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, such as
epilepsy) that may inhibit safe engagement in the activity and include specific support measures within emergency procedures.
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.
For participants with known allergies, schools must comply with the
supporting students with asthma and/or at risk of anaphylaxis at school procedure and the school's
anaphylaxis risk management plan (DOCX, 159KB), including an adult supervisor of the activity with
anaphylaxis training.
Emergency plans and injury management procedures must be established for foreseeable incidents (e.g. medical emergency, equipment failure, thunderstorm, provision of
first aid) and incorporate the advice from local authorities.
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. 2-way radio, mobile phone) and a process for obtaining external assistance and/or receiving emergency advice. Note that battery life can be impacted by weather conditions
- recovery/rescue equipment suitable to the location, for example, emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) or personal locator beacon (PLB), flares
- an appointed emergency contact (e.g. the principal, a park ranger, or local police) who is provided with a route card listing activity details (outline of the route to be followed, the number and names of the party, the estimated time of departure/arrival)
- emergency shelter/protection locations and alternative routes that consider foreseeable emergencies (e.g. injury, bushfire, thunderstorm, extreme temperature, tides).
Safety procedures must be determined for the location (e.g. safe use of equipment, location of first aid support and equipment) and incorporate advice from off-site facility, if relevant.
Access is required to
first aid equipment and consumables suitable for foreseeable incidents.
Induction is required for all adult supervisors on emergency procedures (e.g. equipment failure) and safety procedures (e.g. safe use of equipment). 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 and adult supervisors on correct techniques (e.g. abseiling/rappelling and climbing techniques and methods, safe use of equipment). Rule-reminders are to be provided throughout the activity.
Parent consent (DOCX, 309KB) is required for all activities conducted
off-site and all
extreme risk level activities conducted onsite. It is
strongly recommended that parent consent is obtained for
high risk level activities conducted on-site.
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 facility operator/owner 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 adult supervisors:
- must provide active and direct supervision—be constantly vigilant, attentive and rescue ready
- must remove participants for the safety of the group or individuals, if applicable
- must comply with control measures from the CARA record and adapt as hazards arise
- must
not rely on students to recover a person in difficulty at any time.
The activity must be suspended if the conditions become unfavourable (e.g. thunderstorms).
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 (climbing/abseiling elements,
belay system—top managed, bottom managed or autobelay), students' ages, abilities and specialised learning, access and/or health needs. In some instances, the final supervision ratio may be 1:1. The
abseiling and climbing Australian adventure activity good practice guide (PDF, 745KB) should be consulted for supervision ratios.
At least 2 adult supervisors, one of whom is a registered teacher must be present. In certain situations, there may need to be smaller or larger numbers of participants per adult supervisor.
Due to the risk associated with falls from height, the safe conduct of these activities requires the use of spotters in order to protect the participant's upper body and head from heavy contact with the ground. Spotters are required when the feet of the participant are up to 1.8m above the ground (e.g. lead climbing activities before first clip) (AS 2316.1-2009).
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:
An adult with concussion management knowledge or training is recommended. Consult
concussion in sport resources.
High risk activities
At least 1 adult supervisor is either:
- a registered teacher with competence (knowledge and skills) and experience in climbing and abseiling, with statements of attainment from a registered training organisation (RTO) covering relevant climbing and abseiling activities from the
sport, fitness and recreation training package or similar
- an adult supervisor, working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, with competence (knowledge and skills) and experience in climbing and abseiling and with
Certificate III in Outdoor Leadership or
Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation, similar or higher (e.g. statements of attainment which must include the endorsements of climbing and abseiling).
Extreme risk activities
At least 1 adult supervisor is either:
- a registered teacher with competence (knowledge and skills) and experience in climbing and abseiling and with
Certificate III in Outdoor Leadership or
Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation, similar or higher (e.g. statements of attainment which include the endorsements of climbing and abseiling)
- an adult supervisor, working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, with competence (knowledge and skills) and experience in climbing and abseiling and either
Refer to the competencies outlined in the
abseiling and climbing Australian adventure activity good practice guide (PDF, 745KB) for guidance.
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.
Vehicle access must be available at all times.
Inspection of staging and climbing areas must occur immediately prior to the activity.
Base of climbs/abseils must be cleared of potential hazards.
All equipment (e.g. ropes, harnesses, slings, carabiners and chocks) manufactured specifically for
rock climbing/abseiling and must comply with the Australian Standards AS 2316.1-2009 for use and maintenance and
international climbing and mountaineering federation specifications.
Equipment must be:
- sized to match the ability and strength of students
- used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions
- manufactured for use in the context of the activity and meet the relevant EN,
UIAA/CE or Australian Standard.
