Schools across Australia are increasingly cancelling outdoor activity excursions for students, with rising fuel costs cited as the driving factor, according to the Outdoor Council of Australia.
OCA chair Lori Modde said schools include bus costs for excursions in their fees at the start of the year.
“Not wanting to ask parents for more money, they are opting to cancel planned excursions to outdoor activities as they can’t afford the extra costs for fuel being imposed by bus companies to travel there,” Ms Modde said.
Experts warn the cancellations could have lasting impacts on children’s physical health.
A Menzies Research Centre report projects that obesity could cost the nation $87.7bn per year by 2032, climbing to $228bn annually by 2060.
In 2022, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data showed that more than a quarter of children and adolescents (26 per cent) were overweight or obese.
“We know that school camp is the start for our youth to discover physical activity options that could be considered for ongoing activity,” Ms Modde said.
“The fuel crisis will particularly impact young people in rural and remote communities, making distance even more difficult to progress school excursions and the opportunities to learn the things that can’t be taught in the classroom.”
The OCA, which collaborates with organisations including Scouts Australia, Australian Camps Association, Paddle Australia, and Nature Play Australia, has submitted a budget proposal to the federal government.
The proposal seeks funding to expand outdoor activity programs nationwide, aiming to create more than 200,000 student outdoor experiences by 2029, along with investment in the workforce.
The council said it was continuing to engage with government bodies to emphasise the role of outdoor activity in the health and development of young Australians.
