Awards Survey 2017

Survey Report 2017

Thoughts and ideas on the Outdoors Queensland Awards

Introduction

In August 2017, we created a simple survey on the Outdoors Queensland Awards which was sent to all Green Circle members to find out what they thought of the Outdoors Queensland Awards and to identify what we needed to do to make the Award Nominations and the Awards Ceremony the best they can be.

As an incentive, we offered 2 free places at the dinner which would be randomly selected from the completed entries.

The survey of only 14 questions was created in Typeform to be filled out online or on the QORF website.

The following results are based on the 43 responses we received of which only 42% were fully completed

1. Do you support the idea of Outdoors Queensland Awards?

Yes

  • Acknowledgement of people in the industry & their contribution
  • Because I think it’s important to do all you can to promote being active in the outdoors. If people are outdoors using our parks and oceans they are more likely to be pro the environment and work to conserve green spaces. This is aside from the physical and mental health benefits that people get from being in the Outdoors. Additionally often people who work in the outdoor sector don’t get paid that much money so the recognition from that they are doing a good job is important. It’s a shame they don’t get more publicity and recognition.
  • Every sector needs to acknowledge excellence in achievement.  It keeps the industry striving to improve. Likewise, such events give the industry a appearance an sense of legitimacy.
  • There need to be some recitation of what some businesses and groups are doing to promote getting people back into the outdoors
  • Its always good to have recognition of what people are doing in the industry.
  • Builds interest and awareness amongst the community for outdoor activity options in different areas.
  • A way to acknowledge the great work being done in this space
  • Good recognition for great work
  • Outdoor education and all kinds of promotional events keep the concept alive and inspire others to do the same.
  • They are a good way of encouraging development in the outdoor sector.  They provide the opportunity to get press and PR that relate to the interests of the Outdoor Recreation sector
  • It’s a great way to acknowledge our Industry leaders/professionals and businesses.
  • I have been a member of a group who had been nominated previously and found it exhilarating to see what others had achieved to be nominated.  In the time since that experience, I have ensured that I have sought to provide the best experience for the events I am involved in, not to be nominated again but o ensure those attending my events and activities are exposed to the best that can be provided.
  • Encourage organizations to strive for excellence
  • Great for young and old to develop strong values and respect for people, the environment and especially self respect and development of  personal values and character.
  • Any acknowledgement of positive engagement with the outdoors is vital for the sustainability of our outdoor spaces.
  • To give focus to the range of outdoor programs.
  • We need to celebrate all of the wonderful work QORF and the Outdoor Recreation community provides Queenslanders
  • Acknowledgement will help inspire people to achieve, and also work to promote the industry as a whole
  • It recognises the people and organisations and their achievements in the outdoor sector
  • It helps raise the profile of outdoor recreation projects in Queensland
  • Being in the outdoors is so important for a healthy and active mindset
  • We need to provide recognition for those who are committed to providing experiences that result in lasting personal change for our young people.
  • It encourages participation, encouragement and innovation
  • Not enough media and recognition for outdoor activities and companies. This event can receive more media attention ?
  • Like to see The Who’s who of the industry, come together
  • Celebrate successes
  • NetworkMedia opportunity
  • Aim higher, set goals
  • Gets stuff done by the deadline time
  • How often do you get to dress up as an outdoor eddy?!”
  • It promotes the outdoors and inspires
  • It’s vitally important to give recognition for people in our industry
  • I think it is important to recognise businesses and ventures that are doing a great job in getting and keeping people active.
  • Like in all industries – people and organisations need to celebrate their work and the awards dinner is a venue for this.  It celebrates the up and coming as well as the others that have been around for a while.  It shows the good in our industry to our wider community.
  • Anything to encourage people to participate in outdoor activities is large step in the right direction
  • To recognise the achievement of importance of sport and recreation in the community
  • It’s a great idea to support and promote the people who facilitate outdoor activities since Queensland has no shortage of amazing natural areas to explore and the climate allows you to get out and enjoy it 99% of the year.
  • Recognition by peers of good work being undertaken to encourage groups to conduct activities that allow people to develop confidence and skills to get outside
  • Provides recognition for worthy recipients
  • Anything that gets people together and talking about outdoors programs, nature play and children / families outside connecting with nature is a great thing.
  • It is good to recognise the achievements of individuals and organisation in the industry to demonstrate what is best practice and is a celebration of achievement.
  • Networking with positives in the industry is an excellent celebration to end the year.