Abseiling/rappelling rope long enough for the descent and a top-rope safety rope used in addition to the abseiling/rappelling rope.
Harnesses, helmets, ropes and lanyards must be provided for all participants and must meet
UIAA safety standards, EN358, EN361, EN813, EN12277, AS/NZS1891.4 or equivalent.
Harnesses must be:
- worn at all times and fitted correctly when on course, and connected by a safety line (rope or
webbing/tape) to an appropriate anchor point or belay
- connected by a safety line (rope or tape) to an appropriate anchor point or belay where exposure to a fall exists.
Helmets that meet UIAA or EN12492 standards must provide appropriate for protection from falling objects be correctly fitted and secured for the duration of the activity.
The belay system or
lanyard arrangement to be appropriate for the expected fall factor of a climber to minimise risk of strangulation.
Appropriate vertical rescue equipment suitable for unassisted abseil, and/or haul and lower rescue techniques must be readily accessible.
Participants to wear appropriate outfit that meet both of the below criteria:
- clothing appropriate for the activity and weather conditions
- firmly fitting, enclosed non-slip footwear appropriate to the terrain.
Consider using backpacks to carry equipment and edge protectors to protect ropes from abrasion damage.
Establish and employ a process for checking for damage for all equipment used in the activity.
A log of equipment use, maintenance and inspection for each course must be kept and made available to participating schools upon request.
A retirement schedule must be developed to replace equipment by manufacturers' nominated expiry date or when significant wear causes a hazard.
Refer to the equipment requirements outlined in the
abseiling and climbing Australian adventure activity good practice guide (PDF, 745KB) for guidance.
Common hazards and controls
Further to those listed, include any additional hazards and control measures considering the local context of the activity.
Environmental conditions
Weather, surfaces, surrounds
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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 clothing, 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.
Monitor participants for cold related illness (e.g. hypothermia) in cold weather conditions. Note: sudden temperature changes may trigger
seizures
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Activity location |
Assess site for unstable rocks, dead tree limbs, harmful fauna and flora.
Location must be suitable for the activity being undertaken to ensure safe participation and that safety rules and procedures can be followed. Undertake a reconnaissance of new or infrequently used venues to ascertain suitability
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Faulty or dangerous equipment |
Remove any equipment from the activity area that poses a risk to participants.
Ensure all safety equipment is in place and in good condition
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Injury |
Students aware of the location of emergency and first-aid equipment |
Physical exertion
Exhaustion and fatigue |
Conduct
warm-up/cool-down activities.
Monitor students for signs of fear, hesitancy, loss of balance, fatigue, disorientation and/or exhaustion.
Ensure drink breaks occur regularly. Make water available for individual participants between drink breaks
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Student considerations |
Conduct appropriate lead-up activities (e.g. trust, cooperation, communication).
Provide suitable options to allow 'challenge by choice'.
Provide scaffolded experiences to build participant skill level, knowledge and experience.
Adopt a system of signals to clearly communicate the need for assistance if in difficulty.
Remove accessories (e.g. jewellery) before participating.
Ensure fingernails, hair and clothing do not pose a hazard.
Guide students through an activity or provide a demonstration prior to undertaking the activity.
Brief all participants on basic first aid procedures for biological hazards they may encounter (e.g.
snakes, ticks, leeches).
Implement procedures (e.g. buddy system, roll marking mechanisms) to account for all participants before, during and after the activity
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Visibility |
Have students wear easily identifiable clothing (e.g. high clothing).
Ensure staff can easily recognise those students with health support needs and are familiar with their needs
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Glossary
Abseiling: descending vertical or near vertical natural surfaces or artificial surfaces using ropes and descending friction devices to manage the descent. It is also known as rappelling.
Belaying: refers to a variety of techniques used in climbing to exert friction on a climbing rope so that a falling climber does not fall very far.
Climbing: ascending, traversing or descending vertical or near vertical natural surfaces or artificial surfaces. (Also see rock climbing).
Multi-pitch: a section of a natural surface or artificial surface that to ascend, traverse or descend, progress is made by using more than one pitch and establishing belay systems mid route.
Rock climbing: ascending, traversing or descending vertical or near vertical natural surfaces. At times also used to describe climbing on artificial surfaces (also see climbing).
Single-pitch: a section of a natural surface or artificial surface that requires no greater than one length of rope to ascend, traverse or descend.
Webbing/tape: climbing specific tubular nylon webbing pressed flat. It is very strong. It can be made of Spectra/Dyneema or in combination with nylon.
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