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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Prepare for the rafting activity.
   • Select clothing, footwear, personal protective, rescue and other equipment suitable for the trip conditions, and check for safe working condition.
   • Prepare craft and complete safety and serviceability checks, including pressure checks on inflation.
   • Waterproof, pack and stow clothing, personal resources, and food according to access requirements during trip.
   • Interpret planned course from activity plans and maps to assist in following the course.
   • Confirm activity safety and emergency response procedures to ensure compliance during activities.
   • Confirm protocols for communications between team members.
   • Fit and adjust personal protective equipment to ensure comfort and safety.
2. Launch raft and complete participant drill.
   • Select launch site according to river conditions and participant abilities.
   • Board participants in seating positions appropriate to their paddling, swimming and physical abilities.
   • Launch raft using technique suitable for river conditions and participant abilities.
   • Inform participants of guide commands and strokes to be used.
   • Demonstrate and explain correct stroke technique, and engage participants in practice.
   • Check and confirm participant stroke abilities and understanding of communication protocols.
3. Manoeuvre rafts on grade 2 rivers.
   • Identify hydrological features from the water and utilise favourably to control and manoeuvre raft.
   • Control direction of raft forward, in reverse and sideways using a range of appropriate strokes and combinations.
   • Maintain appropriate posture, use of trunk rotation, paddle and blade to efficiently paddle the raft.
   • Utilise appropriate padding strokes and techniques to cross currents and break into and out of eddies.
   • Avoid or negotiate obstacles and hazards using a combination of strokes, paddling techniques and weight shifts.
   • Maintain control over participant paddling, providing prompt and clear commands.
   • Maintain visual contact and effective communication with participants, other rafts and guides in party throughout all activities.
   • Monitor party formation, paddling pace and space between rafts and make required adjustments.
4. Plan and run routes through grade 2 rapids.
   • Scout rapids from the water and shore to identify hydrological features, hazards and impediments.
   • Assess features and hazards to determine a safe route through rapids.
   • Plan route through rapids accounting for participant abilities; communicate route, strokes and manoeuvres.
   • Identify reference points to guide chosen passage through rapids.
   • Run predetermined route using avoidance techniques and commands to safely negotiate river hazards.
   • Use efficient paddling techniques and strokes and utilise hydrological features to assist in turning and crossing currents.
5. Perform swimmer and capsize rescues.
   • Assist ejected participants in moving water using reach techniques and assist to re-enter raft.
   • Rescue self in water, maintaining position upstream of raft, retrieve paddle and re-enter craft.
   • Promptly reach and recover capsized raft using techniques to re-establish upright raft.
   • Manage capsize response of participants and take actions appropriate to situation.
6. Land and secure rafts.
   • Select a suitable location to exit the river, and to allow for any subsequent re-entries.
   • Land and disembark raft using techniques suitable for river conditions and participant abilities.
   • Select a secure bank feature and secure raft using appropriate knots.
   • Secure raft for road transport, on activity conclusion, using suitable methods.