Gordon
Dedman

Gordon Dedman is a military survival instructor, adventurer, bushcraft teacher and founder of Bushcraft Survival Australia, an outdoor bushcraft survival school dedicated to teaching genuine and authentic modern and traditional outdoor living skills through carefully designed educational courses.

Growing up in the small town of Moree, NSW, Gordon spent his early years camping, fishing, and exploring the bush—experiences that sparked a lifelong passion for wilderness bushcraft and a deep connection with nature.

Before transitioning into survival and bushcraft, Gordon earned a Bachelor of Music and an Associate Diploma in Jazz Studies, working professionally as a trumpet player and music teacher in Sydney for many years.

Concurrently Gordon enlisted in the Australian Army Reserve, completed Commando selection and served with 1 COY 1st Commando Regiment.

Gordon is now a survival instructor in NORFORCE, an Australian Army Reserve Regional Force Surveillance Unit (RFSU). NORFORCE conducts long range patrols and border protection operations in the remote areas of Northern Australia, working closely with Aboriginal communities.

Gordon is also a Combat Survival SERE instructor (Survival Evasion Resistance Escape) and regularly instructs on RAAF Combat Survival Training School Courses in North Queensland.

Gordon’s survival skills have been honed in challenging environments such as Alaska, Norway, and South America. He has trained with world-leading bushcraft schools, including Paul Kirtley’s Frontier Bushcraft in the UK, Ray Mears Woodlore Bushcraft School and Dave Canterbury’s Pathfinder School in the USA. His passion for sharing these ancient and modern survival skills led him to found Bushcraft Survival Australia in 2017, a school dedicated to teaching practical outdoor living skills through immersive, hands-on courses.

Gordon’s expertise and engaging teaching style have led him to become a survival consultant on major media productions, including National Geographic’s “Limitless with Chris Hemsworth” and SBS’s “Alone Australia.” His teaching emphasises the learning of vital life skills and the importance of environmental stewardship, encouraging participants to interact with nature responsibly and respectfully. Bushcraft, in particular, offers a path to understanding Indigenous knowledge, fostering self-reliance, and cultivating a deeper spiritual connection with the natural world.

His courses cover essential topics such as fire-making, shelter-building, natural navigation, natural cordage, emergency signalling, plant identification and uses, and Indigenous cooking, providing students with the tools to develop self-confidence and respect for the environment. Gordon believes bushcraft is more than mere survival—it’s about truly participating in nature and creating meaningful connections with the land.

In addition to his outdoor expertise, Gordon is an inspiring motivational speaker. He shares stories of resilience from his military background and his global adventures. Whether he's teaching corporate teams, military personnel, or everyday Australians, he helps audiences find mental and physical resilience, adaptability, and courage.

Gordon’s contributions to survival education inspire novice and experienced outdoor enthusiasts alike with his unique blend of military precision and deep respect for the natural world.