Schools must consider age, maturity and skill level of students when planning curriculum activities. Adjustments are required for
students with disability to support access and participation in the curriculum. Consult with the parents/carers of students with disability, or when appropriate the student, to ensure risks related to their child's participation in the activity are identified and managed.
Schools must consult current student medical information and/or health plans in accordance with the
managing students' health support needs at school procedure. Record information about any student condition (e.g. physical or medical) that may inhibit safe engagement in the activity and include specific support measures within emergency procedures.
Emergency plans and injury management procedures must be established for foreseeable incidents (e.g. impalement injury).
Adult supervisors must have:
- emergency contact details of all participants
- a medical alert list and a process for administering student medication
- communication equipment suitable to conditions (e.g. mobile phone) and a process for obtaining external assistance and/or receiving emergency advice.
Safety procedures must be determined for the location (e.g. out-of-bounds areas, location of first aid support and equipment).
Access is required to
first aid equipment and consumables suitable for foreseeable incidents.
An adult with current emergency qualifications is required to be quickly accessible to the activity area. Emergency qualifications include:
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HLTAID009 - provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or equivalent and
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HLTAID011 - provide first aid or
SISSS00118 - Sports Trainer Level 1 or equivalent.
Induction is required for all adult supervisors on emergency procedures (e.g. catastrophic injury management), safety procedures (e.g. collecting thrown javelins) and correct techniques. If the activity is conducted at an off-site facility, induction is to be informed by advice provided in consultation with expertise at the venue.
Instruction is required for students on safety procedures and correct techniques (e.g. walking with javelins).
Supervision
Principals make final supervision decisions for the activity. Sufficient adult supervision must be provided to manage the activity safely (including emergency situations).
For activities with students with a medical condition or disability that may impact on safety during the activity, consultation with parents is required prior to allocating supervision to determine the impact of students' medical condition or disability on safety during the activity.
The number of adult supervisors required to fulfil emergency and supervision roles must consider the nature of the activity, students' ages, abilities and specialised learning, access and/or health needs.
Before the activity, all adult supervisors:
- must be familiar with the contents of the CARA record
- must assess
weather conditions prior to undertaking the activity, inspecting the intended location in order to identify variable risks (e.g. wind), hazards and potential dangers.
During the activity, all adult supervisors:
- must be readily identifiable
- must closely monitor students with health support needs
- must closely monitor approach, throwing and landing areas at all times. Participants must not throw until these areas are clear.
- must confine throwing to occur in one direction only
- must comply with control measures from the CARA record and adapt as hazards arise
- must suspend the activity if the conditions become unfavourable (e.g. poor visibility, extreme temperatures, thunderstorms)
- must not allow return throwing.
Supervisor qualifications
Principals make final decisions in determining supervisor capability (competence, relevance and currency) and are responsible for encouraging and enabling school-based activity supervisors to raise their qualifications to improve safety standards.
All adult supervisors must comply with the
working with children authority - blue cards procedure and be able to identify, and respond to, risks or hazards that may emerge during the activity.
A registered teacher must be appointed to maintain overall responsibility for the activity.
At least one adult supervisor is required to be:
Medium risk level
- a registered teacher with competence (knowledge and skills) in teaching javelin or
- an adult supervisor, working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, with current
Level 1 Community Coach accreditation from Athletics Australia.
High risk level
- a registered teacher with qualifications in Physical Education (or equivalent demonstrated capability) and competence (knowledge and skills) in teaching javelin or
- an adult supervisor, working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, with current
Level 2 Club Coach accreditation from Athletics Australia.
Facilities and equipment
The qualified adult supervisor of the activity, in consultation with the principal, determines the requirements for facilities and equipment appropriate to the local context.
Location must be suitable for the activity being undertaken, including sufficient space to ensure safe participation and that safety rules and procedures can be followed.
Clearly defined approach, throwing and landing areas that consider the ability of the group. Use highly visible markers.
Participants must wear
personal protective equipment appropriate to the activity (e.g. enclosed footwear appropriate for the type of activity, surface and age of participants).
Lines to be marked on grass in accordance with the
line marking of sports fields fact sheet.
Equipment sized to match the ability and strength of students.
Consider using a whistle for command signalling.
Additionally for
high risk activities
Clearly defined runway and landing sector that extends beyond the ability of the group. Consult
World Athletics technical information - manuals and guidelines (see competition and technical rules, TR32-Rule 187) for support.
An exclusion zone defined with a broken line 10 metres outside the sector line and parallel to it. Additionally place highly visible markers on top of the broken line.
Homemade javelins are prohibited.
Common hazards and controls
Further to those listed, include any additional hazards and control measures considering the local context of the activity.
Biological material
Body fluids (e.g. blood, saliva, sweat) |
Manage bodily substances (e.g. blood) and open wounds before, during and after the activity. Consult
infection control guidelines and Queensland Health's
exclusion periods for infectious conditions poster for hygienic practices and first aid.
Follow appropriate cleaning and hygiene management practices when using shared equipment (departmental staff search 'practical subjects cleaning equipment' in OnePortal).
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Environmental conditions
Weather
Sun
Humidity |
The school's
sun safety strategy must be followed if participating outside.
Follow the
managing excessive heat in schools guidelines when participating in very hot or extreme heat conditions.
Ensure drink breaks occur regularly. Make water available for individual participants between drink breaks.
Dry equipment (including javelins) before each throw if conditions cause dampness.
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Boundary clearance |
Position throwers at least 5 metres apart during group instruction.
Position non-throwers at least 10 metres behind the marked approach. Mark exclusion zones clearly.
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Fast moving objects
Javelin |
Position left-handed throwers on the left side of the group during group instruction.
Instruct participants to check the throwing and landing areas are clear before commencing preparation to throw.
Implement a safe thowing procedure to ensure throwing occurs in one direction only.
Implement a safe retrieval procedure to prevent return throwing.
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Faulty or dangerous equipment |
Check equipment for damage before and during the activity (e.g. cracked or bent javelins). Withdraw any damaged equipment from use.
Carry sharp point javelins safely. Instruct students to:
- carry javelins vertically by the grip with tail up, except when the thrower has entered the approach area and is preparing to throw
- pull javelins from the ground by placing one hand over the tail end of the javelin.
- pick up a javelin lying flat on the ground by placing one hand over the tip of the tail. Keep this hand in place until the tail is raised above head height as the javelin is lifted into the vertical position.
- never run with a sharp point javelin, except when preparing to throw.
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Playing surface |
Clear the approach and throwing areas from loose items or debris. Do not participate on a slippery surface. |
Manual handling
Lifting and carrying equipment |
Implement a safe procedure to transport javelins point down. If specific tubes/carry bags are not available, use a method that prevents javelins from moving during transportation such as a modified wheelie bin with holes for javelins drilled in the top.
Use correct
manual handling processes when lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling or carrying.
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Physical exertion
Exhaustion and fatigue |
Conduct warm-up/cool-down activities.
Continually monitor participants for signs of fatigue and exhaustion.
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Student issues |
Provide specific safety induction for students wearing spikes.
Remove accessories (e.g. jewellery, lanyards) before participating.
Ensure fingernails and hair do not pose a hazard.
Monitor and enforce the correct approach, throw and retrieval safety procedures.
Practise the run-up without a javelin, staying well clear of throwing and exclusion zones.
Implement procedures (e.g. roll marking mechanisms) to prevent separation from the group when participating off site.
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