Assessor Resource

DEFSUR011
Survive at sea

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit describes the skills required to survive at sea and the immediate measures that would need to be taken upon exposure to the water, including both surface and underwater swimming, treading water, rigging improvised and purpose flotation devices, and adopting heat-loss minimisation positions. It also covers the use of purpose survival craft and equipment, including water procurement, food procurement and emergency signalling devices.

This unit was developed for Defence personnel but may be relevant to others. The context of this competency would typically be when a ship is sunk or an aircraft is downed over water. The survivor can be on their own or in a group.

The skills and knowledge described in this unit must be applied within the legislative, regulatory and policy environment in which they are carried out. Organisational policies and procedures must be consulted and adhered to.

Those undertaking this unit would act autonomously, while performing concrete tasks, in a broad range of contexts which may be highly unpredictable.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to unit at the time of publication.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions section.

1. Survive in the water

1.1 Use surface and underwater swimming techniques to escape from dangerous situations.

1.2 Enter water from a height and then surface.

1.3 Assume heat-retaining positions in the water as an individual and in a group environment.

1.4 Use improvised flotation devices to supplement buoyancy.

1.5 Fit personal flotation device (PFD) and maintain buoyancy through manual techniques.

2. Operate and maintain survival flotation craft and its resources

2.1 Deploy, inflate, right (upon inversion) and board survival flotation craft (multi-person or single-person life raft).

2.2 Escape from inside the survival flotation craft after inversion.

2.3 Rig survival flotation craft for protection from the elements and optimisation (or minimisation) of movement.

2.4 Inspect and maintain survival flotation craft throughout the survival period.

2.5 Manage survival resources.

2.6 Deploy and operate water and food procurement devices.

2.7 Operate signal equipment from the survival flotation craft.

2.8 Interpret and respond to recognition and response signals from search aircraft.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least one occasion.

fitting personal floatation devices

using duck dive technique

swimming 30 metres in clothing

treading water for a minimum of five minutes in clothing

adopting the HELP for at least ten minutes

rigging and using two different improvised flotation devices for at least five minutes each

surviving at sea over three hours using a multi-person raft by:

rigging the drogue

rigging the canopy

rigging water procurement devices including solar stills and reverse osmosis machines, and producing at least 300 millilitre of water

bailing

inspecting the craft

rigging and employing the following signalling devices from the survival craft:

heliograph – accurately illuminating a target at least 300 metres away

sea marker dye – deploying a sea marker dye effectively and safely using prevailing currents to optimise signature

flare – employing a signal flare effectively without threatening persons or survival equipment

use surface and underwater swimming techniques including at least one of:

duck diving

swimming while clothed

treading water in location

Deploy and operate water and food procurement devices including at least one of:

reverse osmosis machine

solar stills

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.

aircraft response signals

emergency signalling

heat-retaining position

improvised flotation techniques

Competency should be demonstrated over time in a range of situations that could be expected in a survival situation.

Competency must be assessed in a simulated workplace environment, with access to a suitable sea-survival area, buoyancy devices, signalling devices and life rafts. All aspects of competence must be tested as part of an unbroken continuum from entry into the water at the individual level to the boarding and conduct aboard a survival flotation craft.

Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions section.

1. Survive in the water

1.1 Use surface and underwater swimming techniques to escape from dangerous situations.

1.2 Enter water from a height and then surface.

1.3 Assume heat-retaining positions in the water as an individual and in a group environment.

1.4 Use improvised flotation devices to supplement buoyancy.

1.5 Fit personal flotation device (PFD) and maintain buoyancy through manual techniques.

2. Operate and maintain survival flotation craft and its resources

2.1 Deploy, inflate, right (upon inversion) and board survival flotation craft (multi-person or single-person life raft).

2.2 Escape from inside the survival flotation craft after inversion.

2.3 Rig survival flotation craft for protection from the elements and optimisation (or minimisation) of movement.

2.4 Inspect and maintain survival flotation craft throughout the survival period.

2.5 Manage survival resources.

2.6 Deploy and operate water and food procurement devices.

2.7 Operate signal equipment from the survival flotation craft.

2.8 Interpret and respond to recognition and response signals from search aircraft.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least one occasion.

fitting personal floatation devices

using duck dive technique

swimming 30 metres in clothing

treading water for a minimum of five minutes in clothing

adopting the HELP for at least ten minutes

rigging and using two different improvised flotation devices for at least five minutes each

surviving at sea over three hours using a multi-person raft by:

rigging the drogue

rigging the canopy

rigging water procurement devices including solar stills and reverse osmosis machines, and producing at least 300 millilitre of water

bailing

inspecting the craft

rigging and employing the following signalling devices from the survival craft:

heliograph – accurately illuminating a target at least 300 metres away

sea marker dye – deploying a sea marker dye effectively and safely using prevailing currents to optimise signature

flare – employing a signal flare effectively without threatening persons or survival equipment

use surface and underwater swimming techniques including at least one of:

duck diving

swimming while clothed

treading water in location

Deploy and operate water and food procurement devices including at least one of:

reverse osmosis machine

solar stills

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.

aircraft response signals

emergency signalling

heat-retaining position

improvised flotation techniques

Competency should be demonstrated over time in a range of situations that could be expected in a survival situation.

Competency must be assessed in a simulated workplace environment, with access to a suitable sea-survival area, buoyancy devices, signalling devices and life rafts. All aspects of competence must be tested as part of an unbroken continuum from entry into the water at the individual level to the boarding and conduct aboard a survival flotation craft.

Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Use surface and underwater swimming techniques to escape from dangerous situations. 
Enter water from a height and then surface. 
Assume heat-retaining positions in the water as an individual and in a group environment. 
Use improvised flotation devices to supplement buoyancy. 
Fit personal flotation device (PFD) and maintain buoyancy through manual techniques. 
Deploy, inflate, right (upon inversion) and board survival flotation craft (multi-person or single-person life raft). 
Escape from inside the survival flotation craft after inversion. 
Rig survival flotation craft for protection from the elements and optimisation (or minimisation) of movement. 
Inspect and maintain survival flotation craft throughout the survival period. 
Manage survival resources. 
Deploy and operate water and food procurement devices. 
Operate signal equipment from the survival flotation craft. 
Interpret and respond to recognition and response signals from search aircraft. 
Use surface and underwater swimming techniques to escape from dangerous situations. 
Enter water from a height and then surface. 
Assume heat-retaining positions in the water as an individual and in a group environment. 
Use improvised flotation devices to supplement buoyancy. 
Fit personal flotation device (PFD) and maintain buoyancy through manual techniques. 
Deploy, inflate, right (upon inversion) and board survival flotation craft (multi-person or single-person life raft). 
Escape from inside the survival flotation craft after inversion. 
Rig survival flotation craft for protection from the elements and optimisation (or minimisation) of movement. 
Inspect and maintain survival flotation craft throughout the survival period. 
Manage survival resources. 
Deploy and operate water and food procurement devices. 
Operate signal equipment from the survival flotation craft. 
Interpret and respond to recognition and response signals from search aircraft. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

DEFSUR011 - Survive at sea
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

DEFSUR011 - Survive at sea

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: