GSCORE look to secure continued funding for core services

At the end of this financial year, the Great Southern Centre for Outdoor Recreation Excellence (GSCORE) will have their core funding cease. As such, they have been lobbying their local members and the Western Australian Minister for Sport and Recreation, Mick Murray, to renew the funding that supports their core services. They will match that with program-based revenue streams.

Since being founded in 2017, GSCORE has gone from strength-to-strength to support the growth and development of outdoor recreation and adventure tourism in the Great Southern. Their activities include product development, business support, training, strategic planning, advocacy and research. 

Although the last few weeks have drastically changed the landscape across business and tourism and the way we access the outdoors, GSCORE advise they have been busier than ever.

GSCORE have had a number of successes in the last year that include the creation of the Great Southern Regional Trails Master Plan; hosting the highly respected annual Great Southern Trails Forum; and their tourism business mentoring and training program, Accelerate.

GSCORE Executive Director Dr Lenore Lyons notes “we are proud of what we’ve achieved in a short space of time.

 “We’ve taken our original funding and doubled it through innovative revenue streams and additional grants. Not only have we put our funding to good use, we’ve used the solid reputation and goodwill GSCORE has built to multiply our funding base and deliver programs that reach more people.

“With everything going on, we’re continuing to deliver fantastic projects, courses and programs. We will continue to be a light, a strength and a gathering point (albeit virtually at the moment) for the sector.”

GSCORE’s work naturally supports government aspirations in tourism and economic development. Having effective ways to be planning behind the scenes and helping stimulate both areas will be important. The work they do now and in the coming months will help set the stage for recovery as the situation eases and that will be significant for the region.

Like many other organisations, GSCORE are adapting to the COVID-19 situation and changing their business model. They have moved their business training and mentoring online and will be offering courses at low or no cost to regional businesses.

Their outdoor learning program for youth is also about to go online, with a dedicated YouTube channel and worksheets for parents trying to keep children busy at home.

GSCORE is a valuable organisation that benefits a large group of people and businesses in the Great Southern. The health and success of those groups has a flow-on effect into the wider local community and around the state.

GSCORE advise that they are also looking ahead for ways to help businesses when circumstances start to improve so that they can embrace the new look tourism landscape with confidence.

For the next 12 months, GSCORE highlights “it’s business as usual, as much as it possibly can be in these extraordinary times. Today, more than ever, our role in promoting healthy communities and driving economic growth is vital for our region.”

Image of Albany Great Southern Stirling Range, Credit: DEC Michael Tuffin