Tom Andrews founded orienteering in Australia. He organised the first orienteering event in Australia (Victoria) in August 1969, and produced the first Australian coloured orienteering map in 1973 of Mt Egerton Victoria. He co-founded the Victorian Orienteering Association and the Orienteering Federation of Australia in April 1970 and was Chairman of the OFA Promotion and Development Committee from 1970 to 1986. Andrews was Chairman of the International Orienteering Federation Promotion and Development Committee from 1980 to 1982.

Andrews organised the first international competition for Australian Orienteers, the 1971 Australia-New Zealand Challenge and organised the 1985 World Orienteering Championships in Bendigo. This was the first time that the event had been held outside Europe and Andrews was instrumental in obtaining the championships for Australia.

Andrews was the recipient of the 1986 Silver Orienteering Award for his contribution to the development of Orienteering in Australia, and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1981.