ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCECRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Prepare for the walk.

1.1. Select clothing, footwear, personal protective and other equipment suitable for the walk and conditions, and check for safe working condition.

1.2. Calculate and prepare food and water appropriate for the distance and environment of the trip.

1.3. Waterproof and pack clothing, personal resources, and food according to access requirements during walk.

1.4. Interpret planned route from activity plans and maps to assist with navigation, and confirm contingency routes and emergency escapes.

1.5. Confirm activity safety and emergency response procedures to ensure compliance during activities.

1.6. Confirm protocols for communications between walkers.

1.7. Ensure pack weight is appropriate to body weight and level of fitness; fit and adjust for comfort and safety.

2. Walk in extremely difficult tracked or untracked environments.

2.1. Use appropriate posture and manual handling techniques when lifting and carrying backpack.

2.2. Establish and maintain an appropriate walking rhythm and pace according to conditions.

2.3. Use walking techniques specific to the environmental terrain.

2.4. Monitor walking pace of, and space between, party members to ensure safety of all, and completion within timelines.

2.5. Maintain effective communication with party members throughout all activities.

2.6. Follow the planned route and make required adjustments to route according to track or environmental conditions.

2.7. Use techniques that minimise damage to equipment and the natural environment throughout all activities.

3. Negotiate environmental obstacles and arduous climbs.

3.1. Safely approach, and negotiate constant and unpredictable obstacles and hazards to minimise risk of injury.

3.2. Control footing to walk safely on prolonged sections of uneven and unstable surface.

3.3. Utilise techniques and control pace to ascend and descend prolonged steep slopes.

3.4. Set up and use a handline to negotiate steep slopes.

3.5. Manage movement of equipment using pack hauls, raises and lowers.

3.6. Monitor own fatigue, adjust pace, food and water intake and take breaks while maintaining contact with party members.

3.7. Monitor and regulate own body temperature by adding of removing clothing layers.

Foundation skills essential to performance in this unit, but not explicit in the performance criteria are listed here, along with a brief context statement.

SKILLS

DESCRIPTION

Reading skills to:

interpret detailed and familiar organisational safety and emergency response procedures

interpret potentially unfamiliar information on maps

interpret factual activity plan information in familiar formats.

Oral communications skills to:

use clear and unambiguous verbal and non-verbal communications to make intent known.

Numeracy skills to:

interpret maps and other information to calculate numerical data involving distances, times and slope gradients.

Problem-solving skills to:

resolve significant problems associated with indistinct tracks and environmental conditions adjustments, constant hazards, and fatigue.

Planning and organising skills to:

manage own timing and plan route adjustments in the field to complete activities within planned timeframes.

Self-management skills to:

critically evaluate all circumstances encountered and take responsibility to manage own safety.