Adapting to the Changing Climate Impacts in the Australian Outdoors: The Role of the National Centre for Outdoor Risk & Readiness (NatCORR) in Supporting the Outdoor Sector
Ben Lovell
Climate change has affected the intensity & frequency of heatwaves, bushfires, flooding & other extreme weather events in Australia. With these increasing risks effecting outdoor programs, it requires a change in our practice.
The National Centre for Outdoor Risk and Readiness is a government-funded industry-wide collaborative initiative led by Outward Bound Australia, which aims to support outdoor practitioners in adapting to & mitigating such risks.
With a growing need for collaboration, research & investment in climate adaptation strategies for the outdoor sector, this session will look at the work already conducted by NatCORR to help better understand these challenges & share the insights we have gained over the past 3 years.
From our initial phase of research, NatCORR’s program of activities has been divided across four workstreams:
1. Accessing & understanding information about weather & conditions
2. Managing risks, planning & responding to incidents
3. Skills & expertise for mitigating & remediating impacted areas
4. Managing the economic sustainability of outdoor programs & organisations
This session will collate the learnings across all four workstreams, including the development of an online platform to track trends in incidents & weather-related events, & our partnership with the team at the Heat & Health Incubator (University of Sydney). NatCORR would also value feedback & suggestions from participants at OFFSEAS who can help shape our future directions.
About Ben
Ben Lovell is the Head of Partnerships and Development at Outward Bound Australia. Having spent over 20 years in the outdoor education sector, he has experienced first-hand how the climate crisis is affecting Australia’s environment, and the ability for outdoor practitioners to operate safely. With a career spanning work as a group leader, a classroom teacher and a senior executive in outdoor education, Ben knows how transformative outdoor experiences can be and how vital they are for young people to be able to thrive throughout life.
