Assessor Resource

SISOODR404A
Manage risk in an outdoor activity

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit applies to those who work in a range of roles and settings across the outdoor recreation sector, such as those who are responsible for planning and organising outdoor recreation programs and activities which can include complex and non-routine situations. Work would be undertaken autonomously with some responsibility for leadership and guidance of others. Work would be performed in field locations with varied contexts requiring contingency planning.

Those working in such roles would include adventure guides, outdoor leaders, program developers, trip leaders and logistics coordinators.

This may include outdoor recreation leaders working for outdoor education or adventure providers; volunteer groups; not-for-profit organisations or government agencies.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to undertake an organisational risk management process within the context of outdoor adventure activities, in order to make judgements about the safe level of risk in relation to challenge and the competence of participants. It includes applying and evaluating organisational risk management strategies to lessen the potential impact of unacceptable risks.

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

Prerequisites

Nil

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.



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.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the following is essential:

applies knowledge of the role of risk in outdoor adventure activities to select activities that promote a suitable level of risk and challenge in relation to participant skill

applies organisational risk management strategies to conduct the activity safely

applies contingency management techniques to deal with a range of problems and issues that may arise during the outdoor activity, including changing levels of risk, and takes action to address these

reviews the conduct of the activity in relation to the management of risk and makes appropriate improvements.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure evaluation and management of risk in multiple outdoor activities in an environment that reflects the candidate's current or intended work role to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance.

Assessment must also ensure access to:

outdoor environments and locations appropriate to the specific activity

participants to take part in outdoor adventure programs

resources and equipment to implement risk control measures

organisational risk management plans and procedures.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

observation of application of organisational risk management strategies to outdoor activities and locations

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of risk theory in outdoor adventure activities

third-party reports from a supervisor detailing work performance over multiple applications.

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

activity-specific guiding units

SISXRSK301A Undertake risk analysis of activities.

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.

Required skills

problem-solving skills to:

balance the relationship between level of risk and level of challenge

manage risks for an adventure activity within the parameters of the organisational risk management plan

planning and organising skills to:

implement and monitor risk management strategies for an adventure activity

make changes in response to unacceptable risk levels and evaluation outcomes

literacy and numeracy skills to access and analyse required risk assessment information, including the relationship between risk and competence and the value of experiencing risk as part of outdoor adventure activities

communication skills to:

lead review of the risk management of outdoor activities

convey information to participants on risk factors associated with adventure activities

self management skills to reflect on own performance and identify areas of improvement.

Required knowledge

legislation and organisational risk management plan and procedures to enable risks associated with outdoor activities to be assessed and addressed so that outdoor activities can be undertaken safely

accident or incident analysis as a tool in risk management planning to enable appropriate responses

first aid knowledge appropriate to the activity and location

terms used in contemporary risk management, and their relationship to each other applicable to an outdoor recreation context

concept of 'optimal arousal' and or a 'flow state' in relation to risk taking to enable understanding of the psychology of risk taking

reasons why people usually engage in outdoor activities that involve risk

models that illustrate the consequences of the match or mismatch of real and perceived risk, from low to high levels

the role of risk theory in outdoor activities to enable understanding of the balance between risk and challenge

activity specific knowledge to undertake the activity

emergency or incident procedures to decrease the consequences should an accident occur.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Conditions may include:

freedom of choice

state of mind

intrinsic motivation

uncertainty of outcome.

Types of risk as they relate to outdoor adventure experiences may include:

environmental

cultural

physical

psychological

social

absolute, real and perceived risk.

Adventure experience paradigm may include:

exploration and experimentation

adventure

peak adventure

misadventure

devastation and disaster.

Factors which contribute to accidents in outdoor adventure activities may include:

unobserved or underestimated unsafe conditions

unsafe acts

errors of judgement

familiarisation with the situation or environment

risk shifts within groups due to risk taking behaviour of bolder and influential members

unwillingness to accept responsibility for bad or negative situations.

Suitable level of challenge may include:

the interplay of risk and competence:

situational risk

personal competence

emotional competence.

Risk management strategies may include:

setting ground rules

communicating

demonstrating skills and techniques

role modelling

choosing own level of challenge

postponing or modifying or cancelling activity.

Organisational policies and procedures may include:

occupational health and safety

risk management plan

equipment use and maintenance

reporting and record-keeping

communication protocols.

Risk factors may include:

unforeseen risk

changes in participant response to risk

changes in environmental conditions

changes in participant psychological responses.

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
Undertake research to identify the value of using and or experiencing risk as part of the adventure experience. 
Identify conditions that contribute to an adventure experience. 
Identify the nature and or types of riskas they relate to outdoor adventure experiences. 
Identify factors that affect an individual's perception of risk in an outdoor activity and how an individual's perception of risk and of their own competence can change in a specified situation. 
Analyse the interplay between different levels of risk and competence and all possible combinations as part of the adventure experience paradigm. 
Determine the implications of these interactions for outdoor leaders in terms of providing safe, but challenging outdoor experiences. 
Identify and access tools to assist in the analysis of factors which contribute to accidents in outdoor adventure activities. 
Select an outdoor activity that reflects program objectives and a suitable level of challenge for participants, with respect to the relationship between risk and competence. 
Identify and assess the competence of participants for the selected outdoor activity. 
Determine the acceptable degree of difficulty and risk, based on the activity aims and objectives, the conditions and the competence of the clients and leaders. 
Access and analyse the organisational risk management plan for the outdoor activity. 
Identify risk management strategies for the outdoor activity according to organisational policies and procedures. 
Utilise a system that traces the relationship between each risk, its contributing hazards, the likelihood of the risk eventuating and the resultant consequence(s) in order to determine whether the level of risk is acceptable. 
Advise participants of risk factors requiring activity modification. 
Monitor the activity and adjust if risk to participants becomes unacceptable according to organisational policies and procedures. 
Evaluate the risk management plan for the activity following the conduct of the activity to determine aspects requiring modification. 
Develop a strategy to address issues raised as a result of the evaluation. 
Evaluate own performance as a risk manager and obtain feedback in order to identify perceived strengths and areas for improvement. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

SISOODR404A - Manage risk in an outdoor activity
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Assessment Record Sheet

SISOODR404A - Manage risk in an outdoor activity

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