What if there was a year 7–10 outdoor education curriculum in Victoria, Australia?

Journal article


Ambrosy, Josh, Quay, John, Morse, Marcus, Cox, Matthew and Allen-Craig, Sandy. (2025). What if there was a year 7–10 outdoor education curriculum in Victoria, Australia? Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education. pp. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42322-025-00193-9
AuthorsAmbrosy, Josh, Quay, John, Morse, Marcus, Cox, Matthew and Allen-Craig, Sandy
Abstract

There has been significant and sustained advocacy for a Year 7–10 Outdoor Education curriculum in Victoria and Australia for over forty years. Beginning in 2018, this prompted the formation of the Outdoor Education in the Victorian Curriculum (OEVC) project team, involving representatives from state-based professional associations: Outdoors Victoria, the Victorian branch of ACHPER (Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation), the Residential Outdoor Schools Association (ROSA), and Victorian universities with interests in Outdoor Education. The OEVC project has been formalised in recent years to focus on this vital work, consulting with teachers, administrators and academics in the drafting of a specific Year 7–10 Outdoor Education curriculum. To ascertain the perceived impact and appropriateness of a Year 7–10 Outdoor Education curriculum, teachers’ insights were solicited via an online survey, administered via statewide conferences of OE teachers convened separately by Outdoors Victoria, ACHPER Victoria, and ROSA. In this paper, we share the process surrounding the drafting of this Outdoor Education curriculum and the findings of the teacher survey. These findings suggest a Year 7–10 Outdoor Education curriculum in Victoria be seriously considered because it would support teachers and students who are already studying in this area in Years 7–10. Further, we suggest a possible solution might be to offer it as an option within the Health and Physical Education learning area in the Victorian Curriculum.

Keywordsoutdoor education; outdoor learning; curriculum; Victorian curriculum F-10
Year2025
JournalJournal of Outdoor and Environmental Education
Journal citationpp. 1-20
PublisherSpringer
ISSN2522-879X
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1007/s42322-025-00193-9
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85218674628
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
Page range1-20
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusIn press
Publication dates
Online21 Feb 2025
Publication process dates
Accepted11 Jan 2025
Deposited05 Jun 2025
Additional information

© The Author(s) 2025.

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/91yqx/what-if-there-was-a-year-7-10-outdoor-education-curriculum-in-victoria-australia

Download files


Publisher's version
OA_Ambrosy_2025_What_if_there_was_a_year.pdf
License: CC BY 4.0
File access level: Open

