ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCECRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes

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

1. Prepare equipment and participants.

1.1. Assess characteristics, condition and capability of participants, as they present, and obtain informed consent.

1.2. Confirm participants have clothing and footwear appropriate for the activity and anticipated weather conditions.

1.3. Select and set up personal protective equipment (PPE) to match participants, high elements and prevailing conditions.

1.4. Complete, for PPE, required safety and serviceability inspections and reports according to organisational procedures.

1.5. Direct and assist participants to fit and adjust personal protective equipment; check comfort and safety of fit.

2. Brief participants.

2.1. Explain planned objectives; communicate instructions and information about activity in a manner appropriate to participants.

2.2. Encourage participants to ask questions and seek advice before and during session.

2.3. Inform participants of known and anticipated risks, safety procedures, safe behaviour, safe areas and boundaries.

2.4. Advise participants of roles and responsibilities of activity leaders, and communication protocols to use during activity.

3. Instruct belay techniques for high elements.

3.1. Fit and adjust harnesses and belay equipment to participants to ensure comfort and safety.

3.2. Attach participants to established belay system, tie suitable knots, as required, and complete safety checks.

3.3. Explain importance of belaying and demonstrate essential components of belay technique.

3.4. Explain communication protocols and their importance.

3.5. Verify participant understanding of belay technique, communication protocols, and safety procedures.

3.6. Supervise belayer’s practice of belay techniques in a low risk situation.

3.7. Observe and monitor participant performance of belay technique and provide feedback and corrective instruction.

4. Lead high element activities.

4.1. Explain and demonstrate techniques for use of independent and linked high elements.

4.2. Position belayer appropriately for the course element, to allow effective use of belay system.

4.3. Provide clear and accurate instructions and demonstrations throughout the session.

4.4. Monitor performance of belayers and participants, and provide directions, encouragement and corrective instruction to improve techniques.

4.5. Facilitate effective group communication and interaction to maintain group control, engagement and safety.

4.6. Implement required modifications to activity to ensure participant engagement and comfort, and completion within timelines.

5. Manage safety during activities and complete basic rescues.

5.1. Monitor activity conditions and hazards, including signs of participant difficulty, to ensure safety and welfare.

5.2. Monitor participant behaviour and adherence to safety procedures, adjust level of supervision and assertively correct breaches, as required.

5.3. Respond immediately to adverse participant reactions and hazardous situations.

5.4. Complete ongoing risk assessments to minimise risk of injury to participants and others.

5.5. Amend activities if risk is unacceptable; cease activities when required.

5.6. Respond to participants in difficulty and provide verbal directions to recover and continue.

5.7. Use safe approach procedures to provide direct assistance for participants to recover and continue.

5.8. Respond to emergency situations according to organisational safety, emergency response and first aid procedures.

6. Complete post activity responsibilities.

6.1. Debrief participants and encourage discussion on their technique and satisfaction with session.

6.2. Notify relevant personnel of activity completion.

6.3. Retrieve equipment, inspect for wear or breakage, tag faults and store in designated area.

6.4. Document any equipment faults, and incidents including injuries and near misses.

6.5. Evaluate the activity through a team debrief and identify improvements for future activities.

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 familiar organisational policies and procedures.

Writing skills to:

use fundamental sentence structure to complete forms such as safety checklists, equipment fault and incident reports that require factual information.

Oral communications skills to:

provide clear and unambiguous instructions to participants using language and terms easily understood

ask open and closed probe questions and actively listen to determine participants’ understanding of instructions.

Teamwork skills to:

pro-actively and cooperatively work within teams of leaders, support and operational staff to organise activity logistics, solve operational problems and deliver a quality experience to participants.

Planning and organising skills to:

organise participants into manageable groups for activities

manage own timing and that of participants to complete activities within organisational service times.