History
Decades of Experience in the Residential Camps and Outdoor Sector

The Australian Camps Association has its origins in the Camping Association of Victoria (CAV), itself formed with support from the Victorian government’s Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation (Vic) in 1983.  Tom Slater (at that time running Camp Coolamatong for the Scripture Union) was the first President, and Don MacDowall the first EO.

The Australian Camping Association, a collaboration of the CAV, Camping Association of South Australia (CASA), Queensland Camping Association (QCA) and the Camping Association of Tasmania (CAT), was formed in response for a perceived need for a national body that could deal with federal grants and form international connections.

The CAV formally amalgamated with the Camping Associations of Tasmania, South Australian and Queensland to form the Australian Camps Association in 2005. 

As an incorporated national body, a business name had to be registered. Since the Australian Camping Association was already taken, the new body became the Australian Camps Association.

The founding Board was made up of:

• David Ellis
• Matt Feutrill
• Gary Haley
• Bill Harback
• Graeme Janes
• Mark Lee
• Janine Lenigas
• Andrew McGuckian
• Trevor Mildenhall
• Gale Orford
• Craig Waite

The ACA now provides information, resources, services and training to more than 240 member camps and outdoor activity providers in the ACT, New South, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.