About Bushwalking Australia

Bushwalking Australia Inc was formed in 2003 after many years of negotiation between the Walking Federations established in each State. We work to ensure Australia is an enjoyable, pleasant and safe place to walk for everyone. Walking is the best way to see and appreciate Australia's natural beauty, and a way people can enjoy that beauty without destroying it.

Bushwalking Australia does the things that can't be done by individuals and walking groups acting alone. We support State-based Walking Federations by developing common policies and negotiating with the Federal Government, and other national organisations.

Areas of Activity

There are many issues affecting bushwalkers which extend beyond the boundaries of any one State or that require some level of national coordination or support. Some of these are:

• Protecting the natural environment.
• Ensuring continued access to walking areas.
• Operating a National Insurance scheme, to protect walkers and walk leaders in the event of a mishap.
• Encouraging people to lead walks and develop leadership skills without imposing unnecessary or inappropriate requirements on clubs.
• Developing advice, guidelines and policies on a range of topics relevant to walking.
• Liaising with government and non-government organisations at a national level.

Walking is something everyone takes for granted like free speech and clean air. Their value is often not appreciated until people cannot do them.

While many issues are confined to a local area, they are often repeated in adjacent areas. By joining together as a national organisation in Bushwalking Australia and developing a common approach, we hope to avoid having to re-invent the same wheel many times over.

Our Objectives

BAI has recently been reviewing its role and has agreed in principle to the following objectives which still require the formal approval of its Council.

Object 1	Represent bushwalking and bushwalkers on matters of national and international significance.
Object 2	Promote safe and environmentally responsible bushwalking to the community.
Object 3	Facilitate interaction and sharing of knowledge and skills between State bushwalking bodies, clubs and individual bushwalkers across Australia.
Object 4	Provide services to Member Associations, bushwalkers and the wider community in furtherance of these objectives.