  • 1
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

Widening the aperture : Using visual methods to broaden our understanding of gender in the outdoor profession
Gray, Tonia, Allen-Craig, Sandra, Mitten, Denise and Charles, Rylie. (2022). Widening the aperture : Using visual methods to broaden our understanding of gender in the outdoor profession. Annals of Leisure Research. 25(3), pp. 314-334. https://doi.org/10.1080/11745398.2021.1899831
What future/s for outdoor and environmental education in a world that has contended with COVID-19?
Quay, John, Gray, Tonia, Thomas, Glyn, Allen-Craig, Sandy, Asfeldt, Morten, Andkjaer, Soren, Beames, Simon, Cosgriff, Marg, Dyment, Janet, Higgins, Pete, Ho, Susanna, Leather, Mark, Mitten, Denise, Morse, Marcus, Neill, James, North, Chris, Passy, Rowena, Pedersen-Gurholt, Kirsti, Polley, Scott, ... Foley, Dorothy. (2020). What future/s for outdoor and environmental education in a world that has contended with COVID-19? Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education. 23(2), pp. 93-117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42322-020-00059-2
Threshold concepts for Australian university outdoor education programs : Findings from a Delphi research study
Thomas, Glyn, Grenon, Heather, Morse, Marcus, Allen-Craig, Sandy, Mangelsdorf, Anthony and Polley, Scott. (2019). Threshold concepts for Australian university outdoor education programs : Findings from a Delphi research study. Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education. 22, pp. 169-186. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42322-019-00039-1
The invisibility cloak : Women’s contributions to outdoor and environmental education 
Mitten, Denise, Gray, Tonia, Allen-Craig, Sandy, Loeffler, T. A. and Carpenter, Cathryn. (2018). The invisibility cloak : Women’s contributions to outdoor and environmental education . The Journal of Environmental Education. 49(4), pp. 318-327. https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2017.1366890
Outdoor education : Threaded pathways to belonging 
Allen-Craig, Sandy and Carpenter, Cathryn. (2018). Outdoor education : Threaded pathways to belonging . In In Gray, Tonia and Mitten, Denise (Ed.). The Palgrave international handbook of women and outdoor learning pp. 55-73 Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53550-0_4
Defining moments : An examination of the gender divide in women’s contribution to outdoor education
Gray, Tonia, Mitten, Denise, Loeffler, T. A., Allen-Craig, Sandy and Carpenter, Cathryn. (2017). Defining moments : An examination of the gender divide in women’s contribution to outdoor education. Research in Outdoor Education. 15(1), pp. 47-71. https://doi.org/10.1353/roe.2017.0003
The education of coaches for the development of peoples
Allen-Craig, Sandra. (2016). The education of coaches for the development of peoples. Coaches : Educating people : International seminar. Rome 14 - 15 May 2015 Pontificium Consilium pro Laicis, Liberia Editrice Vaticana. pp. 129-134
The Future in Youth sport program, Timor-Leste : Impacts on youth, coaches and community
Raw, Katherine, Allen-Craig, Sandra and Smith, Ross. (2015). The Future in Youth sport program, Timor-Leste : Impacts on youth, coaches and community. International Sports Studies. 37(2), pp. 4-18.
A wilderness based therapeutic intervention at risk of homelessness and educational disconnection
Allen-Craig, Sandra and Ronalds, Lisa. (2015). A wilderness based therapeutic intervention at risk of homelessness and educational disconnection. In In C. L. Norton, C. Carpenter and A. Pryor (Ed.). Adventure therapy around the globe: International perspectives and diverse approaches pp. 90 - 109 Common Ground Publishing.
A simulated wilderness exercise: The development of relational competence in paramedic students
Ford, Rosemary, Webb, Helen Lesley, Allen-Craig, Sandra Joan, Goodwin, Valerie Ann, D'Antonio, Jenny and Lofts, Charmane. (2014). A simulated wilderness exercise: The development of relational competence in paramedic students. Journal of Paramedic Practice. 6(11), pp. 574 - 583. https://doi.org/10.12968/jpar.2014.6.11.574
Digger’s Trail Wilderness Exercise (DWTE): A work-integrated experience for paramedic students
Webb, Helen Lesley, Allen-Craig, Sandra Joan, Ford, Rosemary, Williams, Paula Elizabeth and Goodwin, Valerie Ann. (2014). Digger’s Trail Wilderness Exercise (DWTE): A work-integrated experience for paramedic students. In K. Moore (Ed.). 2014 ACEN National Conference. Australia: Australian Collaborative Education Network (ACEN) Limited. pp. 16 - 20
Exploring the long-term effects for young women involved in an outdoor education program
Allen-Craig, Sandra and Hartley, Claire. (2012). Exploring the long-term effects for young women involved in an outdoor education program. In A J Bobilya and R A Poff (Ed.). Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership. Special Issue: 2011 AORE and 2012 OLRS Research Symposium Abstracts. United States of America: Western Kentucky University. pp. 88 - 91
Exploring the long-term effects for young women involved in an outdoor education program
