Application
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to control a raft as a leader, with participants on board, on rivers with grade 3 rapids, and according to planned and scouted courses. It requires the ability to implement rescue processes for ejected swimmers and self, and to manage capsize responses. Other rescue skills are covered in complementary units.
Grade 3 refers to the International River Grading System which provides a broad indication of a river’s rapid features, and the degree of difficulty in negotiating these. This unit provides skills to raft on rivers with rapids which have fairly high waves, one to two metres tall, broken water, and strong currents and eddies. These rivers have significant obstacles including large holes, exposed rocks and small falls that require manoeuvring around using proficient paddling. Passages through rapids may be difficult to recognise from the river and inspection from the bank is usually required.
This unit applies to any type of organisation that delivers outdoor recreation activities including commercial, not-for-profit and government organisations.
It applies to leaders who work independently in the field using discretion and judgement to manage operational logistics, risk, problems and emergencies when they arise. Other leadership skills are provided in complementary units.
No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCECRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Prepare for the rafting activity. | 1.1. Select clothing, footwear, personal protective, rescue, and other equipment suitable for the trip conditions, and check for safe working condition. 1.2. Prepare craft and complete safety and serviceability checks, including pressure checks on inflation. 1.3. Waterproof, pack and stow clothing, personal resources, and food according to access requirements during trip. 1.4. Interpret planned course from activity plans and maps to assist in following the course. 1.5. Confirm activity safety and emergency response procedures to ensure compliance during activities. 1.6. Confirm protocols for communications between team members. 1.7. Fit and adjust personal protective equipment to ensure comfort and safety. |
2. Launch raft and complete participant drill. | 2.1. Select launch site according to river conditions and participant abilities. 2.2. Board participants in seating positions appropriate to their paddling, swimming and physical abilities. 2.3. Launch raft using technique suitable for river conditions and participant abilities. 2.4. Inform participants of guide commands and strokes to be used. 2.5. Demonstrate and explain correct stroke technique, and engage participants in practice. 2.6. Check and confirm participant stroke abilities and understanding of communication protocols. |
3. Manoeuvre rafts on grade 3 rivers. | 3.1. Identify hydrological features from the water and utilise favourably to control and manoeuvre raft. 3.2. Control direction of raft forward, in reverse and sideways using a range of appropriate strokes and combinations. 3.3. Maintain appropriate posture, use of trunk rotation, paddle and blade to efficiently paddle the raft. 3.4. Utilise appropriate padding strokes and techniques to cross currents and break into and out of eddies. 3.5. Avoid or negotiate obstacles and hazards using a combination of strokes, paddling techniques and weight shifts. 3.6. Maintain control over participant paddling, providing prompt and clear commands. 3.7. Maintain visual contact and effective communication with participants, other rafts and guides in party throughout all activities. 3.8. Monitor party formation, paddling pace and space between rafts and make required adjustments. |
4. Plan and run routes through grade 3 rapids. | 4.1. Scout rapids from the water and shore to identify hydrological features, hazards and impediments. 4.2. Assess features and hazards to determine a safe route through rapids. 4.3. Plan route through rapids accounting for participant abilities; communicate route, strokes and manoeuvres. 4.4. Identify reference points to guide chosen passage through rapids. 4.5. Run predetermined route using avoidance techniques and commands to safely negotiate river hazards. 4.6. Use efficient paddling techniques and strokes and utilise hydrological features to assist in turning and crossing currents. |
5. Perform swimmer and capsize rescues. | 5.1. Assist ejected participants in moving water using reach techniques and assist to re-enter raft. 5.2. Rescue self in water, maintaining position upstream of raft, retrieve paddle and re-enter craft. 5.3. Promptly reach and recover capsized raft using techniques to re-establish upright raft. 5.4. Manage capsize response of participants and take actions appropriate to situation. |
6. Land and secure rafts. | 6.1. Select a suitable location to exit the river, and to allow for any subsequent re-entries. 6.2. Land and disembark raft using techniques suitable for river conditions and participant abilities. 6.3. Select a secure bank feature and secure raft using appropriate knots. 6.4. Secure raft for road transport, on activity conclusion, using suitable methods. |
Foundation Skills
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 straightforward but 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 and calculate numerical data involving river gradients, distances, times and speed of currents. |
Teamwork skills to: | pro-actively and cooperatively work within teams of guides and operational staff to organise activity logistics, solve operational problems and deliver a quality experience to participants. |
Planning and organising skills to: | manage own timing to complete activities within planned timeframes. |
Sectors
Outdoor Recreation
Competency Field
Rafting