No

  • Didn’t know about it
  • As with most awards, they are seldom impartial, and usually to some degree subjective. In saying this, it is not a matter of strong opposition to the idea, just that I don’t particularly care for awards of any kind. They aren’t helpful.
2: Are the award categories appropriate to recognise the breadth of the outdoor sector in Queensland?

What other categories should be included, if any?

  • Outdoors Queensland Champions award – for an individual or organisation who by their activities are advocating and promoting recreating outdoors in Queensland in a way that inspires and motivates others to do so – so someone who is an influencer.
  • What about trainers, assesors, teachers, coaches, facilitators not just programs. What about the grey areas with in the industry, for example indoor rock climbing? Is this part of outdoor recreation- many centres and people believe so.
  • I think there should be something that say recognition not achievement … because not everything is a success so therefore not everything is an achievement
  • Education and safety
  • There are a lot of companies that could be nominated that support children’s services of all ages yet cannot fit into a category.
  • Recognise the vital role volunteers make
  • Environmental protection category.
  • Although inherently difficult to measure, would be nice to see something of the inspirations/motivational piece, or a movement towards acknowledgement of Adventure Therapy as the research becomes more substantiated
  • Regional categories, to reflect the difficulty involved in starting and running activities in regional areas
  • One for volunteer organisations
  • Maybe add a newcomer encouragement for a business award.  All the others seem to celebrate the large companies.
  • I would create a category for people who have extensive knowledge of QLD history and environment and who volunteer their time to share this with others.
  • Volunteer Award – for dedicated volunteering and support of volunteerism
  • The essential criteria and award criteria need to be different and allow for great clarity in what information is being sought. Through better definitions of the award categories it will allow for better nominations. Definition of who can enter each category, greater explanation of the achievement, how to show evidence based proof of achievement and enable judges to make an informed decision on the quality of the application by not having to use their personal knowledge of the individual/organisation to validate the application. This could help create a level playing field so that only government enter the government category, community groups enter their category and the private sector enter their category to ensure apples are compared to apples.
    The inclusion of nature play as its own category is unusual given it is inherently connected with environmental/sustainable education.
3: What other categories should be included, if any?
  • Outdoors Queensland Champions award – for an individual or organisation who by their activities are advocating and promoting recreating outdoors in Queensland in a way that inspires and motivates others to do so – so someone who is an influencer.
  • What about trainers, assessors, teachers, coaches, facilitators not just programs. What about the grey areas with in the industry, for example indoor rock climbing? Is this part of outdoor recreation- many centres and people believe so.
  • I think there should be something that say recognition not achievement … because not everything is a success so therefore not everything is an achievement
  • Education and safety
  • There are a lot of companies that could be nominated that support children’s services of all ages yet cannot fit into a category.
  • Recognise the vital role volunteers make
  • Environmental protection category.
  • Although inherently difficult to measure, would be nice to see something of the inspirations/motivational piece, or a movement towards acknowledgement of Adventure Therapy as the research becomes more substantiated
  • Regional categories, to reflect the difficulty involved in starting and running activities in regional areas
  • One for volunteer organisations
  • Maybe add a newcomer encouragement for a business award.  All the others seem to celebrate the large companies.
  • I would create a category for people who have extensive knowledge of QLD history and environment and who volunteer their time to share this with others.
  • Volunteer Award – for dedicated volunteering and support of volunteerism
  • The essential criteria and award criteria need to be different and allow for great clarity in what information is being sought. Through better definitions of the award categories it will allow for better nominations. Definition of who can enter each category, greater explanation of the achievement, how to show evidence based proof of achievement and enable judges to make an informed decision on the quality of the application by not having to use their personal knowledge of the individual/organisation to validate the application. This could help create a level playing field so that only government enter the government category, community groups enter their category and the private sector enter their category to ensure apples are compared to apples.
    The inclusion of nature play as its own category is unusual given it is inherently connected with environmental/sustainable education.
4. Have you put in a nomination for an award in the past?

5. Will you be making an award nomination in 2017?

Yes

  • However, I have had difficulty matching nominations to categories in the past. For both people and sectors – they are sometimes very specific.

No

  • We’re a clothing supplier who sponsors & supports Dragon Boating
  • No event in the region this year
  • Just moved to Qld and don’t yet know much about QORF and what organisations are doing in this field.
  • I won’t be submitting a nomination because I have some concerns about equity and transparency in the process.  Two years in a row I was personally contacted by QORF and asked to nominate because the work we had done was highly regarded.  We were not short listed in either year.  Last year I submitted a nomination for a community club (of which I am not a member).  They have been outstanding.  They were not short listed.  Basically its work to write a nomination and I am not confident that the process is open or fair.  I’m concerned that the decisions may be influenced by relational or political processes.  Please note that I am supportive of QORF, I’m not upset but just don’t see the value in doing the nomination work when I don’t have confidence in the process
  • Ran out of time for this years nomination
  • We haven’t fit into a category : )
  • Time to prepare an award nomination is my issue.  I am a volunteer with a new portfolio in my organisation and my current effort is to understand my portfolio and hopefully support the people in the portfolio and ensure we are offering our youth members the best experience.
  • Not sure yet, want to say yes though. Looking for a good role model for growing minds.
  • The people I would nominate are already being nominated
  • I’m new to the industry and still finding my feet
  • Don’t have time
  • Not project to nominate
  • I don’t work in the area
  • Waiting to clarify my business direction
  • No relevant stuff this year
  • Out of the sector
  • I guess I just haven’t got there yet! I probably should vote for someone
  • Now I feel bad, can I upgrade that to a maybe?!! Just too busy …no time – family and work! 🙂
  • Don’t feel that we have done enough compared to the big companies.  Maybe you should have categories for small, medium and well established.
  • We encourage our members and clubs to do the nominations
  • Awards aren’t helpful
  • Because our events are smaller in scale and although a lot effort goes in to hold them – only the larger events seem to be ever acknowledged.
  • Not sure if category suits
  • Not familiar with activities in the sector. Have tried in the past to get clients to nominate the work we did together (I am a consultant) but not had any luck. As the client pays for the work, I am very reluctant to nominate it myself
  • Still expanding my contacts in OE
6. Will you be forwarding information about the Awards to your friends and colleagues?

  • It is not really something you share unless you think someone or a particular organisation should be making a nomination.
  • Awards aren’t helpful
  • They are already aware.
7. Will you be attending the Outdoors Queensland Awards Presentation Dinner on Friday October 27?

8. Which of the following would be a reason you choose to attend the Awards Dinner?

9. Any other comments or feedback?
  • QORF are doing great work – thanks!
  • Living in Far North Queensland we only tend to get a small snippet of information and face to face contact.  While I realise the majority of the population is in the SE region I would say it is the rural and remote regions that would need and value your support to a greater degree.
  • I know the sector has a reputation for not wanting to dress up or be too fancy- However-from experience, I believe the bigger and more fancy the event the more importance it gains. Set the bar high.
  • Do appreciate all you guys do for the industry, Thanks.
  • Would love to be involved in QORF some capacity.
  • Guest presenter in 2016 was incredibly dry and uninspiring
  • I think its important for all of us to work together to make this magic rather than segregating schools to companies etc. Our main aim and utmost intention is for children of all ages to love being outdoors entwined with the connection of all things nature provides. That requires a collaborative team effort from all sectors as one.
  • Keep up the good work
  • Great event and challenge. If I had children I would definitely make sure they were part of the QORF
  • I’d like the awards event to be outdoors!
  • It is always a great evening and good to catch up with like minded people
  • Keep it going
  • Thank you for taking the time to run the awards. These sorts of initiatives are timely, but they are also invaluable when it comes to recognising, reminding and affirming why businesses – small and large – do what they do in the outdoor sector. Hats off to you (when in the shade!), QORF.
  • It was good that a conference was linked to the awards when I last attended at South Bank.  Better networking opportunities and time to get to know other industry people.
  • Keep up the good work
  • Things like this are too expensive for the bulk of people employed in the outdoor industry. Only those in the top tier can afford to attend.
  • Probably don’t attend the awards dinner because I know very few people in the sector and feel relatively uncomfortable in large groups where I don’t know anybody. Nothing intrinsically wrong with the dinner or awards. Also financial pressures in previous years (and this one) are a reason not to attend
  • The awards night should be a formal occasion that involves people getting dressed up to celebrate the achievements of the industry, not casual attire as it undermines the value of peoples achievements. The dinner should be held in a neutral location and not associated with a particular organisation which maybe seen as a conflict of interest. The awards night is dominated by the outdoor education industry, local and state governments. It does need greater inclusion of other outdoor sports, recreation and education industries which are under represented. Targeted education and invitation to these industries would be recommended. The cost of attending the dinner should be affordable to encourage organisations to purchase multiple tickets and to attend even if they are not being nominated but because they want to see best practice in the industry.

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