A popular youth camp that provides outdoor recreation for children remains "in lockdown", as rules to relax restrictions for students remain uncertain.
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The NSW Government does not permit overnight camps. They are considered among the "high risk activities" that increases the transmission risk of COVID-19.
Sutherland Shire youth camp organiser Youthworks, which runs Christian outdoor education to 16,000 school students every year, has been affected by ongoing restrictions.
Situated along the Port Hacking in the Royal National Park, the historic Rathane Conference Centre is one of four sites used for camps. But for the past two years the area, which should be buzzing with kids every day, has been empty.
Youthworks Chief Executive Craig Roberts said thousands of people come through the sites each year. "Kids have not been able to experience an outdoor education experience. Significant mental health and psychological well-being is being affected," he said. "We get kids away from screens. They make friends, build rafts, go sailing and engage with teachers. What we would normally see as tremendous transformation in young lives and in self-esteem, hasn't been happening."
He said it was puzzling that people could gather in "Kmart, a pub or go to a massage parlour", but children were unable to have an overnight social experience.
"What the health department hasn't grasped it that we have no more than six students in their own ensuited room," he said. "The maximum numbers students will come in contact with their peers is no more than 12 in a shared activity, which is less than what happens on a regular school day. When they go on a week-long camp, they are in a cluster of no more than 15. The number of transmission points are materially less, especially in risk managed education when camps are COVID-19 safe."
Only day excursions are permitted. "It's a fraction of what we do," Mr Roberts said. "Now school is finishing so the earliest we could return to overnight education is February. Teachers are gutted."
Mr Roberts estimates a loss of "millions", and huge ramifications on job loss for his 123 permanent staff and 100 casuals. He said it would take "five to 10 years" to rebuild capacity.
"It's a loss in revenue of about eight million dollars in 2020," he said. "I'd like to have 100 employees at our site but it's not what I've got at the moment. Since June 26, I stood all my staff down and we have had no income since then. All my staff put their hands out for the Commonwealth disaster payment. Almost all my casuals have lost work and almost all my staff slowed in their hours. Our hospitality workers aren't just chefs. They're outdoor educators who take up to five years to get formally trained. They love their job because they're making a difference in so many young lives."
Labor MP Mark Buttigieg recently shared his concerns in Parliament. He said the outdoor education industry of NSW supported about 77,000 full-time-equivalent positions and generated $7.6 billion annually for the economy. He said overnight school outdoor education camping was the only NSW industry that was still under restrictions.
"If the government doesn't give confidence in a restart date the only way I can keep my skilled workforce together is to continue discussions with wealthy private schools," Mr Roberts said. "The less well-off government schools will miss out. We are optimistic."
