Outdoor education
Work with others to be active and safe in outdoor environments. Learn to assess risk and different emergency response procedures.
About the Outdoor education course
Outdoor education develops in each student the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to:
- understand and identify with the surrounding wilderness environments
- conduct themselves in a safe manner in the outdoors.
The content is organised in modules reflective of five focus areas:
- outdoor activity and exploration skills
- environmental awareness, conservation and sustainability
- personal and social skills, growth and development
- connecting with the natural environment
- health, safety and wellbeing in the outdoors.
Students may undertake either 100 or 200 hours of study in Outdoor Education in Stage 5. Courses are structured in the following ways:
- a 100-hour course consisting of Core and a minimum of 3 options
- a 200-hour course consisting of Core and a minimum of 7 options.
Schools are required to complete the core module with all students. It should precede any options and be taught in full. Option modules can be studied in any order.
Outdoor education is based on experiential learning where students explore and gain a deeper understanding of their surroundings. Students learn through planning and participating in outdoor experiences and reflecting on their involvement.
School-based outdoor education programs should have a strong focus on practical application, movement and experiential learning in outdoor environments.
When selecting practical applications, schools are encouraged to provide students with:
- the opportunity to explore a broad range of outdoor education experiences to identify with activities which they may pursue beyond school
- the opportunity to transfer knowledge and build personal and social skills across contexts and appreciate the variety of benefits from connecting with the natural environment to support lifelong health, well-being and relationships
- new experiences and challenges beyond those offered through the mandatory PDHPE Years 7–10 course
- experiences and activities that are relevant and suitably challenging for students and that can be supported by school and community resources.
Some students with disability may require adjustments, including the use of adaptive equipment or additional support in order to engage in practical and/or theoretical applications.
In addition, schools should be aware of department policies in relation to the safe conduct of particular activities and reflect on their capacity to meet these requirements when selecting the areas of emphasis in their course.
Course documents
Schools must use the Outdoor education course document (DOCX 4 MB) to develop educational programs for this course. They must comply with the:
Assessment advice
Outdoor education assessment advice (DOCX 3 MB) is available to assist teachers. They can select a range of different activities to assess and report on.
Assessment activities should:
- reflect the school's organisation of the course
- provide students with opportunities to show their learning.
Department-approved elective courses are not credited on the Record of School Achievement (RoSA).
Teaching resources
Schools may adapt or change this content or use other materials suitable to their local context. Provided they comply with the course documents.
Additional resource to support teaching and learning in Outdoor education.
Outdoor education – Considerations for supporting EALD students in the outdoors (DOCX 76 KB)
Professional learning
Engaging with professional learning courses may help you develop knowledge, understanding and skills for effective course implementation.
- Complete the department-approved elective course – Outdoor education microlearning (NR36615)
- Access recordings from statewide staffroom sessions via the Teaching and Learning 7–12 statewide staffroom.
Contact
For more information:
Last modified date
28/04/2026
Business unit contact email
Executive director
Megan Kelly
Executive director’s business unit
Teaching Learning&Student Wellbeing