more information about who is eligible, locations and activities please visit: https://lnkd.in/g7iMwZgG #ActiveinNature #LiveLifeOutdoors

🚨 Last Call for NOEC Tickets! 🚨 Ticket sales close COB this Friday, 15th November AEDT —Don't miss out on participating in Australia's largest outdoor education and recreation professional development opportunity and networking. • This year, we have NOEC’s biggest program ever - with over 110 presentations! • Keynote presentations from seasoned experts, including the Dr. Brian Nettleton Memorial Lecture by Dr. Val Nicholls and Sandy Allen-Craig, Dr. Benny Wilson—a Jagera man and Associate Professor at the University of Canberra, Dr. Jeff Jackson, Coordinator of Canada’s skills-intensive Outdoor Adventure Diploma Program, and Manjul Prateeti, Director and COO at OREAS Group, Journey 4 Good and Travel 4 Good. • Ample networking opportunities (including welcome drinks and nibbles on Wednesday and BBQ + cocktail hour on Thursday) in addition to morning and afternoon teas and lunches • Expect not one, but two exhibitor areas with over 40 exhibitors waiting to connect with you. All our exhibitor stalls are now fully booked! Secure your spot now and be part of the action: https://lnkd.in/dknmYncm Outdoors Victoria Outdoors NSW & ACT Outdoors WA Outdoors Queensland Outdoors SA Outdoor Educators' Association of South Australia (OEASA) Australian Camps Association Christian Venues Association @NBONSA - Nature Based Outdoor Network of South Australia #NOEC2024 #OutdoorEducation #OutdoorEd #AdventureAwaits #OEA #OutdoorEducationAustralia #OutdoorRecreation

CLIMBING VICTORIA MEDIA RELEASE, DYURRITE MOUNT ARAPILES-TOOAN STATE PARK It is now still less than 4 days since the Jacinta Allan government released the far-reaching proposals to change Dyurrite Mt Arapiles. Since our initial media release earlier this week, we have now had time to digest the details and consider the implications and consequences. We acknowledge the impact and pain felt throughout our community, along with the potential risk to jobs, livelihoods and peoples futures. We are working tirelessly on a number of fronts. Key initial activities include: 1. In conjunction with the Natimuk Economic and Social Strategy Committee we are sponsoring a petition supported by Emma Kealy MP for Lowan. This petition will be available in the very near future and we are aiming to raise at least 10,000 signatures from Victorian residents so it will have to be heard in parliament. This petition will be calling for a full engagement consultation process. 2. We have secured a meeting with the Minister for Environment, Steve Dimpolous to raise the concerns of the climbing community and other affected stakeholders. We shall also be seeking a guarantee of a genuine and comprehensive consultation to be undertaken and with climbing and the local community, not the sham process that is currently in place. 3. We are working with a network of other key climbing organisations across Australia that have come to our assistance. This demonstrates the value and importance of Dyurrite Mt Arapiles to interstate and international visitors that then visit other parts of Victoria. The first action will be an open letter from these organisations directed to the Allan government. 4. Obtaining greater detail and clarity from Parks Victoria on the details of the proposed management plan for Dyurrite Mt Arapiles. 5. Media interviews and the provision of information to the media has been another key task. 6. Last but not least, we have clarified with Parks Victoria that the Pines Campground will remain open and unchanged as will the road around it. We continue to fully support and respect the Barengi Gadjin Land Councils’ (BGLC) right to protect cultural heritage and Climbing Victoria are keen to work with BGLC to continue to find solutions so that climbing and the preservation of cultural heritage can coexist in harmony. We will keep you updated as and when we can. In the meantime, keep going to Dyurrite Mt Arapiles, it is still open. Go in peace. You can contact us at hello@climbingvictoria.com If this situation is causing you anxiety or distress, please reach to Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 or Lifeline 13 11 14.

🚀 We're thrilled to introduce our incredible NOEC 2024 keynote speakers! 🌿✨ 🌏 Dr. Benny Wilson: A proud Jagera man and Associate Professor at the University of Canberra, bringing deep connections to Country and expertise in initial teacher education. His research mainly concerns story and its intersection with place-based pedagogies. In 2022, Benny won the AAUT Neville Bonner Award for University Teaching and the ACT NAIDOC Indigenous Scholar of the Year for his work on Country as Teacher. 🎓 Dr. Jeff Jackson: Outdoor Adventure Program Coordinator at Algonquin College, Ontario, Canada, and owner of Jeff Jackson Professional, a leading risk consultancy business. All the way from Ontario, Canada, Jeff has worked with provincial governments on recreation policy development, insurance providers on rating systems, and over one hundred outdoor organizations and tourism operators with risk planning. He is also an award-winning Professor and the Coordinator of Canada’s skills intensive Outdoor Adventure Diploma Programme and still river guides in the summer. 🏕️ Manjul Prateeti: Director and COO of the OREAS Group, Journey 4 Good, and Travel 4 Good, dedicated to enhancing outdoor learning and delivering top-quality outdoor education programs worldwide. A graduate of Moray House School of Education at the University of Edinburgh, Manjul has spent the past 14 years working internationally across India, America, and Australia, driven by a passion for adventure and facilitating impactful outdoor education programs. Discover more about our inspiring keynotes and what they’ll bring to NOEC 2024 here --> https://lnkd.in/dTiwS9bK

Climbing Victoria statement, Dyurrite Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park This is a statement from Climbing Victoria, (the peak body representing outdoor climbers in Victoria) in response to the Victorian Government media release today regarding changes to the Management Plan for Mt Arapiles-Tooan State Park, known by the Indigenous community as Dyurrite. Climbing Victoria acknowledges that these changes have been driven by the need to protect and celebrate the Indigenous cultural heritage and value of the park. Climbing Victoria fully supports a Management Plan that provides robust protections for Indigenous cultural heritage and provides resources for sharing and celebrating this heritage with the wider community. However, we ask that the Allan government and particularly Minister Dimopoulos to acknowledge that these changes, which severely curtail climbing in the park, will have a profound impact on the Victorian climbing community and the local Natimuk and Horsham communities. Despite 90% of the parks visitors being climbers, the climbing community has not been engaged in the development of the management plan changes. We ask that the government ensure that the climbing community is now at least provided a genuine path for in-person input and engagement in the finalisation and activation of the Management Plan including the proposed investments. Climbing Victoria looks forward to the opportunity to work directly with Barengi Gadjin Land Council (BGLC) and Parks Victoria, to make this the most extraordinary cultural and climbing area in this cherished place. We encourage the climbing community to understand and respect these changes, and actively participate in the engagement process that can help to support a healthy climbing environment at Mt Arapiles Dyurrite long into the future. We also encourage climbers to continue to visit Mt Arapiles Dyurrite where some of the best traditional climbing in Australia remains. Media enquiries in the first instance can be directed to: hello@climbingvictoria.com and we will be back to you via email or phone you the same business day.