Bushcraft Survival Australia

Meet the BSA Team

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gordon Dedman – Senior Instructor

Gordon Dedman is the founder of Bushcraft Survival Australia (BSA), an outdoor bushcraft survival school dedicated to teaching genuine and authentic modern and traditional outdoor living skills through carefully designed educational courses.

Gordon is a former member of the Australian Army 1st Commando Regiment and is presently a survival instructor in NORFORCE, an Australian Army Reserve Regional Force Surveillance Unit (RFSU). NORFORCE conducts patrols in the remote areas of Northern Australia, working closely with Aboriginal communities.

Gordon has trained at and completed numerous Survival and Bushcraft courses and certifications worldwide at leading schools run by

Paul Kirtley (Frontier Bushcraft UK), Ray Mears (Woodlore Bushcraft UK), Dave Canterbury (Pathfinder School USA), Lofty Wiseman (Trueways Survival UK), Richard Hungerford (Bushlore Australia QLD) and Bob Cooper (Bob Cooper Outback Survival WA).

Gordon also works seasonally as an outdoor guide in the Northern Territory, taking
clients on camping expeditions into Kakadu and Arnhemland.

Read Gordon’s full Bio

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nat Ziolkowski – Course Administrator

Nat joined the BSA Team as Course Administrator in 2020. After completing the 3 Day Basic Bushcraft Survival Course (now Fundamental Module 1) in 2019, Nat realised her love for the outdoors. She came back to do the course a second time in 2020 which she enjoyed even more and was invited to help out as course assistant. Since then she has helped out on many courses and on top of her exceptional organisational and people skills, she is now looking after BSA course administration.

As such, Nat is your first point of contact in the office with regard to any queries you might have about our courses. She also assists Gordon with the running of Bushcraft Survival Australia.
 
Nat has a Bachelor of Commerce from the Australian National University  and works full time as Volunteer and Events Lead for Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre (WAGEC). She is also currently studying a Master of Human Rights at the University of Sydney. Passionate about the environment and women’s rights, Nat see’s bushcraft and survival training as a fantastic tool for building self-confidence, resilience and a brilliant way to connect with nature.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nero Buys – Course Assistant

When he’s not studying and practicing bushcraft, Nero is a serial volunteer for his community. Nero is a local snake catcher, SES Flood Rescue Technician, Road Crash Rescue Operator and Seabird and Turtle Rescuer. After serving in the Australian Army in which he deployed with Mentoring Task Force 1 (MTF1) in Afghanistan in 2010 Nero worked at SASR as part of the Technical Support Squadron.  Nero grew up in Regional NSW in the Riverina around Wagga Wagga and discovered a love of bushcraft through the homeschooling journey of his son, Lachie. Lachie is interested in camping, sitting near the fire and loves gathering all sorts of bushtucker.

Forever a student in all areas of bushcraft, Nero’s main passions are Natural Navigation, Native Bushtucker and Traditional Fire Methods.

Courses Attended:
Fundamental Module 1 Bushcraft Survival Course (3-Days)
Fundamental Modules 1 & 2 Bushcraft Survival Course (7-Day Combined)