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 students working in and around stockyards as an activity to support curriculum delivery. Stockyards are defined as temporary holding enclosures where livestock is handled and/or confined.
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.
Depending on the scope of this activity, other risk assessments may be required when planning. Curriculum activities encompassing more than 1 CARA guideline (e.g.
agricultural activities (light vehicles, towing and trailers) guideline and
animal observation and handling guideline (when performing livestock husbandry guideline) must comply with the requirements of all CARA guidelines appropriate to the activity.
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.
Risk level
High risk
Working around or with unpredictable animals; use of stockyard crushes, races, gates and equipment; exposure to biohazards and veterinary chemicals and livestock vehicles reversing to load/unload.
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 and collaboration with local expertise (e.g. private landholder) is required for local advice, emergency support mechanisms and additional supervision requirements to ensure participant and public safety.
Permission/permits are required to be obtained from land managers (e.g. local councils or private landholders), if applicable.
Reference to the children and young workers code of practice 2006, the WorkSafe serious about farm safety guide and the hazardous manual tasks code of practice 2021 (PDF, 1.4MB) is required when planning this activity.
Schools must comply with animal welfare legislation. Consult the department's
animals in education page. Comply with
animals in Queensland State Schools procedure when handling live animals.
The
guide to managing electrical equipment in departmental schools and workplaces and the standard operating procedures (SOP) for
equipment and machinery resources must be followed.
Stock-handling aids must be used in accordance with the manufacturer's operating instructions and the relevant
animal welfare and transport codes of practice.
Stockyards, handling facilities, loading ramps and vehicle access roads must follow
WorkSafe advice for stockyard design.
The risks associated with
working at heights,
confined spaces (PDF, 1.5MB),
biological,
asbestos,
slip/trip/fall and
noise must be assessed and managed.
Local government building and planning requirements must be complied with.
Parents/carers must be informed about the necessity of relevant vaccinations, for example, Q fever.