Outward Bound Leadership

Discover Your Leadership Potential

Are you looking for a unique, inspiring and adventurous way to discover your strengths, core competencies and vulnerabilities?  How can you apply your skills to adverse situations?

The Outward Bound Leadership program will put you on a journey of self-improvement and discovery. Using the outdoors as your learning environment, develop essential skills to best apply yourself in life, work and the world. You’ll find you’re much more capable than you thought.

Outward Bound Leadership is a 5-day program for emerging adults ages 16 to 24 years. 

Discover Your Capacity to Lead

Discover your capacity for leadership in unusual environments, literally and metaphorically. Your capacity to lead involves making decisions under pressure, visualising the “end game”, maintaining situational awareness and communicating context.

Your group will need to work together while organising camp, cooking on fires, navigating through the wilderness, and summiting peaks. The individual challenges such as high ropes and abseil are supported by your two Outward Bound facilitators, who will expertly explore and discuss how to apply these experiences to your life back home.

Draw On Resilience and Rise to the Summit

Outward Bound Australia will facilitate your learning journey in the unique Australian landscape. Through some exhilarating experiences, you will be confronted with intensely challenging situations where you will draw on your resilience.

Make Lifelong Connections

Join a unique crew of up-to-16 young adults, all seeking the same goal as you. Experience a sense of camaraderie like you might never have experienced before, and make social connections you might even keep for life.

What are you waiting for? For a chance to meet like-minded connections and add a highlight experience to your resume, sign up for the Outward Bound Leaders hip program today.

Take a Step Above

Get a step above the competition by adding this outdoor leadership experience to your resume. Book as an individual or come as a group to this rewarding and transformative program.

Enrol individually, or speak to your employer about sending a small team together.

Contact our team on 02 6235 5700 to learn more or ask any questions about the program in your state or territory.

Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Gold Residential Project 

The Leadership program qualifies for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Gold Residential Project. Classification: Personal training – Leadership training. Please contact dukeofed@outwardbound.org.au to arrange for your assessment before arriving on program.

Please click on the image to see an indicative program outline for Outward Bound Leadership. The exact program schedule may change, depending on factors including weather and available access within National Parks.

Outward Bound provides a safe and supportive environment for your young person to thrive, regardless of their prior experience on an adventure like this.

Outward Bound’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity means programs cater to people of different ages, genders, backgrounds, and abilities. However, the Outward Bound team are not trained disability support workers or trauma informed, and OB programs are not for everyone.

Programs are delivered in a group setting, with two staff members facilitating up to 18 participants. We are unable to provide 1-on-1 ongoing support throughout the program for individual participants with complex additional needs.

Participants need to:

• Be respectful: physical or verbally abusive behaviours will not be tolerated.
• Co-operate and partake in the fundamental elements of the program, without deliberately disrupting group activities.
• Self-manage living skills in an outdoor camping environment.

Participants may be removed from the program if they fail to meet these standards.

Please read the full Public Program Participant Behavioural and Personal Competency Expectations before committing to this Outward Bound program.

Leadership is hosted from our National Base, in Tharwa ACT. Your journey will see you explore your capabilities in the backdrop of Namadgi National Park.

Outward Bound Leadership program fee is $997 per person, incl. GST for 5 days of leadership development in unusual environments.

Outward Bound’s program fees include all national park entry fees and camping permits, all meals, activities and specialised equipment that you may need on the adventure. Small group sizes ensure you will have the most enjoyable and epic adventure!

Accommodation and Meals

All food, water and snacks are provided throughout the duration of the journey. All cooking and safety equipment will be issued, including your travel backpack, sleeping mat, and camp shelter.

Transport and Equipment

All safety equipment and activity gear, maps, and communication devices will be provided. All National Park and camping/activities fees and permits are included together with program transport, including return shuttle service from Canberra.

You will be supported by Outward Bound Australia’s Professional Instructors for the duration of the adventure.

Please CLICK HERE to read the Terms and Conditions of payment. Enrolment and receipt of payment is accepted as acknowledgement and agreement of these conditions.

Safety is serious business when hiking and traversing the Australian Bush. At all times our programs are managed by qualified instructors, who will run through our Safety Policy.

All safety and risk assessments ensure the health and welfare of participants comes first. Our Risk Management Policy can be located here: Risk Management Policy.

We’re always happy to answer any questions you may have over the phone (1800 267 999). Here are the answers to a few frequently asked questions.

What will I eat?

We value fresh food and endeavour to organise regular food drops for you to enjoy throughout your program. Participants will learn to cook a variety of group-based meals, including pasta, rice, burritos, and perhaps even a roast dinner. We are able to cater for most dietary requirements. We will request your specific dietary needs before the program.

Can I bring technology on program?

An Outward Bound program is your opportunity to ‘disconnect to reconnect’. We encourage adult participants to not use technology such as phones, tablets, music players, etc. during your program. If you need to bring these items, we can securely store these for you.

Do I have to wear hiking boots?

We recommend hiking boots for all our programs. If you are unable to source these, you will need to find a suitable pair of lace-up, fully enclosed footwear, that has a rigid sole and provides ankle stability.

Do I have to bring the wet weather clothing?

We use the rain jacket and waterproof overpants as a heat-trapping layer in the evenings, just as much as a waterproof cover in the case of rain. For the majority of situations, we continue with our program when it is raining, and so very strongly encourage participants to provide these items.

Do I have to bring the thermals?

For programs running May – September, yes you do need to bring the thermal top and bottom to program. For programs running at other times, you can choose if you want to bring these or not. Overall, we recommend bringing thermals for any time of year, as they can act as a lightweight jumper in the evenings, or as a pair of pyjamas (which are not a part of our packing list).

What activities will I be doing?

All Outward Bound programs include a hiking expedition and team initiatives. The program length and location may include abseiling, rock-climbing and high ropes. Programs in Western Australia and Grampians VIC usually include a water-based activity.

Do I have to be very fit to come on a program?

An Outward Bound program is an expedition in the natural environment, so you need to feel confident enough to manage walking on uneven ground for 5-10km every day of your program length, carrying a full hiking backpack that typically weights approximately 15kg. We do adjust our programs to meet the capabilities of each group.

Where are the programs held?

All-year-round programs operate from our national base in Tharwa, ACT. We operate seasonally from our Base in Walpole WA, and our remote set-up along the Snowy River, VIC.

Scholarships

We want as many people as possible to experience the advantage of a wilderness program in Australia. Through our charity arm, the Australian Outward Bound Development Fund, we can offer financial scholarship opportunities to those participants who would otherwise not be able to afford to come on a program.

There are three scholarship tiers available on every program. At the time of application, you will be asked to select which Scholarship Program Fee you can afford.
The amount selected is the total Program Fee you may be asked to co-contribute. Scholarships do not include any costs associated with clothing, equipment, or transport to and from program.

• $697.90
• $498.50
• $199.40

We accept applications for all programs throughout the year. First-round notification of your success for any given program will be advised 12-weeks before program start date. 

To apply for a scholarship please go to our Scholarship Application Form.

Fundraising with Prezentbox

Prezentbox is a digital platform that enables family and friends to contribute to your Outward Bound program. Read more about Outward Bound’s partnership with Prezentbox and how it works.