Shooting sports

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Guideline review date: 24 September 2025

This guideline is provided to support schools in implementing the managing risks in school curriculum activities procedure.

The CARA planner (DOCX, 232KB) must be used for the specific school context in conjunction with this guideline considering additional risks, hazards and controls and including environmental, facility, equipment and student considerations.

For activities beyond the scope of this guideline, complete a CARA record using the CARA generic template (DOCX, 98KB).

Activity scope

This guideline demonstrates the minimum safety standard for student participation in shooting sports as an activity to support curriculum delivery.

The Department of Education is committed to ensuring that curriculum activities are planned for and managed in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld), to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of students, staff and others.

For activities conducted at a non-Department of Education venue, and/or when engaging external expertise, request written risk assessment advice and attach it to this CARA record.

For activities conducted off-site, schools must comply with the school excursions procedure.

For activities conducted as part of representative school sport programs, schools should consult with Queensland School Sport.

Risk level

Extreme risk
Shooting activities involving discharging firearms.

Activity requirements

If any requirement cannot be met, the activity must not occur.

A registered teacher must be appointed to maintain overall responsibility for the activity.

Teachers, in collaboration with other adult supervisors of the planned activity, determine additional risks, hazards and control measures relevant to the activity and the specific school/group circumstances in order to lift the safety standard above the minimum identified in the CARA guideline.

Consult review comments from previous CARA records to improve safety standards based on the advice from the previous supervisors of the activity at the school.

Prior consultation is required with local authority (e.g. range officer at the shooting range) for local advice, emergency support mechanisms and additional supervision requirements to ensure participant and public safety.

The range officer must:

brief all adult supervisors on specific hazards, safety instructions, range rules and procedures
nominate the number of shooters on the firing line at any one time
inspect firearms prior to use, to check that they are suitable for the activity and are in a safe operating condition
inspect firearms and declare them safe before moving to retrieve targets (e.g. bolts should be opened or magazines removed and breeches inspected)
undertake a reconciliation of ammunition at the end of the shoot.

All shooting activities must be carried out on shooting ranges or galleries with current shooting range approval from the Queensland Police Service.

The use of crossbows is not permitted.

No personal firearms are permitted. All participants are to use firearms supplied at an approved shooting range provided they comply with all regulations including, producing photographic identification and a valid firearms licence (if applicable) for inspection by a range officer. Participants must also complete and sign all required forms for the shooting activity(ies) taking place and have them authorised by the range officer.

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Students

Emergency and first-aid

Induction and instruction

Consent

Supervision

Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults, make final supervision decisions for the activity that considers the local context.

Appropriate adult supervision must be provided to manage the activity safely (i.e. prevent an incident from occurring and manage an incident if one were to occur, including managing emergency situations). The principal must give active consideration to the minimum standards set in the CARA guideline for the activity, the CARA planner and the risk assessment when determining the appropriate level of supervision.

See number of adult supervisors below.

Participants must adhere to all rules and advice communicated by the range officer and any safety signage at the facility/location.

Before the activity, all adult supervisors:

must be familiar with the contents of the CARA record, including the emergency and supervision plans.

During the activity, all participants must be under the supervision of a range officer licensed for the category of firearm being used. That is:

participants in possession of a Category H firearm (pistol), must be under the direct, personal and exclusive supervision of a range officer licensed for Category H firearms at all times.
participants in possession of a firearm other than Category H must be under the direct and immediate supervision of a range officer licensed for the category of firearm at all times.

The range officer must supervise students when handling and loading ammunition to ensure correct technique is followed.

During the activity, all adult supervisors:

must provide active and direct supervision—be constantly vigilant, attentive and rescue ready
must comply with control measures from the CARA record and adapt as hazards arise
must only allow nominated shooters on the firing line while shooting is in progress.

The activity must be suspended if the conditions become unfavourable (e.g. extreme temperatures).

Number of adult supervisors

Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults of the activity, determine the final number of supervisors to fulfil instructional, emergency and supervision roles for the local context that consider the nature of the activity, students' ages, abilities and specialised learning, access and/or health needs. In some instances, the final supervision ratio may be 1:1.

If the minimum safety standard cannot be met, modify the activity (or elements of it) and use the hierarchy of controls to implement alternative control measures to meet or exceed the minimum safety standard (e.g. reduce the number of students participating at any one time).

