Outdoors Queensland is proud to announce the winners of the 2020 Outdoors Queensland Awards
Check out the Photos (coming soon) submitted from the online Awards Presentation and watch all the finalist videos on QORF TV
The Brisbane City Council Award for Outstanding Achievement (Organisation) This award is open to clubs, organisations and enterprises that have made a valuable contribution to the outdoor community and operate with professionalism and to high standards.
Winner: Youth Flourish Outdoors
Finalists:
Higher Ground
North Brisbane Dirt Dogs
WYLD Projects
The Queensland Government Award for Outstanding Achievement (Individual) This award is for individuals who have demonstrated professionalism, high achievement in a particular field and exemplary role modelling.
Winners: Adrian Antonello and Jon Webb
Finalists:
Darren Osmond
Dave Reeve
Peter Effeney
The Queensland Government Encouraging Participation Award The recipient of this award will have achieved significant success in encouraging participation in outdoor activities through innovative program development and/or marketing.
Winner: Nature Freedom Finalists:
2 Bent Rods
Arcadia Agile Learning Centre
The K2 Basecamp Young Achiever Award This award recognises the efforts and achievements of a individual new to the outdoor sector; a student, young person or other making a change into the field.
Winner: Kelle-Ann Druery
Finalist:
Jacob Forker
The Outdoors Queensland Government Achievement Award This award recognises the achievements of local or state government departments and/or agencies that have produced positive outcomes for the outdoor sector.
Winner: Gympie Regional Council
Finalists:
Department of Environment and Science ‘Think Outside’
Queensland Recreation Centres
The Brisbane City Council Outdoor Event Award This award is for individuals, organisations or committees that have developed and managed a significant outdoor recreation event, that might include one-off or annual events such as Come-and Try days, Adventure Races, Expos or Festivals, major state / national / international championships, jamborees …
Winner: AAA Racing and Coaching – Clint Eastwood Last One Standing
Finalists:
Shimano Mountain Bike Grand Prix, Jo Parker & Bob Morris (Rocky Trail Entertainment)
Urban Challenge, Scouts Queensland
The Nature Play QLD Nature Play Education Award This award is for educational services or institutions, such as schools or childcare centres, that have increased the time kids spend in outdoor learning, Forest School or unstructured outdoor play.
Winner: Wildlings Forest School
Finalists:
Berrinba East State School
Clearview Early Learning and Kindergarten
Goodna Special School
The Queensland Government Award for Outdoor Places and Spaces This award recognises that outdoor recreation activities require access to places and spaces. Nominees for this award will have developed one or more outstanding outdoor recreation facilities or venues.
Winner: Brisbane City Council – Oxley Creek Transformation
Finalist:
North Brisbane Dirt Dogs, Bunyaville and Samford
The Queensland Government Nature Play Community Award This award is for communities (individuals or organisations) that have developed initiatives to increase the time kids spend in unstructured play outdoors and in nature.
Winner: Birdwings Forest School
Finalist:
Brisbane City Council, Oxley Creek Transformation
New Sponsor
We are very pleased to announce that the Active Queenslanders Industry Alliance (AQIA) is our new event sponsor for the Outdoors Queensland Awards.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation we did not be host a face-to-face awards dinner this year. Instead we got all attendees, including finalists and their supporters, together in a virtual presentation on Zoom and Facebook Live.
Catch the live show recording here:
Guest Speaker - Eleanor Carey
Eleanor is an Australian adventurer, speaker and writer. She is the first ever Australian female to row the Pacific Ocean, and modestly describes herself as ‘a young pale, ginger woman of barely passible fitness who cries at the drop of a hat’.
In 2018, Eleanor joined two women from the UK and together they rowed from California to Hawaii setting two world records in the process!
An ordinary person who chooses to is capable of extraordinary things
About the Awards
The Outdoors Queensland Awards (formerly known as the Queensland Outdoor Recreation 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 Awardsare 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.