Allen-Craig, Sandra and Hartley, Claire. (2012). Exploring the long-term effects for young women involved in an outdoor education program. In A J Bobilya and R A Poff (Ed.). Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership. Special Issue: 2011 AORE and 2012 OLRS Research Symposium Abstracts. United States: Western Kentucky University. pp. 88 - 91
A wilderness-based therapeutic intervention for young people at risk of homelessness and educational disconnection
Allen-Craig, Sandra and Ronalds, Lisa. (2012). A wilderness-based therapeutic intervention for young people at risk of homelessness and educational disconnection. In A Pryor, C Carpenter and C L Norton & J Kirchner (Ed.). Fifth International Adventure Therapy Conference 2009. Australia: European Science and Art Publishing. pp. 79 - 90
A wilderness-based therapeutic intervention for young people at risk of homelessness and educational disconnection
Allen-Craig, Sandra and Ronalds, Lisa. (2012). A wilderness-based therapeutic intervention for young people at risk of homelessness and educational disconnection. In A Pryor, C Carpenter and C L Norton & J Kirchner (Ed.). Fifth International Adventure Therapy Conference 2009. Australia: European Science and Art Publishing. pp. 79 - 90
Do outdoor education programs enable students to develop a relationship to the natural world?
Allen-Craig, Sandra. (2010). Do outdoor education programs enable students to develop a relationship to the natural world? Outdoors Victoria Conference 2010. Victoria, Australia 2010 Outdoors Victoria.
The enhancement of resilience via a wilderness therapy program: A preliminary investigation
Gillespie, Edward and Allen-Craig, Sandra. (2009). The enhancement of resilience via a wilderness therapy program: A preliminary investigation. Australian Journal of Outdoor Education. 13(1), pp. 39 - 49.
Personal development as a contribution to professional development :activity based learning, graduate attributes and student learning outcomes
Allen-Craig, Sandra Joan, Maschette, Wayne Edward and Saunders, John E.. (2008). Personal development as a contribution to professional development :activity based learning, graduate attributes and student learning outcomes. In T. Rossi, P. Hay and L. McCuaig (Ed.). Sport Pedagogy Research, Policy and Practice: International Perspectives in Physical Education and Coaching. Proceedings of the 2008 AIESEP World Congress, Sapporo, Japan.. Brisbane, Australia: University of Queensland Press.
Preventing family and educational disconnection through wilderness-based therapy targeting youth at risk
Ronalds, Lisa and Allen-Craig, Sandra. (2008). Preventing family and educational disconnection through wilderness-based therapy targeting youth at risk. A C H P E R Australia Healthy Lifestyles Journal (print version). 55(4), pp. 5 - 14.
What outcomes are we trying to achieve in our outdoor education programs?
McCleod, Beth and Allen-Craig, Sandra. (2007). What outcomes are we trying to achieve in our outdoor education programs? Australian Journal of Outdoor Education. 11(2), pp. 41 - 49.
Can outdoor educators make a difference? The effect of outdoor educators on achieving program outcomes
Allen-Craig, Sandra and Miller, Jacqueline. (2007). Can outdoor educators make a difference? The effect of outdoor educators on achieving program outcomes. A C H P E R Australia Healthy Lifestyles Journal (print version). 54(2), pp. 5 - 12.
The Outdoor Educators Effect on Achieving Program Outcomes :A cross-section of Australian Schools
Allen-Craig, Sandra Joan and Miller, Jacqueline. (2006). The Outdoor Educators Effect on Achieving Program Outcomes :A cross-section of Australian Schools. In Fiona Stoddart (Ed.). Preston, Lancashire,England: Division of Outdoor Education, University of Central Lancashire. pp. 1 - 30
What outcomes are we trying to achieve in outdoor programs? An examination of outdoor education and experiential education programs effect on life effectiveness skills
Allen-Craig, Sandra Joan and Mcleod, Beth. (2005). What outcomes are we trying to achieve in outdoor programs? An examination of outdoor education and experiential education programs effect on life effectiveness skills. The 14th National Outdoor Education Conference: The Challenges We Face. Gold Coast, Australia: Outdoor Council of Australia. pp. 1 - 17
An Evaluation of Experiential Learning and Outdoor Education school programs on the life effectiveness skills of middle school boys
Allen-Craig, Sandra Joan and McLeod, Beth. (2004). An Evaluation of Experiential Learning and Outdoor Education school programs on the life effectiveness skills of middle school boys. In Andrew Brooks and Dr. Peter Martin (Chair) (Ed.). International Outdoor Education Research Conference Proceedings. Bendigo, Australia: La Trobe University. pp. 1 - 14
Insurance: Risk management development and new initiatives in the outdoor profession
Allen-Craig, Sandra Joan. (2003). Insurance: Risk management development and new initiatives in the outdoor profession. Relevance: Making it Happen. 13th AOEC National Outdoor Education Conference. Adelaide, Australia: Outdoor Educators Association of South Australia. pp. 26 - 35
Wages & conditions for the Victorian outdoor profession
Allen-Craig, Sandra and Moonen, Bettina. (2002). Wages & conditions for the Victorian outdoor profession. Australian Journal of Outdoor Education. 6(2), pp. 37 - 43.