See frequently asked questions (FAQs) for further support.

Supervisor qualifications

Qualifications support the minimum safety standard for this activity. Principals make final decisions* in determining supervisor capability (competence, relevance and currency) and whether the activity leader meets an appropriate teaching standard.

*See FAQs for further support.

All adult supervisors must comply with the working with children authority—blue cards procedure.

Qualified adults for the activity

Recovery/emergency—CPR, first aid, rescue

An adult with current emergency qualifications is required to be quickly accessible to the activity area.

Supervisors must have CPR and first aid qualifications relevant to the activity. Emergency qualifications may include:

Extreme risk activities

At least 1 adult supervisor is working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, with coaching accreditation from Shooting Australia and current membership with one of the below:

*See FAQs for further support.

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.

The approved shooting range must:

hold and display a current Range Approval certificate from Queensland Police Service Weapons Licensing
hold and display a current club approval as a range operator and meet all conditions included in the approval and range standing orders
prominently display the names of each appointed range officer and supervising persons using the approved range any time a firearm is discharged.

Participants must wear personal protective equipment appropriate to the activity including eye protection (e.g. good quality safety glasses); hearing protection (PDF, 1.6MB) (minimum class 4 ear plugs or ear muffs); suitably enclosed footwear and clothing that meets the range dress requirements.

Equipment must be sized to match the ability and strength of students.

Firearm storage, maintenance and inspection must comply with the Weapons Regulation 2016.

Ammunition storage and usage must comply with the Explosives Regulation 2017.

Common hazards and controls

Further to those listed, include any additional hazards and control measures considering the local context of the activity.

Environmental hazards	Control measures
Environmental conditions Weather, sun, humidity	Assess weather conditions prior to undertaking the activity, inspecting the intended location in order to identify variable risks, hazards and potential dangers. Follow the school's sun safety policy, including appropriate attire (e.g. long-sleeved shirts), sun protection (e.g. sunscreen) and shade facilities when outside. Follow the managing excessive heat in schools guidelines when participating in very hot or extreme heat conditions. Dry equipment before each shot if conditions cause dampness
Facilities and equipment hazards	Control measures
Activity location	Location must be suitable for the activity being undertaken, including sufficient space, adequate lighting and ventilation to ensure safe participation and that safety rules and procedures can be followed
Chemicals	For curriculum activities involving chemicals, consult the Chemicals in curriculum activities template. Note that all chemicals in schools must be managed in accordance with the department's chemical management procedure. Use solvents/oils in well ventilated areas. Ensure students wear personal protection equipment (e.g. gloves) when cleaning firearms. Minimise handling of whole cartridges or spent cases. Students must wash hands following contact with these to reduce lead absorption risk
Faulty or dangerous equipment	Check the availability of additional safety barriers with the range operator. Do not use personal protective equipment with cracks, dents or damage. Check footwear to ensure they provide sufficient protection for the feet and have non-slip soles
Playing surface	Conduct a check of the participation area with the range officer to identify and manage surface hazards. Clear the participating surface from loose items or debris. Do not participate on a surface that is slippery, unduly rough or chopped up. Cover/fill playing surface hazards (e.g. sprinkler heads, holes) to be level with the surrounds
Student considerations	Control measures
Manual handing Lifting and carrying equipment	Use correct manual handling processes when lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling or carrying
Student issues	Remove accessories (e.g. jewellery, lanyards) before participating. Ensure fingernails and hair and clothing (e.g. pockets) do not interfere with the activity. Ensure drink breaks occur regularly. Make water available for individual participants between drink breaks
Visibility	Position left and right-handed participants to ensure they face the instructor

Additional links

Queensland Police Service

Disclaimer

This information is developed and distributed on this website by the State of Queensland for use by Queensland state schools only.

Use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information by persons or organisations other than the State of Queensland is at their sole risk. All users who use, adapt or rely on this information are responsible for ensuring by independent verification its accuracy, currency and appropriateness to their particular circumstances. The State of Queensland makes no representations, either express or implied, as to the suitability of this information to a user's particular circumstances.

To the full extent permitted by law, the State of Queensland disclaims all responsibility and liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs arising from the use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information.

Links to external websites are for convenience only and the State of Queensland has not independently verified the information on the linked websites. It is the responsibility of users to make their own decisions about the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of the information at these external websites.

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CARA guidelines