The 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.
QORF thanks and acknowledges the ongoing support to the Outdoors Queensland Awards from all our sponsors: The Queensland Government, the Brisbane City Council, K2 Basecamp and Nature Play QLD.
This award is open to clubs, organisations, education providers and other enterprises that have made a valuable contribution to the outdoor community and operate with professionalism and to high standards.
They should meet all or some of the Essential Criteria, and in addition they may have demonstrated excellence through:
Consistent high quality service delivery
Innovative instructional or educational programs
Development opportunities for individuals
Providing opportunities for people of all abilities
Innovative environmental sustainability programs
Sustainable land management practices
Active involvement in community environmental projects
Creating opportunities for people to experience the outdoors
The recipient of this award will have achieved significant success in encouraging participation in outdoor activities through innovative program development and/or marketing.
They should meet all or some of the Essential Criteria. In addition, nominees (organisations or individuals) may have facilitated increased participation in outdoor recreation for either the general population or specific client groups through:
Innovative programs designed to attract a broader client group
Program modification to target a select client group
This award recognises the efforts and achievements of an individual new to the outdoor sector; a student, young person or other making a change into the field. They maybe enrolled in a structured course (eg School, TAFE, University), volunteering or working as a trainee for an outdoor activity provider.
They should meet all or some of the Essential Criteria, and in addition they may have demonstrated excellence through:
Achievement of personal goals or marked improvement
Exemplary leadership, role modelling and initiative
Professional behaviour and ethical outdoor practice
Effort over and above what is expected
Contribution which has helped achieve significant outcomes
This award recognises the achievements of local or state government departments and/or agencies that have produced positive outcomes for the outdoor sector.
They should meet all or some of the Essential Criteria, and in addition they may have demonstrated excellence through:
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
This award is for individuals, organisations or committees that have developed and managed a significant* outdoor recreation event, that might include one-off or annual events such as Come-and Try days, Adventure Races, Expos or Festivals, major state / national / international championships, jamborees …
*number of competitors, entrants or attendees, the turnover or funds raised and/or the number of individuals involved in organising / running the event.
They should meet all or some of the Essential Criteria, and in addition they may have demonstrated excellence through:
Environmental, economic and social sustainability
Significant increase in opportunities for participation in outdoor recreation
Consideration of appropriate risk management and safety strategies
Coordination of significant numbers of volunteers
Extensive involvement and support from local business / community
This award is for educational services or institutions, such as schools or childcare centres, that have increased the time kids spend in outdoor learning, Forest School or unstructured outdoor play.
They should meet all or some of the Essential Criteria, and in addition they may have demonstrated excellence through:
Innovative educational program development to increase or integrate nature play into the educational service
A commitment to the nature play or outdoor learning ethos
Ability to demonstrate a creative approach to curriculum interpretation in outdoor learning.
Child’s’ regular and ongoing access to nature play experiences
Development of the educational grounds or use of external settings
Outdoor environment is suitably challenging; risk assessments and consent for its use in place.
Demonstrated effective use of resources, including links with the local community, organisations and parents.
Use of Nature Play QLD resources within an educational setting.
This award is for communities (individuals or organisations*) that have developed initiatives to increase the time kids spend 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:
Innovative programs, events or activities for children 12 years or under
Exciting nature play spaces
Creative resources for nature play
Awareness raising events, publications or services
* Not educational institutions – educational organisations are encouraged to nominate for the Nature Play Education Award
This award recognises that outdoor recreation activities require access to places and spaces. Nominees for this award will have developed one or more outstanding outdoor recreation facilities or venues.
They should meet all or some of the Essential Criteria, and in addition, the facilities may:
Create or substantially increase opportunities for outdoor recreation activities.
Utilise innovative design and/or construction features
Address the specific needs of the target user group or community.
Follow or develop best practice methods in environmental techniques.
Use appropriate risk management and safety strategies
